Pete just got a facelift. More correctly,
his beers have received one, with new labels and cartons and in some cases a
revamped formula. Pete’s Wicked Strawberry Blonde, the second most popular
Pete’s brew after the flagship Wicked Ale, is now packaged in longneck
bottles with 1930s-style artwork on the label. The art features a woman with
flowing strawberry blonde locks flowing in all directions. It’s one of those
annoying portraits that have you convinced she’s looking at you no matter
how you turn the bottle.
The beer is extremely popular with women, and has recently been released in
twelve packs in order that they might drink even more of it. I find it to be
a refreshing summer brew, although it is available throughout the year.
Being a fruit beer, there is a bit of aversion to the brew from some beer
enthusiasts, but I hold no such prejudice.
Pete’s Wicked Strawberry Blonde pours to a light golden color with a thick
creamy head formation and a very fruity strawberry nose. The palate is light
and malty, crisp and cereal-like with a definite strawberry flavor that
works with the maltiness but does not overpower it. The beer reminds me of
Captain Crunch Crunch Berries cereal, which is not surprising since many
breakfast cereals are made with malt as an ingredient for flavor and
sweetness. There is a balancing hop finish provided by Clusters and
Tettnangs that prevents this from being a malt cooler.
Malt coolers in various forms seem to be all the rage these days, be they
fermented lemonades, colas, or orange flavored brews. Originally made with
wine (remember Bartles and James?), they are still referred to by many as
wine coolers even though they are really beers these days. That’s because
they’re made with unhopped beer and natural and artificial fruit flavors.
Fruit merely replaces hops as the seasoning in these beverages, and makes
them close relatives of fruit beers like Strawberry Blonde.
This would be an excellent beer with strawberry shortcake, indeed in some
ways it is reminiscent of that desert.
Update November 12, 2012:
It appears that Pete's beers are no more, the line having
been terminated by new owner Gambrinus in 2011. I did find this page still
up with more information on this beer, however, and thought to record it for
posterity:
STRAWBERRY
BLONDE
SENSORY
STYLE: GOLDEN LAGER
COLOR: LIGHT GOLDEN
AROMA: STRAWBERRY
BODY: LIGHT
TASTE: CLEAN, WELL-BALANCED BEER WITH A SLIGHT STRAWBERRY SWEETNESS
INGREDIENTS
MALTS: PALE AND WHEAT
HOPS: YAKIMA CLUSTER AND TETTNANG
OTHER: NATURAL STRAWBERRY FLAVORING
BREWING SPECIFICATIONS
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 5.0%
CALORIE CONTENT: 160
CARBOHYDRATES: 13.6 G
ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 12.05 DEGREES PLATO
RDF: 64.2% W/W
IBU: 19
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