My wife is crazy about Lindemans Framboise. She refers to it as “that Raspberry stuff.” Since I dragged her to BevMo this weekend she made sure to grab a bottle of this and Marin Brewing’s Stinson Beach Peach, her two favorite beers. When the time came to open these, I thought I should take the opportunity to share my opinions of the two brews.
She started off with the Framboise. Surprisingly, we haven’t tried any of the other flavors of this line, which includes Apple, Peach and of course, Cherry (kriek). This pours a cloudy red with a pink head. This isn’t a red like you’d find with a Red Ale, this is red as if someone dumped food coloring in the water. The aroma is of tart raspberries from the moment you open the bottle. The flavor is dominated by sweet and tart raspberries and finishes on a sour note that cleanses the palate. If you’re accostumed to subtle raspberry flavors that you might find in other brews, then this will definitely shock you. The fruit flavor is dominating, but this isn’t a bad thing. Very complex, sweet and approachable, this brew is a fun way to show the versatility of beer. Don’t expect to get drunk off of this beer, as it carries a whopping 2.5% alcohol.
Next we opened the Stinson Beach Peach from Marin Brewing Co. This is a fairly typical fruit flavorwed wheat beer. The beer pours a hazy gold with a big head and a distinct peach aroma. The peach flavor is very subtle compared to the assualt you encounter with Lindemans. There is a tartness to this brew that keeps you drinking. A nice fruit flavor and light refreshing beer makes this a good summer time brew.
Fruit beers have always been a polarizing subject. Some feel they are doomed to forever be nothing more than “chick beers.’ Personally, while I won’t reach for a fruit beer before, let’s say, an imperial stout, I can see their appeal as an easy drinking session beer. With the hot summer on the way, see what is on the shelves and give one a try.
