Razzle Dazz-Ale
Main St. Grille & Brewing Company

 

This beer was nothing like what I would expect from a fruit beer, describe as a raspberry pale ale.
A= nice amber color, very clear for an unfiltered beer, minimal head
S= wonderful scent of raspberries before the glass even reached my mouth, followed by citrus and a hint of pine
T= WOW! Great balance of malt, fruit, and hops, mildly sweet/fruity with a nice hop finish
M= a little thin, but smooth and consistent
D= 6.5% and I could drink this stuff all day!

An American pale ale with generous amounts (60 lbs to be exact) of raspberry preserves, served on-tap at the brewpub.

A: The pale ale looks more like an amber, sitting all amber-like in my glass. There is the faintest of faint raspberry red hues, slowly peeking through the amber fabric. Minimal head.

S: The nose is a never-ending battle between the raspberry and cascade hops for dominance. Certain aromas are fruity sweet, plenty of sugar, while other are a citrusy resin. Much better than I was expecting, as the emphasis isn't on the sweetness of the raspberries.

T: The taste is basically a continuation of the nose. My notes say 'sweet body-plenty of fruit' and 'nice citrus bitterness against the fruit'. Both aspects are well-balanced, making the ale work much more than it should. I was floored at how deftly the ale balances the raspberry preserves. This is how a fruit beer should be done: make a good APA and add a sensible amount of fruit to it. For the record, this was ksak's pick.

M: The mouthfeel is at once sweet and bitter, fruity and hoppy. The caramel malts are never really a factor, so just enjoy the piquant sweetness.

D: Still moderate alcohol-wise, the ale is quite drinkable, so go moderately. Nicely done.