I’ve not spent a lot of time with fruity flavored beers. Occasionally, I’ve dabbled with a fruit flavored hard seltzer or hard iced tea or hard cider, but not beer.
Truly, White Claw and Quirk brands
Angry Orchard, Austin Easciders
Since the drinking days began, I’ve been satisfied with beers without fruit flavoring – but I’m widening my drink options. And it started on my recent trip to Maine. Ever tasted a blueberry flavored beer? Well, no. Maine is famous for blueberries and they are proud to put them into their beer. Okay, you sold me.
Maine accounts for essentially all commercial wild blueberry harvesting in the U.S., so blueberries are probably a big deal. Okay, okay!
On our first night in Bar Harbor, I splurged. It was my wife’s birthday so the lobster was flowing freely and a blueberry flavored beer sounded interesting. The risk taker in me was all for it.
On this list are mostly blueberry beers, but several have other fruit juices.
Slippin’ Blackberry Fuited Sour
Untapped gave it 3.56 rating out of 5.0 Brewed by Odell Brewing at Fort Collins, Colorado.
I like this beer, the blackberry taste was not overpowering, but evident.
Sweet Tart Blueberry
Marries crisp, fruity goodness with a touch of sour that is entirely refreshing. With a rosé-like effervescence and a tartness that teases your taste buds, Sweet Tart Blueberry hits you with the right amount of flavor in a perfectly light body. The blueberries in Sweet Tart Blueberry are grown by our friends Jon and Briar Fishman on their farm Elderflower Farm in Lincolnville, Maine. Enjoy!
4.6% ABV
This was my first experience with blueberry flavored beer. I was intrigued. There is a tartness to the blueberries, but I found it refreshing. Charter House Restaurant in Bar Harbor.
Wild Maine Blueberry Ale
Orono Brewing Co. – Light Ale Brewed with Wyman’s Blueberries. Actual full blueberries in the beer. Experienced this beer at Getty’s in Bar Harbor. The only experience with actual blueberries in the beer. Delightful!
5% ABV
Low Buch Shandy
This collaboration with Blue Barren Distillery is a light refreshing ale brewed with lemon and blueberry juice, perfect for Maine summer sipping! 4.8% ABV
Cushnoc Brewer, Augusta, ME
I enjoyed this light tasting ale at the Side Street Cafe in Bar Harbor. Not overpowering, the lemon and blueberries work together.
Prairie Blueberry Boyfriend
Found this beer locally in Kansas City at The Brick, a downtown bar/restaurant. Blueberry and sour, a great combination for a terrific taste. The dash of lemon zest adds to the flavor experience. The best flavored beer I’ve ever tasted. Brewed in McAlister, Oklahoma.
Voodoo Ranger, Juicy Haze IPA
A fruit-forward, hazy option brewed with tropical hop varieties.
Probably the worst beer I’ve ever tasted. Very unpleasant. A very harsh taste. I bought this on a lark, some decisions taste awful. The picture on the can is me after one Juicy Haze.
Dogfish Head Juicy Pale Ale – Milton DE
Tropical hops flavors, Pineapple, mango, passionfruit, lightly sweet and tart, light bitterness. And just a dash of Grateful Dead. While I enjoyed this, the taste did not win me over for a continuing relationship.
5.3 ABV
Berry Noir
Brewed right here in Kansas City by Boulevard Brewing Co. Not as sour as Prairie Blueberry Boyfriend.
Sour ale with strawberry and raspberry puree. Finished with fresh lemon and lime zest.
Pouring a deep purple with electric magenta foam, this brand-new, juicy ale features notes of blueberries and blackberries with a crisp tartness reminiscent of lemonade. A light, spritzy body amplifies the refreshing qualities of this fruited sour and begs for another sip.
I enjoyed it enough for a return gig.
Prairie Artisan Ale – Slush
Sour ale with strawberry and raspberry puree. Finished with fresh lemon and lime zest.
ABV 6.1%
Prairie Artisan Ales is a small third wave brewery from Oklahoma, founded in 2012.
I like it! As flavorful as Blueberry Boyfriend but with strawberry and raspberry instead. We will definitely meet up again.
Final thoughts…
This journey into flavored beers began by accident and a lark. It’s a reminder that behind the door can be a delightful and delicious surprise. Or you can wind up with a nasty, mouthful of hootch. Experimentation begins with curiosity, although I think thirst is certainly a factor. I’m already thinking of ideas for my next taste adventure.
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