Cranberry Beers? Your thoughts?

NG Cran-bic is sweet but solid.

 

Rumpus Room. We're doing a dinner with them in December and they're sending it for that. I have been trying to line up a solid cask program...its harder than it should be.

 

3 Cranes from Mystic.

 

I'm sure I've had others, but the only one that comes to mind was Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic. I know, it wasn't a true lambic, but I thought it was still tasty!

 

Wow. I might have to save up for that dinner. Love what you guys do with food and beer!

 

Thanks, I appreciate it! Send me a pm if you're interested in coming.

 

Never had a cranbeer but I do like gin n cranjuice

 

I like the Sam Adams Cranberry lambic but according to another BA poster I'm the only one. I would be interested in trying other Cranberry beers. Perfect fruit for sours.

 

I liked NB Pumpkick but was not a fan of DFH Kvazir, I think too much cranberry can be bad. I feel it needs to be very subtle.

 

Rodenbach Caractere Rouge has cranberries and it is amazeballs.

 

I really liked the Jacks Abby Berliner aged on cranberries. Really made the fruit the star of the show.

Having a lot of experience with cranberries, I think they are tough to work with from the brewing perspective. It does not ferment well. It has anti microbial properties. It doesn't have distinctive aromatics notes that scream cranberry when you smell them. The flavors are mostly sour, phenolics, and they are astringent. A lot of wineries have tried fermenting with less than stellar results. The logical thing seems to be to make a base beer and put it on the fruit to age or during secondary. In my opinion, the base beer can't be too strongly flavored or it will mask the fruit.

An added bonus is the fermentation products are often undesirable flavors. I have helped a couple of home brewers figure out recipes. One used juice added to a belgian pale base After primary fermentation, and the other used fruit. I have had the one made with juice and it is tasty although the fruit character is subtle. Definitely present, but melded into the overall flavor. Overall a very good beer accurate to style with the cranberry flavor giving it a nice subtle tartness and fruit flavor.

The Jacks Abby beer...took a bit to grow on me, but by the time I was a third way through the growler, I was addicted. Light, true to the fruit, very easy to drink. Refreshing almost along the lines of a lemonade. People at work agreed...brought back a bunch for scientific purposes and market research...it's tough, but somebody has to do these things!

 

The only way it would maybe be okay is if it was subtle in a Lambic. Otherwise, keep those cranberries away from my beer.

 

Best stout with cranberries

 

Ive had NG Serendipity and Lenie's Cranberry Ginger. Serendipity is awesome and Cranberry Ginger isnt bad either.

 

I have to say... as much crap as I am going to get for this post, the Leinenkugel Cranberry Ginger Shandy is surprisingly very tasty. Mostly tastes of cranberry though, with only a slight hint of ginger. Would definitely recommend this for Thanksgiving. Very refreshing and easy to drink! Enjoy!

 

I will second Three Cranes from Mystic. Probably my favorite cranberry beer.

 

I honestly thought the deschutes XXVI was phenomenal.A must try if you want to try some subtle berry flavor in a porter.