Yes, men. This really is for you. Fruit beers. That actually taste like beer.
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It is evident that the craft beer movement is catching on all across the county. Even if you’re a guy who is just getting into the scene, chances are you’re ordering a lager, ale or pilsner because they’re similar to the stuff you’re used to drinking. If that’s the case, fine, but as you journey through more and more craft selections, chances are you may come across something you almost never hear men order at a bar…
Fruit beers.
Typically I despise fruit beers. Some don’t even taste like beer at all and the lambics of the world are so cloyingly sweet it might as well be over-sugared, carbonated Kool-Aid. Lately though, I have gained a bit of appreciation for a select few fruit brews.
These three favorites still manage to taste like beer but each has some fruit element included. And yeah, they’re perfect for summertime sipping. Or guzzling.
Del’s Shandy
http://www.narragansettbeer.com/
Comes in: 16 oz tall boys, on draft
Availability: Through this summer!
When the shandy collaboration between two iconic Rhode Island brands, Narragansett Brewing Company and Del’s Frozen Lemonade went public, the craft beer community in the Northeast damn near bought it all up when it first and barely hit shelves. And for good reason. This shandy combines ‘Gansett’s classic lager with a hint of Del’s lemonade for a good balance that’s not too lemony. Because the citrus doesn’t outshine the lager there’s no mistaking that Del’s Shandy is a beer.
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Two Roads Road Jam
Comes in: Mostly draft, growlers (at the brewery), but bottles are available mostly in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts.
Availability: It’s seasonal, get it while it’s still summer.
After opening one of the largest breweries in New England in 2012, Two Roads Brewing Company has started to get some recognition for whipping up some high quality batches. Its popularity is evident if you ever visit on the weekend or when people line up to get growlers of a limited edition brew. One of Two Roads’ newest seasonals is Road Jam, a wheat beer fermented with real black & red raspberries with a hint of lemongrass. You can really taste the raspberry in this one and it’s fruitier than I’d like it to be but the flavor was there and I didn’t find it overly sweet. In fact, I found myself drinking this with no problem whatsoever.
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Comes in: Draft, bottles.
Availability: You should be able to find it popping up scarcely at beer bars over the summer, but hurry, it doesn’t last long. Even liquor stores struggle to keep it in stock. It has been known to appear in the springtime too.
Abita Strawberry Harvest was the first fruit beer I ever took a liking to. The New Orleans-based Abita uses real juice from Louisiana strawberries for a one of a kind experience that allows the beer fanatic to first taste the hops, then your taste buds get the strawberry on the back end. And chances are that if you like Strawberry Harvest, you’ll like the even rarer Abita Strawator that doubles the alcohol by volume and also doubles up on the strawberry infusion. Good luck finding it.
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OK. Your turn. What do you recommend I check out before summer’s end?
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Featured Photo: Didriks/Flickr
Del’s and Abita Beer Photos: Courtesy of the author