Fruit Beer Tasting Notes

May 1, 2010 By Rick Lyke

21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer: Cloudy gold color with a direct red watermelon nose. Small, but persistent head. Very drinkable. The watermelon flavor is subdued with a slight hint of the rind in this 4.9 percent ABV beer. A perfect warm weather poolside brew from California.

Hangar 24 Orange Wheat: Cloudy yellow brew with a moderate frothy head. There is an immediate citrus nose that comes from the whole California oranges that are pureed to make this 4.6 percent ABV beer. The flavor is tangy and cleanses the palate.

Lindemans Cassis Lambic: Foamy, long lasting purple head and nice fruit nose. Cloudy reddish blue color from fresh black currants added to a Belgian lambic. Flavor is a tart with nice dry fruit skin character. Lovely and lush dessert classic.

Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat Ale: Cloudy orange-gold color with a thin white head. Prominent orange zest nose and a solid level of citrus in the flavor profile. A very refreshing 5 percent ABV beer.

RJ Rockers Son of a Peach Wheat Ale: This seasonal brew comes from the heart of South Carolina peach country. Huge peach aroma greets you. Orange gold hue with a very thin tan head. Palate cleansing sour base to the flavor. Good presence of peach nectar with hints of the skins.

Saranac Pomegranate Wheat Ale: Cloudy slightly amber gold brew, with a thin white head. The fruit is very much in the background initially, but starts to show itself in the aftertaste. The wheat malt in this New York beer smoothes out the bitterness that you would expect from pomegranate.

Sea Dog Bluepaw Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale: This beer from Maine is a clear gold color with white foam that thins out fairly quickly. Perfumey blueberry nose. The body is crisp and clean with a very attractive blueberry background flavor.

Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry Fruit Ale: A fresh strawberry nose emerges immediately. Amber gold color with a moderate white head. The strawberry flavor note is clear. Not too sweet, well balanced.

Unibroue Éphémère: From Quebec, this 5.5 percent alcohol by volume beer delivers an extremely fresh apple crispness nose and flavor in a slightly cloudy golden colored package. There is a touch of spice accompanying the apple.

Wells Banana Bread Beer: This 5.2 percent ABV British beer opens with an immediate and lingering banana pudding nose. Amber color with a thin off white head. Wells uses fair-trade bananas. Slightly tangy flavor profile.