Cranberry Ale
Cape Cod Beer

 

This was part of my sampler tray.
The beer is a rather strange pinkish color, with no head whatsoever. It looks like cherry 7-UP, to be honest. Interesting color, at least.
The aroma is pretty much just cranberry. Perhaps some pale malt underneath, but I can't be sure. I like cranberry, but I wouldn't mind something else, either.
The flavor starts out with the meekest pale malt presence ever. I'm guessing this is the same recipe as their light ale, but with considerable cranberry extract added to kill off any undesirable flavor, like malt and hops. The cranberry plows over any and all other flavor, finishing with, you guessed it, more cranberry. The carbonation is rather soda-like, although definitely natural. The cranberry is more sweet than tart, but I guess it's ok. I'd just really like some malt or something else besides fruit.
More of a cranberry soda than a beer. I guess the only difference would be alcohol, but I can't imagine craving a pint of this.

5oz sample at the brewpub.
Pour is clear pink, no head, very minimal body carbonation. Aroma is pure cranberry, tart, and a little sweet, too. Flavor is all about the cranberry - tart and fruity. Body is medium, somewhat syrupy feeling. Not overly impressed with this, although my wife liked it a bit more than I.

This light-bodied ale, one among seveal at the Hyannisport brewpub, is alone worth the trip to Cape Cod. The use of cranberry essence is clear by the reddish color of the brew along with an almost mead-like honey sweetness . It has a clean finish and goes down wicked smooth.