Cranberry Cloud
Quidi Vidi Brewery

 

Even though this comes recommended by friends in Newfoundland, and brewed by a company I admire, I will admit a great trepidation in trying a beer infused with fruit-flavored syrup. The nose, however, proves far less cloying than I would have imagined, smelling more like a good-quality nut brown ale or sugary porter than anything else, with strong notes of caramelized sugars and toasted grains. Only the hint of cranberry around the edges would give this one away in a blind smelling session.

On the tongue, however, the sugariness explodes, and all resemblance to a beer of any kind ceases. Primary flavors here are extra-sweet cranberries and strawberries, and the brew tastes more like sweetened, but still somehow tart, fruit puree with a vodka kick--a taste that lasts all the way through the aftertaste, with little change from one phase to the next. The sugar is so powerful that the bottle's rim is even slightly crusted over.

If you're looking for something to replace your wine cooler, then look no farther: this is as close as you're going to get, and remain drinking a beer. But if you're looking for hops and malts, I suggest you seek elsewhere.

A- I poured this directly into the middle of the base of my glass and it created a half inch thick fizzy head that quickly dissipates into nothing really. It is clear and has a pinkish hue that is also slightly orange. Carbonation looks plentiful and I didn't find any lacing to speak of, unlike the other people who have rated this.

S- Alright, this is more promising. Yes, it does have a semi-sweet syrupy aroma, from the juice and "purity syrup" that's used to sweeten it up. If you can get by that though, there is some grainy malt noticeable, fruit (cranberries of course), and there's even a slight yeasty/biscuit note about it.

T- I quite like the flavor of the beer. It's sweeter, but not super sweet, although the syrup used does come through. The use of cranberry juice tarts this beer up somewhat and the malt is detectable as well. Even the finish shows a lightly hopped character, leaving a bittersweet fruity aftertaste.

M- The body is surprisingly thicker than what I expected, and is fizzy...just as I thought by looking at it. It isn't too bad overall in this category.

D- I think this is actually a very good fruit beer! I would like to drink this in hot weather and think it's a perfect patio beer. It is obviously a great desert beer and agree that this would be a very good substitute for vodka/rum coolers. I would put this amongst my favorite fruit beers....I recommend this one.

Clear, unlabeled bottle from the brewery- Transparent pinkish/red liquid sits under a slightly pink fizzy head, leaving some lace. Nose is cranberry kool aid-esque, sugars, some yeast and straw. The flavour profile is very sweet fruit juice (cranberry, strawberry) with nothing to really balance the sweetness. Just the tiniest hop bitterness trying to balance. This is very sweet and fizzy, and in its current state, would do well as a cooler substitute. Too sweet for me really. Thanks mom

Fresh from the brewery on bottling day.

Ingredients: Beer, Cranberry Juice, Purity Syrup.

What the heck is Purity syrup?

Convenience stores in Newf'nland are allowed to sell beer, but not coolers. So they've introduced a variety of cloud flavours to crack the cooler market.

A: Strawberry red with a pink head; some retention; excellent lacing.

S: Cranberry, biscuity/bready malt, sweet fruitiness.

T: Cranberry, biscuity/bready malt, pleasant sweet/tart balance.

M: Moderate body & carbonation.

D: Very drinkable. It blurs the cooler/beer styles, but there's not cloying sweetness.