Why are watermelon beers so polarizing?

Ser? Never heard of this before, but I'm intrigued.

 

I agree with that. I have had a few beers made with peaches or berries that were good but for the most part i don't like added fruit flavors.

 

Several others have made a similar/same point as mine -- "real" fruit flavor seems difficult to impart into beer (I'm not a brewer myself, so I can't speak from direct experience)

So fruit beers either:

1) get a subtle fruit element by using "real" fruit -- and then people (and I am guilty of this) are disappointed by the lack of dominance of the fruit

2) get all their "fruit" by artificial means -- and then people (and I'm guilty here too) complain about the artificial "jolly rancher" flavor or that the beer becomes a "shandy"

I don't have any solution to this one. But I am constantly drawn to fruit beers for the allure of that perfection ("real" fruit done in an impactful way), and often disappointed by the two outcomes above.

 

Horses for courses as they say. I enjoy the subtle fruit element and am disappointed when the fruit flavor dominates.

 

I think I would prefer a slice of beer infused watermelon...

 

I wish there were improvements in the packaging of fruit flavored beers such that they all explicitly stated how the flavor was attained. Artificial, natural, fresh, frozen, syrup, etc. etc.

I once put a couple pieces of fresh watermelon in my Leipziger Gose and that was very nice.

 

Yeah, I've no problem understanding it either which is why in an earlier thread I gave a "like" to someone who described them as "beers for people who don't like beer."

 

http://thebeeroness.com/2014/06/20/beer-soaked-watermelon/

 

My watermelon experience is varied

Hell or High Watermelon was good, New Belgium Blind Melon was OK, BP Watermelon Dorado was not good, Terrapin Watermelon Gose was god-awful, and Anderson Valley's Briney Melon Gose was the most vile beer (and I use that term loosely) that I've ever tasted

 

I liked Watermelon Dorado. I didn't think it had the Jolly Rancher thing going on. To me, there was a more pronounced cucumber flavor that I found nicely refreshing. It was more subtle than overly fruity. (Plus it's 10% ABV. What could possibly go wrong? ) If watermelon beers are "polarizing," it might have something to do with the somewhat less-than-universal appeal of the combination of flavors they embody.

Of course, the same claim could probably be made of coffee beers, coconut beers, mango beers, chili beers, etc.

 

I agree on AV Briney Melon Gose. Hits the spot after a hot work day. The rest?
I've seen people salting muskmelon, & it is good, but never watermelon .
ps : Just tried it. I can see the attraction, but still prefer the straight watermelon. : )

 

Salt enhances flavor, watermelon is somewhat muted watered down tasting so the salt amplifies what flavor is there.

 

The only watermelon beer I've ever had was Hell Or High Watermelon, which wasn't bad but wasn't great either. It didn't have a strong, sweet watermelon taste, more like a subtle-light watermelon rind flavor, which I think was to its benefit. Worked fairly well with the wheat.

Personally, If I'm going to mix watermelon and booze, it's going to be watermelon chunks aged a few days in raspberry vodka with a bit of extra sugar.

 

Watermelon Dorado has ruined the reputation of all watermelon beers for all of eternity (yes it is that bad).

 

I always thought Hell or High Watermelon tasted like cucumber.

And i very much enjoy vodka soaked watermelon, never tried raspberry but will definitely give it a shot, cheers to beers and new idears sir

 

I've liked almost every watermelon beer I've tried except Ballast Point Watermelon Dorado. Watermelon flavors tend to go well with lighter wheat beers in my experience.

 

I've only had New Belgium's Heavy Melon and it tasted like artificial garbage. My mother liked it though, so I gave her the rest of the six pack.

 

I've yet to have one I enjoy. I'm sure its out there though. I didn't enjoy hell or watermelon at all.

 

"Don't Fruit the Beer!" Man Law

 

I really like Manayunk Watermelon wingman.....I grabbed a four pack and never saw it again.

Briney Gose is also good but different from the above

Enjoy