Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Specialty Beers

What Makes You So Special?

Fruit Beer

These are lagers or ales to which fruits have been added in order to impart flavor or color. Depending on whether or not the seasonings have been used in the fermentation or as an addition of juice or extract, the beer will have more or less of the desired character. These beers are highly individualistic, and allow the brewers great creativity in their formulations. They will range from mild aromatic overtones to intense and pungently flavored concoctions.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

92 Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, Stevens Point Brewery (WI). 7.2% ABV (9/10)
Bright golden amber color. Savory spinach frittata, citrus marmalade and faint raspberry cream aromas. Round and supple with a dryish medium-full body. Zesty and astringent buttered nuts and pepper dust on the finish. A savory and appetizing beer for the dining table.

92 Raspberry Ale, Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. (OH). 3.9% ABV (8/10)
Hazy golden amber color. Fruit aromas of raspberry jam, honeyed peach and cinnamon toast are very attractive. Round and supple with fine carbonation and a fruity-yet-dry medium body. Long, zesty berry, citrus peel, floral talc and dandelion greens-accented finish. A super drinkable, well balanced fruit beer.

92 Raisin Hell Ale, Bastone Brewery (MI). 6.5% ABV (9/10)
Cloudy mahogany color. Enticing aromas of clove and licorice gums, banana pudding and mincemeat pie. Round and supple with a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body. Roasted corn and root vegetable notes play with sassafras, toffee and grassy hops. Interesting, tasty and fun.

91 Quelque Chose, Unibroue (Canada). 8% ABV (9/10)
Tawny amber red color. Spicy, crusty cherry pie and cherry butter aromas. Round and supple with little carbonation and a fruity medium-to-full body. Rich, dimensional sour cherry and spicy carrot cake finish. Delicious.

90 Imperial Cherry Amber, River Horse Brewery (NJ). 7% ABV (8/08)
Reddish copper color. Lovely buttered toast, cherry pie and toffee aromas follow through on a very creamy and round entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-full body with an excellent balance of nutty malt, dried cherry and earthy hops on the finish. A great example of a dry fruit beer; very drinkable and table friendly.

89 Pumpkin Ale, Buffalo Bills Brewery (CA). 4.9% ABV (8/08)
Deep amber color. Dimensional aromas of pumpkin seeds and pulp, baking spice and peppercorn bread follow through on a round entry leads to a dryish medium body with a nice savory, spicy character and hints of spiced dried apple, pear and nuts. Finishes with a nice crisp, dried citrus, pumpkin bread and praline fade.

88 Punk’n Harvest Pumpkin Ale, Uinta Brewing Co. (UT). 5% ABV (9/10)
Bright copper color. Rich spicy pumpkin pie and gingery carrot cake aromas. Round and supple with plush carbonation and a dry-yet-fruity medium body. Tangy dried citrus and cocoa nut finish with nice roasted squash notes. Tasty.

87 Orange Blossom Cream Ale, Buffalo Bills Brewery (CA). 5.2% ABV (9/09)
Bright old gold color with an amber cast. Interesting aromas of orange honey and floral bath soap follow through on a round, frothy entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with lots of fresh orange zest and floral bath oil bead notes. Finishes with a dusty wheat and potpourri fade. A bit much on the floral component, but interesting.

86 He’Brew Origin Pomegranate Ale, Shmaltz Brewing Company (NY). 8% ABV (9/10)
Rich golden amber color. Aromas of honey drizzled peach custard. Crisp and frothy with a dryish medium-to-full body. Green apple, honeydew, grass and nut notes round out the zippy finish.

84 Space Monkey Raspberry Saison, Fegley’s Brew Works (PA). 7% ABV (9/10)
Lightly hazy amber color. Aromas of raspberry ice milk and toasted baguette. Round and frothy with dry-yet-fruity medium body. Tart raspberry skin, grilled lemon, roasted whole nuts notes on an astringent finish.

83 Samuel Adams Longshot Grape Ale, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 5.2% ABV (8/08)
Brilliant amber color. Praline and faint grape jelly on toast aromas follow through on a round, creamy entry to a dryish medium body with lemon of dried lemon peel and nuts. Finishes with a quick, pithy nutshell and grape seed fade. Not much fruit flavor here.

82 Wisconsin Waterfall Cranberry Tart, Grumpy Troll Brewery (WI). 5.5% ABV (9/09)
Cloudy red amber color with a pillowy mousse. Toasty aromas of berry pudding, taffy and clay follow through on an almost bracing entry to a dryish medium-to-full body of very tart cranberry skin and buttered wheat bread notes. Finishes with a shrill lemon water and raw cranberry on cracker fade. Somewhat lambic-like, but unfocused.

80 Grumpy Cherry, Grumpy Troll Brewery (WI). 10% ABV (9/10)
Bright copper color. Jumbled aromas of butternut brittle, cherry sassafras soda and Elmer’s glue. Soft and limp with a dryish, clumsy medium body. Finishes with a nice buttered raisin toast finish and citrus marmalade finish.

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