I have to admit, from time to time I really enjoy a very fruit-forward beer. Two of the most iconic beers in this style come from New Glarus Brewing Co. in, you guessed it, New Glarus, Wisconsin. Their Wisconsin Belgian Red is an extreme fruit beer with over a pound of Door County cherries in each bottle. Each bottle!
Middle Ages Brewing Company, out of my birthplace Syracuse, New York is one brewery with a Barleywine on their year-round rotation. Druid Fluid, an American Barleywine at 9.5% ABV, is made in a traditionalist fashion at the brewery. They still do not have any computerized systems pre-measuring their beers, instead they do the measuring and mixing by hand.
The Hairy Eyeball (awesome name) from Lagunitas Brewing Company, has been sitting around aging for a few months. This American Strong Ale at 8.7% ABV comes in the newly signature short and stubby 12 oz bottles. I do enjoy an occasional Strong Ale, and hope Lagunitas has a good take on a hard style to master.
21st Amendment from San Fransisco, California is another leader in the craft beer can revolution. Their Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Monk’s Blood, is packed into an ominous black can with an interesting scroll transcribed on it. At 8.3% ABV, this is our first review of anything from 21st Amendment, so hopefully the Monk’s Blood leaves a good first impression.
The Anchor Old Foghorn is an English-style Barleywine that seemed to be a bit lighter in its alcohol content at 8.8% ABV. That is, compared to some other ones I’ve had like the Dogfish Head Olde School which holds a massive 15.04% ABV. Having said that, the Old Foghorn is quite sessionable for the style, and that’s nothing to complain about.
