Fruit and Spice Beer: The thin line between delicious and disgusting

Pumpkin beer is sadly coming to close before we actually hit Halloween, so be warned. Go out and get some before it's all gone. In the style of Fruit and Spice Beers, it's not the best thing you can add to beer, but I'll never turn a good pumpkin beer down.

Some types of fruit beers don't fair so well. Last weekend I had the honor of trying an Austrian Radler (which has nothing to do with snakes). Radler is a half-beer half-lemonade mixture popularized in Germany and Austria by thirsty cyclists apparently more concerned about hydration than most of the ones I know.

Typically, this sort of drink is mixed at a bar, but Austrian brewery Stiegl, who generally makes respectable beer, released a bottled radler. If there was any lemonade - or even a lemon derivative - used in this beer, it'd be news to me. It's the product of light beer and lemon-flavored syrup. I've really only tried one other Radler, which I've pasted my review in below, but lemons and beer are a dubious at best combination.

Stiegl Gaudi Radler Shandy (Lemon)
Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg GmbH
Fruit Beer | 2.50% ABV

C+ / 3.05
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | drink: 3
rDev: +2%

Thanks to Sue and Meg for sharing their case of Shandy. This is an old sub-style (lemonade+beer) I've wanted to try for a while. This one however, is more just an ultra-light lager with lemon syrup added. Instead of juice, the lemon tastes more like Lemon Drops and candy. The light lager is pleasant and clean, but this beer is too sweet. However, if you dig the thicker, sweeter fruit lambics, this might be up your alley.


Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Fruit Beer | 4.20% ABV

C+ / 3.2
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 3.5

I think this one should be filed under fruit beer. There's a big, tart lemonade flavor up front with a bit of wheat flavor following. The aroma has a bit of lemon. It's kind of like they took a very pale wheat beer and dumped Country Time lemonade mix into it. If you love lemons and NEED them in beer, go for this otherwise, its not much more than lawnmower beer.

A drink for Frank Vandenbroucke

The insanely talented and just plain insane Frank Vandenbroucke passed away this week. For anyone unfamiliar with Frank VDB, he was supposed to be the next great Belgian cyclist. In the late 90's he amassed an impressive list of wins, but between outside pressure and doping allegations, he imploded in a mess of performance dehancing drugs, drunk driving, and depression (to name a few of his issues).

Demons aside, the world has lost one of its most passionate cyclists and a strong drink is in order. For Frank, I dug deep into my cellar and pulled out an 2-year-old Rochefort 10. Not only is Rochefort 10 a Belgian quad, the king of Belgian beers, it's also the strongest of the Trappist brews.

Frank, here's to you.

Trappistes Rochefort 10
Brasserie de Rochefort (Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy)
Quadrupel (Quad) | 11.30% ABV

A- / 4.15
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 5

The appearance was a typical Trappist quad, muddy brown with a red tint. The aroma held hints of citrus and was almost milky and cola-like. The flavor was very mellow, almost like a sweet old ale. It feels creamier than the Bernardus, though I unfortunately can't compare it to the Westlveteren yet. There's a little banana with the subtle fruit malt flavors. Like the other quads, this isn't the boldest beer. But despite the alcohol, it's oh-so drinkable if you can afford it.

Oktoberfest in in October (It's mostly in September)

The actual Oktoberfest in Munich ended a week ago. And while the 'fest beers showed up in stores long before that, I've been too busy drinking them to write about my favorites. Still, they should be hanging around your local beer store at least until the end of the month, so here are a few I've enjoyed and recommend.


Weissenohe Monk's Fest
Klosterbrauerei Weissenohe
Märzen / Oktoberfest | 5.00% ABV

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

On-tap at the Farmhouse. Served in a standard pint glass, it appears a clear amber-orange with a short white head. Wow this beer is fresh. Right off the bat, it's an expertly balanced, and seemingly flawless Oktoberfest. The aroma and flavor a filled with a seemingly simple bready and light caramel malt profile that's countered by a subtle hop note. I imagine this is what O-fest's from the big German brewers, especially Spaten, would taste like if they fresh and untainted by travel. Overall, this beer is incredibly drinkable and it's a shame this beer isn't everywhere.


Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen
Paulaner Salvator Thomasbraeu AG
Märzen / Oktoberfest | 5.80% ABV

B+ / 3.95
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a single as part of a mixed sixer of seasonal beers at Liberty St. Tavern. Pours a clear amber with a short off-white head. Ah, I love the original Oktoberfests. I wish I'd had this earlier in the season because these put everything in perspective. The aroma and flavor are a smooth caramel flavor that finish with light roasted flavors and a hint of hops. The flavor is fairly clean and there's nothing remotely off. Basically it's tasty and very drinkable. I'd drink a stein-full anytime.


Sly Fox Oktoberfest
Sly Fox Brewing Company
Märzen / Oktoberfest | 5.80% ABV

B+ / 3.85
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

On-tap at the Royersford brewery. The beer appeared a clear golden orange in my pint glass with two fingers of head. The aroma was rich with caramel, bread crust, and a mild fruity lager tang. The flavor followed up on the same notes, but was a touch subtle for the style. Still, the overall character was very true to the style and I enjoyed catching this beer on the tail end of the Oktoberfest season. Worth trying for anyone that loves traditional German O-fest beer.

Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen
Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying
Märzen / Oktoberfest | 5.80% ABV

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Picked up a 500ml from Byerly's in Maple Grove. Pours a clear amber-gold with a white head. Man I wish Ayinger beer were more readily available/cheaper. This is a great O-fest, rich with bready caramel malts with a smooth, oh-so drinkable body. It is a touch thicker than other in the style, Spaten comes to mind as a thinner beer, but man it's good. The flavor has subtle layers of malt with a touch of crisp light toffee, with an aroma to match. I'll be looking forward to having this again next fall.