What can I say? I like fruit, fruit-flavored stuff, and fruit-scented stuff. Cantaloupes? I'm in. Kiwi Korean candies? Yes, please. Garnier Fructis shampoo? Lather me up. It's no different with beer. I like fruit in my beer. Which is not to suggest that I'll put some strawberries at the bottom of a Budweiser. It's to suggest that there are a variety of fruit-infused beers out there that are delicious and refreshing.
There are a few that are somewhat commonplace: Pete's Strawberry Blonde (I liked this quite a bit...very noticeable strawberry flavor), Ephemere (from the people who bring you Le Fin du Monde...it's apple-y if not tremendously good), Sam Adams Cherry Wheat (one of my absolute favorites...I LOVE cherries), and a whole host of smaller brews with apricot, peach, blueberry, raspberry, and on and on.
All of these are good and have merit, and I drink them from time to time. But if I'm going to do something, 7 times out of 10 I'm going to do it right. And that means Lindemans.
Lindemans is a Belgian brewery that has been brewing commercially since 1811. They first came to the United States in 1979, the first lambics to appear in the States. And they're still the best lambics to appear in the United States, according to the one central authority on this matter: me.
There are six varieties of Lindemans lambics: pomme (pear), framboise (raspberry), kriek (black cherry), peche (peach), cassis (black currant), and gueuze cuvee rene (unfiltered wheat beer). I have tried all but the last two, and in fact learned about the existence of the last two while typing this with the link to their website open. I am now, officially, desperate to try the other two varieties.
The first four are all unbelievable. I'm particularly enamored with the peche, which is sweet and potent. The framboise is probably the "best" of the group (kind of like how you really like the Steve Miller Band, but have to face the fact that The Beatles are the best band of all-time), and probably the most versatile...I'd probably drink it the way you'd drink wine, which is to say with some pasta or cheese.
The downside to these beers? Price. A 12 oz. bottle will cost you over $5 generally. The 750 mL bottles will usually run $10. It's worth it, though, especially to rich people like myself*. The rest of you should definitely check it out, too. DO IT!
*myself refers to my alter ego, Sir Reginald van Berryballs
Say there Reggie, have you seen that they have a watermelon beer? I think I'd like to try some of that. Gonna check a couple of places around here. Dunno if they have any in your neck of the woods.
VW
Posted by: Violence Worker | 06/08/2009 at 02:25 PM