Raspberry Duality
Rockford Brewing Company

 

22 ounce bottle into pint glass; no bottle dating, but is a recent seasonal release. Pours hazy dark ruby red color with a 2-3 finger dense and rocky light pink head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a large cap that lasts. Dense soapy lacing clings down the glass, with a large amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Incredible appearance. Aromas of lightly tart red/black raspberry, banana, bubblegum, peppercorn, clove, wheat, biscuit, light nuttiness, herbal, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, raspberries, and bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lightly tart red/black raspberry, banana, bubblegum, peppercorn, clove, wheat, biscuit, light nuttiness, herbal, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Moderate yeast spiciness with light tangy wheat/fruit tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of raspberry, banana, bubblegum, peppercorn, clove, wheat, biscuit, light nuttiness, herbal, and yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, raspberries, and bready malt flavors; with a great malt/yeast spiciness balance, and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light dryness from carbonation. High carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready, and slightly acidic mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.4%. Overall this is an excellent fruited hefeweizen style. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, raspberries, and bready malt flavors; very smooth and fairly refreshing to drink. A very enjoyable offering.