Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

The New Standard

Specialty Beer Evolution and Revolution

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

98 Original Raspberry Fruit Beer, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery (England). 5.1% ABV (8/11)
Cloudy maroon gray color with lacy head. Intricate aromas of powdery raspberry and violet lozenges with a vibrantly crisp, frothy, fruity-yet-dry full body and a long, pure and tangy fresh raspberry puree and artisan dark date-raisin bread finish. A sensational, explosive fruit beer that is sure to please.

95 Raspberry Midnight Oil Imperial Stout, Bastone Brewery (MI). 9.25% ABV (8/11)
Dark brown black color with a dark tan head. Playful aromas of of fruit jams, caramelized nuts and lightly smoky jerky with a supple dry-yet-fruity medium-full body and a nicely balanced grilled fruits, peppercorn, radish and wood smoke finish. Excellent; a great choice for dessert beer.

94 Red Whitey, Lexington Avenue Brewery (NC). 5.3% ABV (8/11)
Beautiful clear salmon pink orange color looks just like a rosé sparkling wine. Attractive aromas of fresh crushed raspberries and pastries with a supple dryish light-to-medium body and a earthy jicama, wafer and raspberry–seed -accented finish. A very clean, drier-styled fruit beer that will make a fine table companion.

93 Quelque Chose, Unibroue (Canada). 8% ABV (9/11)
Bronze amber red color. Bright spicy sour cherry, honey and brown sugar aromas and flavors with a supple under-carbonated fruity sweet medium-full and a long pure cinnamon–spiced cherry compote, marzipan and jasmine tea driven finish. Nice dessert beer or cocktail ingredient.

93 Original Strawberry Fruit Beer, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery (England). 5.1% ABV (9/11)
Slightly hazy deep amber color. Rich strawberry granola and cream aromas with a bold fruity full body and a long, pure and tangy and drying strawberry soda, nut and grassy hop -accented finish. Delicious and vibrant.

93 Aphrodite, Brewery Ommegang (NY). 8.9% ABV (9/11)
Bright ruby copper color. Beguiling aromas of raspberry and watermelon sorbets, toasted pumpkin seeds, epazote, and kimchi do your readers know what these two spices are?with a supple, dryish medium body and a tart, pomegranate,  peppercorn and leafy mustard greens -accented finish. A must try food beer to pair with Latin cuisine.

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.

92 Raspberry Ale, Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. (OH). 3.9% ABV (10/10)
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.

91 Pêche Mel Scaldis, Brasserie Dubuisson Fréres (Belgium). 8.5% ABV (9/11)
Bright amber color. Vibrant peach cider, pastry and yogurt aromas with a rich, frothy, fruity medium-full body and a long, tangy peach phosphate, honey and citrus marmalade on cinnamon raisin toast finish. Delicious and crowd pleasing.

90 Devious Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Fegley’s Brew Works (PA). 9% ABV (9/11)
Deep copper color. Aromas of savory spiced pumpkin seeds with a chewy, fruity-yet-dry medium-full body and a rich spicy pumpkin bread, blood–orange marmalade, golden beet, and pink peppercorn finish. Vibrant, rich and balanced.

90 Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, Stevens Point Brewery (WI). 7.2% ABV (9/11)
Slightly hazy golden amber color. Earthy raspberry bush, yeasty bread dough, and apple butter aromas with a frothy, tangy medium-full body and a seamless raspberry soufflé, cream cheese and wafer cookie -accented finish with peppery hops. A delicious and balanced food beer.

89 Bourbon Raspberry Midnight Oil Imperial Stout, Bastone Brewery (MI). 9.5% ABV (8/11)
Opaque brown black color with a tan head. Aroma of vanilla Turkish taffy, fruit leather, and artisan–spiced dark chocolate with a supple dry-yet-fruity medium-full body and a lively berry compote, grilled kiwi, peppery spice, cedar, char-roasted nut finish. Very nice concentration and vivacity; will work well with grilled meats.

89 Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale, Stevens Point Brewery (WI). 7.5% ABV (9/11)
Copper amber color. Aromas of roasted pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon and orange blossom honey with a supple dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a tangy citrus marmalade, radicchio, pumpkin pie with cream and pepper bread finish.

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.

88 Organic Cherry Fruit Beer, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery (England). 5.1% ABV (9/10)
Bright maraschino cherry and marzipan aromas. Round and frothy with a dry-yet-fruity medium-full body. Rich and earthy with nettlelike astringency on the finish.

88 Blueberry Belch Ale, Fegley’s Brew Works (PA). 4.2% ABV (9/11)
Beautiful copper pink color. Rich spicy aromas of blueberry-raspberry cobbler a la mode and wafers with a crisp, lively fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body and a zesty green apple, toasted baguette and mossy river stone -accented finish. What does a mossy river stone taste like?A refreshing, light, clean quaffer.means drinking with enthusiasm; you OK with that word here?

88 Orange & Black Congrats Ale, Moylan’s Brewing Co. (CA). 6% ABV (9/11)
Dark brown color. Bright aromas of chocolate-covered orange peels and dreamsicles with a frothy, fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body and a zesty, radish sprout and watercresslike hop accent on the finish. Tasty; try with chocolate on Christmas.

88 Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 5.7% ABV (9/11)
Copper color with a tan head. Sweet and savory aromas of spicy pumpkin pie and curry soup with a gentle dry-yet-fruity medium body and a pumpernickel nut toast jicama and radish sprout -accented finish. Nicely restrained and balanced.

87 Orange Blossom Cream Ale, Buffalo Bill’s 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 Co. (NY). 8% ABV (9/11)
Cloudy pale copper color. Toasty panettone, buckwheat honey on blini and ketchup aromas with a chewy dryish medium-full body and a bready, tangy blood–orange rind and peppery arugula like hop finish. Not sure what the flavor is by taste.

84 Blueberry Triple, Bastone Brewery (MI). 9% ABV (8/11)
Deep ruby color with a fine blanket of foam. Mild dark berry and wheat toast aromas and flavors with a dryish medium body and a tart, peppery berry skin, cough syrup nut skin and lemon pepper finish.

84 Cherry Triple, Bastone Brewery (MI). 9% ABV (8/11)
Hazy copper scarlet color. Aromas of cherry cream soda and ice cream with a supple dry-yet-fruity medium body and a circus peanut, wheat grass and salty nut toast -accented finish.

83 Orange & Black Congrats Ale, Marin Brewing Co. (CA). 6.3% ABV (9/11)
Dark brown color. Muddled aromas of dark chocolate, butter sautéed berries and citrus, and deep-fried pickles with satiny, dryish medium body and a terse baker’s chocolate on orange peel and brown butter on waffle finish.

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 lambiclike, but unfocused.

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

Add Your Comments