Salted Watermelon Wheat
Barbarian Brewing

a very clever brew here, simple clean wheat beer at its core, but done up with fresh watermelon juice and salt. the fruit is natural and the salt both enhances it and keeps it from getting too sweet, i think the proportions are awesome, and even though this is a lot more summer than fall, its real well done. no color to it from the watermelon at all, looks like a wheat beer from the can, deep golden color, a little dense for its lower abv, not quite clear, and holding a real thick and rich looking white head. the nose is cool because i get the sweet flesh of the watermelon, high summer and thirst quenching even before i taste it, but i get a little bitterness and greenness from the rind as well, minerals from the salt enhancing the fresh wheat, and maybe a little lemony tang, its not sour or anything, but just a prickle of acidity in here, all real clean. the flavor is super juicy up front, no mistaking the watermelon, real as i have known it in just about any beer. no real residual sugar which is impressive, i love the freshness and boldness of the wheat malt, is balancing, this isnt all fruit. nice fuller feel for being as light as it is, thats the wheat, everything in nice balance, good carbonation, and this stood up well to spicy bbq food. really dug this one, even in the fall. nice job!

edit: on tap and fresh in high summer this one is so good, the watermelon does give it a little pink hue this year, and its so juicy and refreshing its amazing. the salt is subtle , more subtle in summer 2023 than i remember it from a couple years ago, but it enhances the fruit, dries out the finish, and adds an almost addicting character to this. one of my current favorite barbarian beers and one of their cleanest fruited ones at the moment, so authentic and dialed in. increasing a couple of scores to reflect how this has been honed. so good and so drinkable!

edit: 2024 vintage seemed a little les honest on the watermelon, like not as ripe and juicy and real, more candied, less salted, just not as clean and dramatic overall, still tasty, but last year was significantly better. leaving scores alone to reflect this at its best.