Try?
It
being football season and all, I tend to drink a bit more beer than usual. Don't
be alarmed, because as much as I love the stuff, my drinking habits these days
are rather moderate. But when I am rooting for my beloved New England Patriots,
I like to drink New England beer. It's just a little taste of home that I really
enjoy every fall.
People often think of dishes they grew up with as "comfort food", and I suppose one could make a case for "comfort beer" as well. In either example, these are tastes that bring us back to a pleasant place or time we remember with reverence. Such is the case for me with Wachusett Blueberry Ale.
The Wachusett Brewing Company was founded in Westminster, Massachusetts in 1993. I first found their beers a few years later, commuting back and forth from West Warwick, Rhode Island to Worcester (that's Wuh-stuh, by the way, not War-chest-ur), Massachusetts. I still recall stopping at a small package store along route 146 just outside Worcester proper for a growler of fresh, delicious Wachusett Ale. Their Blueberry Ale was introduced in 2001 and instantly became a hit Chez Bruguru
Wachusett claims that "our blueberry defines the style." I'm not sure I would go that far (though I will allow a certain license for puffing), but I will say that this is one of my preferred Blueberry ales. A year round selection (and a bargain these days at $7.99 a six-pack), the beer is made with American Two-row and crystal malts, blueberries, and hopped with Liberties, Tettnangs, and Perles. Alcohol is moderate at 4.5% by volume.
Wachusett Blueberry Ale pours to a pale golden color with a very light head and wispy formation and a very pronounced nose of soft malt and fruit. Taking a sip, I immediately love the drinkability of this beer. It's crisp and refreshing with a moderate yet still firm biscuity malt backbone. It really accents the fruit nicely I think, which is also nicely done. Fresh, sweet, juicy blueberry flavor really comes through here, especially in the finish. But it isn't too sweet, and that makes the beer restorative and more-ish. A bit of butteriness adds depth as well, and a touch of herbal, grassy hops keep it from cloying in the finish.
Blueberries are a perfect spice for beer in this guru of brew's book, and Wachusett Blueberry Ale is one of the better ones on the market. It's delicate, delicious, and perfectly suited for warm weather imbibing. I love it, and I think you will, too.
People often think of dishes they grew up with as "comfort food", and I suppose one could make a case for "comfort beer" as well. In either example, these are tastes that bring us back to a pleasant place or time we remember with reverence. Such is the case for me with Wachusett Blueberry Ale.
The Wachusett Brewing Company was founded in Westminster, Massachusetts in 1993. I first found their beers a few years later, commuting back and forth from West Warwick, Rhode Island to Worcester (that's Wuh-stuh, by the way, not War-chest-ur), Massachusetts. I still recall stopping at a small package store along route 146 just outside Worcester proper for a growler of fresh, delicious Wachusett Ale. Their Blueberry Ale was introduced in 2001 and instantly became a hit Chez Bruguru
Wachusett claims that "our blueberry defines the style." I'm not sure I would go that far (though I will allow a certain license for puffing), but I will say that this is one of my preferred Blueberry ales. A year round selection (and a bargain these days at $7.99 a six-pack), the beer is made with American Two-row and crystal malts, blueberries, and hopped with Liberties, Tettnangs, and Perles. Alcohol is moderate at 4.5% by volume.
Wachusett Blueberry Ale pours to a pale golden color with a very light head and wispy formation and a very pronounced nose of soft malt and fruit. Taking a sip, I immediately love the drinkability of this beer. It's crisp and refreshing with a moderate yet still firm biscuity malt backbone. It really accents the fruit nicely I think, which is also nicely done. Fresh, sweet, juicy blueberry flavor really comes through here, especially in the finish. But it isn't too sweet, and that makes the beer restorative and more-ish. A bit of butteriness adds depth as well, and a touch of herbal, grassy hops keep it from cloying in the finish.
Blueberries are a perfect spice for beer in this guru of brew's book, and Wachusett Blueberry Ale is one of the better ones on the market. It's delicate, delicious, and perfectly suited for warm weather imbibing. I love it, and I think you will, too.
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
