Tag: Serendipity

Best “New” Beer of the Year: Fruit Beer

3 Comments

2013I sort of fell behind on this endeavor so you can expect a more updates in the next few days. For today’s entry, we are looking at some fruit beers. A style that some love and some hate, but a style that has started taking off. Looking through my list, I had many more of these this year than I originally thought. Finalists for this years best “New” fruit beer where:
*New Glarus Strawberry Rhubarb
*Founders Rubeaus
*Hoppin’ Frog Turbo Shandy
*New Glarus Apple Ale

I had my first New Glarus Apple Ale last weekend and really thought it was delicious, but it’s going to come in 2nd to another New Glarus brew. This years best “New” fruit beer is……………

serendipity

New Glarus Serendipity

Serendipity has a beautiful ruby-red pour with a nice off-white head. Cherry aromas dominate but hints of apple also come through. The flavor is remarkable. The sweetness from the apples combined with the tartness of the cherries and cranberries make this accident very forgivable. Here’s more from New Glarus on this brew:

Happy Accident Fruit Ale Severe Drought, we shared the farmer’s horror as Wisconsin’s cherry crop failed! Dan bought what cherries he could. The apple crop fared better. Then joy! A grand Wisconsin cranberry harvest. What will Dan brew with Apples, Cranberries and Cherries? Oh my! You hold the happy accident of Wisconsin’s favorite fruit aged in oak with an almost magical wild fermentation. Serendipity is a wondrous celebration that sparkles your senses and dances across your palate. A kaleidoscope of flavors discovered by accident in a sour ale! Cheers to the unexpected. Vielen Dank!

**If this is a brew much too sweet for you, I recommend mixing it with an imperial stout for nice fruity touch! **

2013 New Fruit Beer of the Year: New Glarus Serendipity serendipity
ABV: 5.1%
Ratebeer: 100
Beeradvocate: 96

 

Beer Review #101: New Glarus Serendipity

Leave a comment

SerendipityLeave it to Dan Carey at New Glarus to take a bad cherry harvest, an okay apple harvest, and a great cranberry harvest, mix all those together and get a wonderful beer accident that only he can produce! Behold, Serendipity! A sour fruit beer that shows the skill of the brewmaster and also makes the beer drinker yearn for more from this great brewery (www.newglarusbrewing.com). While Spotted Cow seems to be the most recognizable of the brews that New Glarus produces, and it definitely has its place, they push out much more great beer than that. If you’ve never had their Double IPA, Raspberry Tart, Belgian Red, Black Top, Moon Man, Enigma and many more, it’s time to run up to Platteville or even head to Madison or New Glarus itself to check out more of their products.

Serendipity is considered a fruit/sour beer and you can definitely get the tartness from this brew. The flavors of all the fruits really do a number on your taste buds, and the beer pairs perfectly with brownies, chocolate cake, or even makes a great dessert on its own. You can throw this one in with the great fruit beers that are available in the U.S. From the brewery: 

Happy Accident Fruit Ale Severe Drought, we shared the farmer’s horror as Wisconsin’s cherry crop failed! Dan bought what cherries he could. The apple crop fared better. Then joy! A grand Wisconsin cranberry harvest. What will Dan brew with Apples, Cranberries and Cherries? Oh my! You hold the happy accident of Wisconsin’s favorite fruit aged in oak with an almost magical wild fermentation. Serendipity is a wondrous celebration that sparkles your senses and dances across your palate. A kaleidoscope of flavors discovered by accident in a sour ale! Cheers to the unexpected. Vielen Dank!

REVIEW

Style: Fruit/Sour beer

ABV: 5.1%

Purchased at: Woodman’s Market; Madison, WI.

Pour: Off-white, reddish hue, super thick head. Gorgeous ruby pour.

Aroma: Tart cherry aroma, with a bit of apple. Not much from the cranberries.

Flavor: The brewery calls it a happy accident, and it definitely makes you happy. I get somewhat of an apple cider flavor, with cherry flavor following. The cranberries add a perfect tartness to this beer. Excellent stuff!

Ratebeer.com rating: 100/100

Beeradvocate.com rating: 96/100

Overall: A

My recommendation: Yet another must try from New Glarus. Dan Carey continues to shine as one of the best craft breweries in America.