Raspberry Wheat Ale
Richbrau Brewing Company

This was one to write home about; poured a lovely unfiltered red-gold with minmal head.
The smell was raspberries and malt, heavy opn the raspberries. I thought it smelled a good deal like the smell and (later) flavor came from natural raspberries, but I couldn't quite decide, so I asked a waitress and damned if they don't make it from fresh raspberries, a quality love (while the syrupy, saccharine fruittiness I can't stand). The taste was much of the same, with mild malts and a little bit of wheat to round things off. The feel was bittersweet which faded into a lovely creaminess that couted the tongue. Overall my favorite at Richbrau and a great overall beer.

On-tap at Richbrau brewery.

One of the stranger-looking beers I've seen. A ruby-tinged deep copper color. Almost purple! Decent lacing by the white head. Huge blast of raspberry in the nose! According to the bartender, fresh raspberries are used in the brewing process. It certainly shows. Slight bit of malty sweetness in the background. Very rereshing taste. The rasbperry flavor really shines through. Raspberry tartness hits you up front, wheaty middle, and finishes with a tart-sour aftertaste. Great summer beer. The fruit flavor is held in check and adds character to the beer. Bring on a hot Richmond summer day! I have the beer to tame it.

This unfiltered wheat beer is infused with what I can only assume are real raspberries (it doesn't taste like extract). Its very hazy-borderline-cloudy body has just a slight purpleish tint to its orange/amber background; and a short head of creamy foam that fades away almost immediately leaving just a thin collar and only minor spotty lace. The nose is quite pleasant and welcoming with a clear note of fresh, bright, real raspberries over some wheaty malt. The body is light/medium and it's gently crisp in the mouth with a fine, median carbonation. The flavor again delivers the juicy, real fruit that the nose promised (although it's not absolutely raspberry alone) wrapped in a gently sweet malt and well-balanced with a mild bitterness that's restrained but still noticeable. It finishes dry with a short lingering note of fruit that begs you take another sip. Very nicely done. A refreshing change. It's not overly fruity or sweet, and it's quenching but without enough overall character to make it really drinkable. Still, it makes a great summer beer when you've just come in from the heat!