Watermelon Wingman
Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant

Poured from a 12 oz. can. Yes, that can did come from the previous reviewer, the supreme ruler of canned beers, woodychandler. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of watermelons, some sweetness. Taste is watermelon, equally sweet and tart, hints of yeast. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a unique and enjoyable beer.

 

The inaugural Watermelon Wednesday CANtinues while furthering The CANQuest (tm)! A recent hook-up from The Friendly Greek Bottle Shop & we're underway.

From the CAN: "The Place Where We Drink"; "On a hot and humid summer day, nothing tastes better than a crisp, refreshing Watermelon Wingman Saison. The all-natural juicy watermelon sweetness [CAN]tributes to the seamless balance of fruity and spicy esters provided by our Belgian yeast. A modern spin on the traditional farmhouse style, this highly carbonated ale is dry and invigorating with a fresh watermelon aroma and delicious succulent flavor."

I love a good Crack! to start things off just right. This was no exception & so I followed it up with an inverted Glug to really get the celebration started. I got a brief finger of fizzy, foamy, bone-white head that quickly dissipated into wisps. Color was a lightly-hazy Straw-Yellow (SRM = > 2, < 4). Nose was closer to real watermelon than the previous Bud Light Lime Water-Melon-Rita, but here, it was interfered with by the farmhouse funk of a Saison. I just want to taste watermelon on Wednesday! How hard must it be?!? Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was more like a Saison with watermelon involved than a Watermelon beer with Saison yeast. It was a nice flavor, but the yeast was throwing esters that were overwhelming the watermelon. It definitely had a real watermelon flavor, but I kept butting up against the Saison funkiness. I realize that this is what the brewers were aiming for, but it missed my mark. Finish was semi-dry to dry with a lingering CANbined funk & watermelon taste. What CAN I say? It was good, especially on a humid summer evening, but it just was not quite my bag.