Sparkleberry
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
- From:
- Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Fruit and Field Beer
Ranked #200 - ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 83
Ranked #32,980 - Avg:
- 3.67 | pDev: 11.72%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 38
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 14, 2022
- Added:
- Jul 08, 2013
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 14
SCORE
83
Good
83
Good
Sparkleberry is an American interpretation of a Belgian Tripel brewed with raspberries.
Slightly tart, dry and spicy, it was originally brewed for release at Kalamazoo Pride in 2013, the same year it won a Bronze Medal at the Great American Beer Festival.
It has returned every year since drawing incredible praise at other Pride events, beer festivals and at our Pub.
Sparkleberry is a celebration of diversity and will debut in cans for wider distribution in June, 2018. Sparkle on.
Slightly tart, dry and spicy, it was originally brewed for release at Kalamazoo Pride in 2013, the same year it won a Bronze Medal at the Great American Beer Festival.
It has returned every year since drawing incredible praise at other Pride events, beer festivals and at our Pub.
Sparkleberry is a celebration of diversity and will debut in cans for wider distribution in June, 2018. Sparkle on.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by GRPunk:
Reviewed by GRPunk from Michigan
3.84/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bell's Sparkle Berry
16 oz. can ($3.70 from Copper Vine) pkgd 051719, poured into a Bell's Nonic pint
A- The body is a clean, deep red-pink that shows moderate carbonation. The head is pinkish and a bubbly 1/2 finger before it settles to a light film. Bubbles continually break the surface. Light rings and spots are left on the glass.
S- A mix of sugary sweet and tart. Lots of raspberry. Seems pretty natural, like a raspberry juice cocktail. Some underlying bready malts are apparent. You really have to dig for any hint of booze. Almost sherbet-like.
T- All sorts of raspberry. It starts sweet and melds into a really (pleasantly) tart finish. It really doesn't change much from start to finish. If you like raspberries, and I do, this beer's for you. It almost loses the "beer" quality, but not quite.
M- Lots of carbonation. Very tart and dry finish, just short of puckering. The ABV is well hidden. Medium body overall.
O- Brewed for "K-zoo Pride," Bell's can be proud of this brew. Super fruity, sweet and tart. A pint is probably the right serving. This would have been a gateway type of beer for me some 25 years ago. Just short of too fruity (dangerously close at the end of a pint). Good warm weather, thirst quencher.
A- 3.75 S-4 T-3.5 M-4 O-3.75
Jun 09, 201916 oz. can ($3.70 from Copper Vine) pkgd 051719, poured into a Bell's Nonic pint
A- The body is a clean, deep red-pink that shows moderate carbonation. The head is pinkish and a bubbly 1/2 finger before it settles to a light film. Bubbles continually break the surface. Light rings and spots are left on the glass.
S- A mix of sugary sweet and tart. Lots of raspberry. Seems pretty natural, like a raspberry juice cocktail. Some underlying bready malts are apparent. You really have to dig for any hint of booze. Almost sherbet-like.
T- All sorts of raspberry. It starts sweet and melds into a really (pleasantly) tart finish. It really doesn't change much from start to finish. If you like raspberries, and I do, this beer's for you. It almost loses the "beer" quality, but not quite.
M- Lots of carbonation. Very tart and dry finish, just short of puckering. The ABV is well hidden. Medium body overall.
O- Brewed for "K-zoo Pride," Bell's can be proud of this brew. Super fruity, sweet and tart. A pint is probably the right serving. This would have been a gateway type of beer for me some 25 years ago. Just short of too fruity (dangerously close at the end of a pint). Good warm weather, thirst quencher.
A- 3.75 S-4 T-3.5 M-4 O-3.75
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire
3.18/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.18/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
From a 16 oz can dated 062121. Sampled July 21, 2022.
The appearance is reddish amber but more red I'd say Tan head.
The aroma is alive with raspberries and a lower profile toasted white bread note.
