I’ve been drinking Anchor beers since the early 80s, my friends, and in all that time, I’ve never had an Anchor fruit beer. Until recently, that is, when I enjoyed a mug of Anchor Mango Wheat at my local Taco Mac. Then, lo and behold a few weeks later my second ever Anchor fruit beer sat before me: Anchor Blackberry Daze IPA. Anchor Brewing is featured as beer of the month along with Brooklyn Brewery for April of 2017 at Taco Mac.

Before Fritz Maytag sold Anchor in 2010, the brand was limited to a classic lineup featuring the iconic Anchor Steam, Liberty Ale, Old Foghorn, and Our Special Ale. There were a few other beers, but only a few. Since changing hands, however, Anchor has joined the trend towards offering a wide array of ever-changing offerings to satisfy fickle craft beer enthusiasts.

On their website, Anchor says this about Blackberry Daze IPA:

Blackberry Daze IPA™ is a synergistic union of blackberries and hops. Because the blackberry was once wildly rampant in California, it is our ideal choice for this singular Anchor brew. Blackberry Daze IPA gets its hop bitterness and some hop aroma in the brewhouse, but most of the action happens in the cellar when the fruit is added during secondary fermentation. A special blend of loamy, herbaceous hops for dry-hopping complements the brightness and deep complexity of the blackberries.

Anchor Blackberry Daze IPA has an alcohol content of 6.5% by volume. The beer is new for 2017 and is a year-round offering. I paid $6 for a 20-ounce mug at Taco Mac and it runs $9.99 a six-pack at Total Wine.

My mug of Anchor Blackberry Daze IPA arrived a hazy purplish red color with a thick foamy head and a nose of blackberry fruit and dry hops. Taking a sip, I get a smooth maltiness with robust blackberry fruit, earthy hop aroma and a grassy bitter finish. I love the blackberry fruit that is never sweet or cloying, it really works well with the grassy, aromatic hops.

Is it an IPA or is it a fruit beer? The blackberries steal the show here for me, so I will call it a fruit beer. A little late to the party with fruit beers, Anchor is still nonetheless batting a thousand with them. I would certainly buy this one again.

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