I am going to come right out and admit that I enjoy fruit in my beer. Let me rephrase that. I enjoy beer that is made with fruit, not chunks of fruit dumped in the beer glass. So when I heard that Shipyard Brewing was coming out with a new beer made with blueberries, I knew I would have to try it. Smashed Blueberry, by Shipyard Brewing Co. (Portland, Maine), is a 9% ABV beer that made its debut in May 2011.
Last week while on a beer run I spotted a 22 oz bottle of Smashed Blueberry and added it to my beer basket. I didn’t actually have a basket but I should have. I was going to go in for just one six pack of something. And like the proverbial kid in a candy store, I could not resist grabbing a few other selections. At this particular store they have stopped asking me if I need help as I do spend a fair amount of time just starting and deciding which beer to buy. But soon I had finished the deciding and was juggling my selections in my arms and hands as I made it to the checkout counter. I ended up with a sixer of Harpoon Summer Ale, a 12 pack of Genese Cream Ale ( it was yard mowing day), a 22 oz bottle of Smashed Blueberry, and two cigars. Luckily I didn’t drop anything on the way to the checkout counter.
Later that evening, after a successful battle with the yard, I settled down to try the Smashed Blueberry. While I like beer made with fruit, I’m not overly fond of overly sweet fruity beer. So I was hoping this was not one of those. My first whiff of the glass gave me a rich coffee flavor with a fair amount of blueberry. And the taste was nothing like I was expecting. A very rich taste with hints of blueberry, coffee, and chocolate. But not at all overly sweet. I grabbed the bottle and read the label and found that it is a cross between a Porter and a Scotch Ale, two of my favorites. Unlike some other fruit beers out there, this is not one your going to guzzle. You need to savor it. I really enjoyed this beer.
Here is some information about Smashed Blueberry from the brewery:
This beer is a hybrid between a Porter and a Scotch Ale. This beer has a rich mouth feel and a body of complex intensity. Upfront, there are distinct flavors of coffee and chocolate beautifully accentuated by the aroma of fresh blueberries. The finish features a delicate balance of sweet fruit and dry hops.
Malts: Pale, Crystal, Chocolate, Roasted Barley, Light Munich, Torrified Wheat
Hops: Summit, Tettnang, Cascade
Yeast: Top-Fermenting English
Color: Dark Brown
OG: 1.087
ABV: 9.0%
Food Pairings: Glazed Duck, Ribs, BBQ, Chocolate, Blueberry deserts
First Brewed: May 2011
I think I may need some new eyeglasses. As I read the info from the brewery I was confused. I am not sure if I have ever heard what “Torrified” wheat is. Maybe a misspelling of terrified? I mean do you stand over the wheat with a large sickle and threaten it? And about those glazed duck ribs…those can’t be too filling….oh wait…there is a comma in there…damn eyes…never mind….