Mmm... Fruit Dream (Blackberries, Tahitian Vanilla & Cascara)
Other Half Brewing - Center Street

 

Picked this up a while ago at Other Half, as it ended up in my massively long queue. I loved all of the other iterations of the Fruit Dream beers and this was up there with those as it was easygoing, flavorful, and not quite like anything I ever had before. I know that Berliner Weisse beers aren't up everyones alley but for those who appreciate good beer, this would certainly please any aficionado!

Such a lovely, grape pour to this as this was a true deep purple with an offsetting, frothy raspberry head topping the liquid off. Lots of blackberries, grape juice, cascara, and vanilla extract in the nose as the taste was quite juicy, tart, and floral in equal amounts. The latter wasn't strong but it was enough to complement the fruit while enhancing it at the same time. Plenty of body in this between the syrupy mouthfeel and hints of cobbler crust and fruit sweetness that lingered in the aftertaste, and beyond...

This was such a session beer that I felt like I was having fruit juice on this cold winter's night. Nothing legible was written on the bottom of the can and this tasted thin and somewhat slick for being as old as it was. The vanilla lent itself to the mouthfeel as everything else was more noticeable, with the end result being a beer that went down easily but gave me plenty to chew on - in more than one way. I love how the beers in this series turned out!

 

 

 

 

 

Canned 5/31. What a beautiful deep magenta this beer is. A modest pale pink head fades quickly leaving no lacing and the tiniest of ring of suds around the glass. Smell is pretty muted right out of the fridge/can but, as it warms up there notes of sour blackberry, hibiscus and a hint of sweet vanilla. Taste is similar. Quite tart initially with some fresh blackberry and hibiscus, not much vanilla though. Carbonation is delicate with a smooth and sour finish. Not quite perfectly balanced as the sour presses forward but the fruit is present. Very delicious!

 

Very strong fruity taste with a strong tartness instead of being sour then the vanilla come in at the finish

 

Canned 3 days ago.

The look is deep purple-red with no head.

The nose is blackberry, blueberry, maple syrup, and doughy malt.

The taste is similar. Blackberry, blueberry cobbler, maple syrup, and subtle lemon zing. More of a fruited dessert beer than a complex sour, but undeniably tasty. Enough lemon to offset the berry and maple notes.

The mouthfeel is silky medium with prickly carbonation.

Overall, I really like this beer. It's unique and probably not for everyone.

Appearance: Pours the color of Welch's grape juice, with a fading mauve head that leaves a squiggly lacing pattern

Smell: Blackberries and vanilla prominent, with a tart wheat edge

Taste: Blackberry tones forward with the vanilla flavors rising; moderately tart with a wheat character emerging, in the middle; the finish is rather dry, with some residual fruit and vanilla lingering

Mouthfeel: Light body with low carbonation

Overall: The vanilla really adds a nice flavor to the blackberry

Thanks, thirsty4beer, for the opportunity