Light to medium mouthfeel.
The flavor is all about sweet raspberries without the seeds. Mild dry ending. Very mild bitterness.
Jul 21, 2022The appearance is reddish amber but more red I'd say Tan head.
The aroma is alive with raspberries and a lower profile toasted white bread note.
Light to medium mouthfeel.
The flavor is all about sweet raspberries without the seeds. Mild dry ending. Very mild bitterness.
Reviewed by andypeters1971 from Georgia
3.89/5 rDev +6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.89/5 rDev +6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Not bad in what they are trying to do, although I'm not sure that I agree that it's a Tripel. The berry part is very underplayed which is a good thing. Everything else seems to work
Jul 01, 2022
Reviewed by DarkLordScott from Wisconsin
2.47/5 rDev -32.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
2.47/5 rDev -32.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
16 ounce can, also stamped 060121.
Pours light red, with moderate carbonation and a fresh, light raspberry aroma. There is a light head which leaves some lacing. Taste is mildly bitter; not tart, sour or sweet but bitter with a raspberry finish. Mouthfeel is light, medium bodied and clean. Very little sweetness comes to the front in my tasting. This does not carry as a 9%.
Sep 20, 2021Pours light red, with moderate carbonation and a fresh, light raspberry aroma. There is a light head which leaves some lacing. Taste is mildly bitter; not tart, sour or sweet but bitter with a raspberry finish. Mouthfeel is light, medium bodied and clean. Very little sweetness comes to the front in my tasting. This does not carry as a 9%.
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
3.77/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
16oz can. Stamped on can bottom is packaging date of '060121'. Shelf life is give as '6 Months'.
Red berry colored, slightly cloudy body. Big pinkish head upon pouring recedes to a thin partial cap. Leaves a good coverage of lacing on the non-drinking side of the glass.
Aroma is raspberry with a background of Belgian yeast.
Taste is slightly tart with the raspberry flavor, and has a Belgian yeast base. Has a sweet side.
Medium mouth feel. Good carbonation.
Pleasant drinking ale, mostly presented with the raspberry and a little tripel type base.
Jul 23, 2021Red berry colored, slightly cloudy body. Big pinkish head upon pouring recedes to a thin partial cap. Leaves a good coverage of lacing on the non-drinking side of the glass.
Aroma is raspberry with a background of Belgian yeast.
Taste is slightly tart with the raspberry flavor, and has a Belgian yeast base. Has a sweet side.
Medium mouth feel. Good carbonation.
Pleasant drinking ale, mostly presented with the raspberry and a little tripel type base.
Reviewed by VoodooBear from Puerto Rico
3.78/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Presentation: 16 oz. can with the canning date printed on the bottom. Served in a tulip glass.
Appearance: The pink, one finger head stays around for a bit and leaves behind a lot of lacing that covers the entire
glass. It's an absolutely stunning, crystal clear, bright ruby color.
Smell: There's a fruity raspberry aroma with a slight medicinal note right after.
Taste: Pretty much the same as the nose; it starts with soft raspberry at first but a quite strong, medicinal flavor follows and stays around until the end.
Mouthfeel: It's light and refreshing with a smooth, high carbonation crispness.
Overall: Deceptively light and easy to drink for the hefty 9% ABV it carries. That said, it's just a good, middle of the road beer.
Jun 17, 2021Appearance: The pink, one finger head stays around for a bit and leaves behind a lot of lacing that covers the entire
glass. It's an absolutely stunning, crystal clear, bright ruby color.
Smell: There's a fruity raspberry aroma with a slight medicinal note right after.
Taste: Pretty much the same as the nose; it starts with soft raspberry at first but a quite strong, medicinal flavor follows and stays around until the end.
Mouthfeel: It's light and refreshing with a smooth, high carbonation crispness.
Overall: Deceptively light and easy to drink for the hefty 9% ABV it carries. That said, it's just a good, middle of the road beer.
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