Try?
Fruit beers are not everyone’s cup of tea (or glass of
beer if you will). Though they are firmly footed in the beer world (the
first beers were probably seasoned with dates; the Belgians have a lengthy
history of brewing fruit beers), even many beer enthusiasts look askance
upon them. Be that as it may, they are very popular in the non-beer geek
crowd, among women especially.
One brewery that has done very well with its fruit beer is Spanish Peaks of Bozeman, Montana. Established in 1991 and named for nearby mountains, the brewery/brewpub now also produces bottled beer in King City, California. The brewpub features epicurean delights in addition to its tasty beers. Menu items include seafood fettuccine, Chicken Saltimbocca, brick-oven pizzas, and gourmet salads.
The Honey Raspberry Ale is no doubt inspired by Belgian framboise, or raspberry ale, though it is quite different from that old-world classic. The beer has won numerous awards, including three silver medals from the World Beer Championships. If that institution doesn’t really impress you, you should know that the beer has also taken a medal at the Great American Beer Festival.
Spanish Peaks Honey Raspberry Ale pours to an orange yellow color with a spritzy, short-lived head and an appetizing raspberry nose. This is a crisp,
light bodied beer with an overwhelming fruit character. It’s raspberry all
the way, right on into the sweet finish. The honey is not apparent, the label
states that the beer is fermented with honey and as a result the yeast tend
to consume it almost completely.
It’s a wonderful April night this evening, about 65 degrees out, and this beer is a wonderful first brew of the night against the backdrop of a cool breeze coming through the window. A great warm weather beer, I enjoyed it this evening with home made lo mein and pork strips in a sweet and spicy pepper jelly with Chinese hot peppers. It worked extremely well with the sweetness of the pork.
One brewery that has done very well with its fruit beer is Spanish Peaks of Bozeman, Montana. Established in 1991 and named for nearby mountains, the brewery/brewpub now also produces bottled beer in King City, California. The brewpub features epicurean delights in addition to its tasty beers. Menu items include seafood fettuccine, Chicken Saltimbocca, brick-oven pizzas, and gourmet salads.
The Honey Raspberry Ale is no doubt inspired by Belgian framboise, or raspberry ale, though it is quite different from that old-world classic. The beer has won numerous awards, including three silver medals from the World Beer Championships. If that institution doesn’t really impress you, you should know that the beer has also taken a medal at the Great American Beer Festival.
Spanish Peaks Honey Raspberry Ale pours to an orange yellow color with a spritzy, short-lived head and an appetizing raspberry nose. This is a crisp,
light bodied beer with an overwhelming fruit character. It’s raspberry all
the way, right on into the sweet finish. The honey is not apparent, the label
states that the beer is fermented with honey and as a result the yeast tend
to consume it almost completely. It’s a wonderful April night this evening, about 65 degrees out, and this beer is a wonderful first brew of the night against the backdrop of a cool breeze coming through the window. A great warm weather beer, I enjoyed it this evening with home made lo mein and pork strips in a sweet and spicy pepper jelly with Chinese hot peppers. It worked extremely well with the sweetness of the pork.
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
