Eating my words about fruit in beer
After making snide comments about putting fruit in beer (the Abita strawberry effort) I recently drank an apricot beer and am now, as the politicians say, revising my position.
The Dogfish Aprilhop is a fine beer. It is an IPA mixed with real apricots. It t smells like apricots, and tastes like beer. It is refreshing, warm-afternoon delight with 7 percent ABV.
It is somewhat pricey at $8 for a four pack. I found it at The Wine Source, and the distributor is FP Winner.
I think it is worth it, but then again, I have always loved apricots. All that Vitamin A in a bottle. Anybody else taste this one?
My bargain beer is Shiner Bohemian Black Lager from the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas.
I found it for $6 a six pack at the Wine Source, and the distributor is Bond. Lots of roasted malt flavor. Very nice balance. Dark as night, and it is 4.9 ABV.
Anybody else familiar with this black beauty?
What does this say about the economy when we consider $6 a six pack a bargain?
Comments
The Aprilhop is excellent on tap at the Dogfish Alehouse in the Rockville area. I keep telling the management they need to expand to Baltimore County with their great beer and grilled pizza. Considering $6 a six pack reasonable is similar to thinking $10 a bottle wine is a bargain. Unfortunately that is where we are today.
Posted by: mark | April 11, 2008 1:22 PM
Knowledgeable beer drinkers were always used to the fact they had to pay an extra couple of bucks for a good six pack. Just because they prices went up a tad, doesn't mean they are going to switch and buy some lame domestic light beer just to save a few bucks.
Posted by: Steve | April 11, 2008 2:06 PM
It wasn't long ago when $6 was what you paid for the good stuff, though. Maybe $6.99. Now, at least at my liquor store, anything good costs at least $8 a six-pack, and usually $9. Even the cheap crap costs close to $6 these days. Stupid hop shortage!
Posted by: Beer Man | April 11, 2008 3:15 PM
The Aprilhop is excellent, I agree. I had to pay 9.50 for a four-pack though. College Park liquor stores gouge like hell because they can get away with it.
Magic Hat 9 is another very good apricot beer.
Posted by: grant | April 12, 2008 4:22 PM
Rob:
You have got to try the Pyramid Apricot. Not a big flavored beer drinker but it is awesome. Found the brewery on a recent trip to Berkeley, Ca. This beer was a signature beer and can be purchased at Beltway. Please leave me a six.
Posted by: Tom | April 12, 2008 10:54 PM
Dogfish beers are the finest. The hops and consitent brewing techniques make for the best of brews. My favorite is 90 minute IPA. at 9.0% ABV it has a subtle "kick" and allow one to drink less volume to get where you want to be!!!
Posted by: Bo | April 13, 2008 1:08 PM
I agree with Tom on the Pyramid Apricot, it blows away the Dogfish. The dogfish to me just didn't have any Apricot flavor. If I'm having a fruit flavored beer I want to be able to taste it. But I don't want it to taste fake/artificial like many do.
The Pyramid is one of my favorites.
I had an Orange Blossom, Leinenliugel's Berry Weiss and they both had that "fake flavor" Even Leinekugel regular Weiss has a fruit flavor. Could not recommend any of those.
Posted by: Zaskar | April 15, 2008 8:39 AM