BLUEBERRY WHEAT ~ ELLICOTTVILLE BREWING CO.

I bought a 6 pack of this brew on a day trip to Buffalo. It is quite a novelty for me to walk into a drug store and walk out with beer. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a clear straw colour with a thick dense white head. The head receded to a surface collar and left some very nice lacing. The nose was subtle but did contain a healthy dose of blueberries with a touch of crackers wheat and a mild malt. The beer has a clean bready malt, with crackery wheat, a touch of lemon citrus and mild hop bitterness, the sweet blueberry appears and lingers a little in the aftertaste. The blueberry tastes like a fresh sweet summer pick and is not artificial at all. The mix of the graininess and blueberries almost reminded me a blueberry pie. The body was medium-light, and the carbonation was lively. The finish was dry with lingering berry sweetness. This is a very approachable summer refresher, it is just enough fruitiness, while remaining clean.
4.8% from Ellicottville, New York   11 IBU

Ingredients: Canadian 2 row barley, white wheat, noble German hops, blueberry 

FORGOTTEN LAKE BLUEBERRY ALE ~ LAKE OF THE WOODS BREWING 

Lake of the Woods Brewing is one of Ontario’s northernmost breweries. This beer is made from a patch of wild northern blueberries. Sampled from a tin the beer poured deep hazy amber with pink highlights. A generous light pink head sat atop the beer and had good retention. The head left some lacing as it dissipated. The aroma is very mild, with notes of blueberries, and some cereal grains and caramel malt. The blueberry was very subtle, but did become slightly more pronounced as the beer warmed. The base was caramel malts and cereal grains, with a touch of maple. Earthy grassy hops close the deal. The mouthfeel was fizzy and the body was medium-light. The finish was slightly bitter, dry and a little boozy. Although I would have liked a little more of the wild blueberry flavor, this is a well-balanced pleasant brew.

7.5 % from Kenora, Ontario  IBU 13

Photo courtesy of Lake of the Woods Brewing

ÉPHÉMÈRE BLUET ~ UNIBROUE

I think Unibroue’s Ephemeres are a delicious summer offering. This year’s new release is bluet (blueberry). Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly hazy salmon amber, with puffy pale pink head, which left some nice lacing as it slowly receded. The nose has lots of blueberries, reminiscent of a blueberry pie, with grainy-crackery malts, citrus and a subtle earthy Bready malts and yeastiness. The flavour contains lots of berry goodness without overdoing it. There is a moderate sweetness, blueberry and citrus all on the tongue. Spicy Belgian yeast is also evident. The finish is semi dry with a contains a very mild herbal hop, and some lingering sweetness. The carbonation is moderate and I would place the beer in the medium bodied range. A delicious fruity offering, I will be returning to this one for sure!

5.5% from Chambly, Quebec.