Razz Merry Ale
Selin's Grove Brewing Company

First, many & multiple thanks to Mr. beerisheaven for sending a growler of this, unsolicited, to my doorstep yesterday. Along with it came two gorgeous Selin's Grove tulip glasses as well, which the wife & I put to appropriate use this evening in downing this growler of fresh goodness.

Second, my wife loved this. My non-beer drinking neighbor's wife loved it. I was wondering how we were going to finish an entire growler of sweet, fruity grog on a weeknight. Turned out to not be a problem!

Razz Merry is a beautiful ale, looking more like a fine glass of Sonoma's best than any beer I've laid eyes on, a deep ruby with blaze red around the edges. Smells like...raspberries. The smell came smoking out of the growler the moment I popped the cap & didn't let up, warm or cold. I haven't had a beer that didn't smell different afer it warmed, but this one didn't.

Tastes like a whole lotta raspberry puree stuck up your nose. Now, I'm not big on fruit or vegetable beers, but you have to love one that tastes nothing so much like Raspberry Kool-Aid with a touch of carbonation in it. No apparent alcohol at all, either in the taste nor after having a few glasses. Good, because I have to get up tomorrow. Sweet, fruity, light.

No carbonation at all, but I understand this is from the growlering & not the natural state of the beer. No hiss when the growler was opened, but who cares? There are no bubbles in Kool-Aid either, who turns that down with a touch of vodka in it? Or without? Drinkability is excellent for something this sweet. Always like Mike's Hard Lemonade & such-like, but could never drink more than one before my mouth puckered. Not the case here.

Excellent beer, one of the best fruit beers I've had. Thanks again Brian, you are a gentleman & a scholar!

Between the Phoenix Kriek and this I am hard pressed to choose which one I like more.

A-Deep, dark ruby tinged purple with a thin white head that fully diminished to leave a thin ring.

S-Is this a trick question, wait--I have an answer-RASPBERRY! Sweet, tart and delicious!

T-A massive fresh fruit assualt of RASPBERRY. Again sweet and tart without the mouth pucking sourness from a Cantillon brew. This is carbonated, adult raspberry juice!

M-Medium-light body. Very lively, sharp carbonation that simply dances around in your mouth. The flavours just explode on your palate.

D-Mmmmm...you know it is the holiday season in central PA when the Razz is on! Simply outstanding! Much like it's fruit cuz', Phoenix Kriek, this one is an exceptional mixer with other SGB offerings. Can you say RazzMerry and Shade Mt. Oatmeal Stout boys and girls? Good, I knew you could!

On tap at the brewery. Served in a SGB goblet.

A - Deep ruby red body with minimal head and carbonation. Has the appearance of a red wine.

S - Not much else but raspberries. Sweet and tart.

T - Intensely sweet and tart raspberry flavor.

M - Mildly oily texture. Carbonation tickles the tongue.

D - If it were legal, I'd drink it all day, every day. Refreshing. Better than lambic.

On tap at the brewpub.

Pours a deep, dark garnet with a thin, creamy pinkish head. Not much retention however with minimal lacing. Aroma is Wow! Huge raspberry nose. Not much else to report except some faint sweetness but if you like the smell of raspberries, you will love this!

Taste is huge with (you guessed it) more raspberries. The taste seems to start out sweet and then finishes more on the tart side. There also seems to be somewhat of a heft to the taste, probably from the alcohol present but you could never taste it. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth with some lively carbonation going with on with it.

Wow, it always a pleasure to have this yearly Holiday treat on tap and this year's is no different. A little too one note with the raspberries? Eh, maybe but I could still drink it all night long. I paired this up with a piece of Swiss chocolate cheese cake and the combo was simply divine.

On tap at SGB on 12/21/07. Served in 14oz. goblet.

A - Deep plum/royal purple-colored body with thin, bubbly head that fully diminished.

S - Raspberry soft serve ice cream aroma! Spicy and fruity nose for sure.

T - Sweet and tangy raspberry tartness... delicious! Nice blend of acidity and sweetness. Not overly tart or sweet. Lots of fresh fruit flavor with very little pucker. Mmmm!

M - Prickly and bubbly on the tongue and sides of the mouth. Very lively carbonation. Slightly acidic finish. Full, robust body bursts with tartness and sweetness.

D - Bring it on! Great dessert beer. I like it better than Lindemans Framboise. It's like liquid raspberry ice cream in a glass.

Served in a goblet fresh from the tap. No head or lacing. Beautiful rich dark red almost burgundy. Like a merlot wine almost. Looks lovely when held up to the light. The smell takes me back to my childhood of picking fresh raspberries in July. I'm sure there are scents other than the berries but I was so enthralled by them that that was all I really noticed. The taste was much as the smell, wonderful. It was crisp and fruity but had just the right tartness on the back end of a swallow. I also noticed that after a few swallows it was a bit acidic as I imagine you would expect with such a drink. I hope that they continue with this brew each holiday season because it is a great drink and a fun step away from typical beer tasting brews.

Bright raspberry pulp red with almost no head, nor lacing. The aromas are all fresh raspberry pulp, seeds and all. There are also some funky yeast notes and a nice maltiness that come through in the aroma as well. The taste is fruity and the fresh raspberry sugars really shine, but this brew also some funk to it, and it almost borders as a Flemish red/mead hybrid sort of things. This brew is almost like a weird hybrid of three different beer styles. Interesting. The finish is wheaty and yeasty, as the funky fruitiness fades into the night. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and a bit acidic, and the drinkability is very, very good. One of the most interesting fruit beers that I have had. I hope to try this one again some day.