Foeder-Fermented Grisette - Raspberry
Bellwoods Brewery

Served cold into a pint glass. Listed at 3.8% ABV. Forgot about this one. It's been refrigerated for over a year. Canned Jul 24, 2024.

Appearance - Pale pinkish colored with some yellow hues. A small half finger of head is poiured and fizzles away quick. Pretty clear.

Smell - Semi-sweet raspberries and lots of it. Faint wheaty qualities in behind.

Taste - Tart initially with raspberries and a couple burst of sweetness. Refreshing and would make a great summer beer. A vinegar like quality that adds depth.

Mouthfeel - Low carbonation, easy drinking. Nice bout of tartness on the tongue for a smooth feeling.

Overall - Very solid grisette with the raspberries hitting just right.

473 mL can from the brewery; the date stamp is too distorted to read. Listed at 3.8% and served slightly chilled.

Pours a clear-ish pale rosé colour, sporting one finger of bubbly white head that is demolished within ninety seconds. A thin collar of frothy suds lives on, with a few strands of scattered lace clinging to the glass - looks good. Light raspberry jam on the nose, paired with hints of wheat, raspberry yogurt, oak and sweaty armpits.

Tastes fine, though the raspberry dampens both the Brett and the dry hop characteristics somewhat. Raspberry fruitiness at the forefront; tart and a little sweet, with notes of lemon, orchard fruits and wheat also discernible. Light oak, floral hops and some barnyard funk late in the sip, with raspberries, leather and lemon acidity dissipating into the aftertaste as it dries off. Light in body, with moderately assertive carbonation that makes for a crisp, refreshing light ale. Even more sessionable than their original Grisette.

Final Grade: 3.89, a B+. I don't think I can state definitively that I liked Raspberry Grisette more than Bellwoods' base Grisette. This is clearly the more approachable of the two, and I generally enjoy raspberry beers... but adding berries disrupts some of the nuance. I guess it depends on your environment - on a humid August night, I'd have to give the edge to this variant. In cooler weather, it might be a different story. I've never seen this at the LCBO, but if I happen to stumble upon a flat, I'd grab another couple of cans.

Body is dull rose, close to pink grapefruit; even with an aggressive pour it barely forms an airy head, and retention is brief.
Aroma of raspberry or strawberry jolly rancher, if there is such a thing, a touch tart, clean, almost floral.
A mélange of flavours - sweet/tart raspberry, hints of a fruit vinegar, crisp malt, a dash of bittering hops in the finish; dry and super refreshing, with light but sharp carbonation and a bright, vibrant mouthfeel.

This one is made for a hot summer day - maybe after picking berries in the field under the sun! A refreshing, sparkling, easy drinking brew.

Very mild grisette with authentic raspberry. I think an after-dinner digestive. Very pink, semi-watery mouthfeel, lots of lasting bubbly head. More of these, foeder used.