I’ve always been a fan of cranberries. I still recall driving by cranberry bogs in Massachusetts many a time on the way from West Warwick to Boston. Cranberry sauce at the holidays? I’m all over it! Cranberry juice? Can’t get enough. Ah but cranberry beers? Now that’s the ultimate best use of a cranberry. Though controversial, Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic is still a favorite for me, and indeed the first cranberry beer I ever tried. Boston Beer has not released that one in years, but this year I did stumble on a new cranberry brew: Devil’s Backbone Cran-Gose.
Devils Backbone describes their Cran-Gose as a “Tart Cranberry Ale”. That tartness is in line with the character of the fruit. The beer is based on a German-style Gose, usually brewed with salt and coriander and mildly tart.
Devil’s Backbone says:
Based on the traditional Gose brewing style, we added heaps of pureed cranberry to brew our refreshing Cran-Gose. Light and Fruity, Cran-Gose is pink hued with a cranberry aroma and a naturally tart finish. Light, Tart, Fruity.
Ingredients from the website:
Hops: Centennial
Malts: Malted Wheat, Pilsner, Acidulated Malt
Devils Backbone Cran-Gose has an alcohol content of 4% by volume with 4 IBUs. I like the low ABV on this one! It was running $9.99 a six-pack at Total Wine.
Devil’s Backbone Cran-Gose pours to a soft pinkish orange color with a thick but quickly fading head of fizzy foam and a tart cranberry nose. Taking a sip, the beer is tart and tangy and quite refreshing indeed. The cranberry flavor is light but very tart and unmistakable. A pinch of salt helps it to pop in bright berry fashion, and the beer is quenching and very drinkable. And with the low ABV, you can quaff it, too. Within reason, of course.
I might like a bit more cranberry flavor here, but I really enjoyed this and will be back for more next year.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft