Shannon Blackberry Crystal Wheat

Spring is here.  Summer's on the way.  And i guess that means that i'm going to start sampling more beer with fruit in it.  I've never been much of a traditionalist as far as beer goes, having actually brewed a loquat wheat ale myself using the fruit from the tree in my backyard, so i'm all for this.  Shannon Brewing, up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, seems to be all for it too, the seasonal offering for the upcoming hot days of summer being their Blackberry Crystal Wheat, a 6.2% ABV wheat beer brewed with...you guessed it...blackberries.  The beer pours pinkish gold, with a light purple tint to the frothy head and smells of wheat and fruit with some bread notes in the mix.  Dry and crisp, the brew has light notes of wheat, malt, banana, citrus, and yeast...with plenty of blackberry too.  All in all, it's a pretty easy drinking beer that pairs its sweet and bitter sides evenly.  Bring on the summer.

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Flying Man Weedhopper Honey Wheat

On vacation...relaxing just as soon as the kids are dropped off at school/day care...and prepping for some daytime adventures in the city for SXSW.  So naturally, some easy-drinking, sessionable beers are on the agenda for the week.  And our slew of local brewers do not disappoint.  Pflugerville's Flying Man Brewing Co. is relatively new to the pack, but have caught my attention with their Weedhopper Honey Wheat, a 5.5% ABV German ale that pours a light, brownish gold with a white head.  Aromas of oats, honey, and florals hit the nose, while notes of honey, molasses, and hops hit the tongue, smooth and light-bodied for these spring days.  Nice.

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Kentucky Peach Barrel Wheat Ale

Very often when i'm shopping for beer, either at the grocery store, or a corner store, or liquor store, or just a place that specializes in craft brews, i'll encounter a brewery rep giving out samples of their wares.  This is always a good thing, and every so often, i'll be swayed to take some home with me.  Such was the case on Saturday at Hamricks Market in Cedar Park, Texas, when i was won over by the Kentucky Peach Barrel Wheat Ale from Alltech Lexington Brewing, a delicious wheat beer brewed with peaches and then aged in bourbon barrels.  Pouring a crisp golden hue with a white and bubbly head, the beer certainly lives up to its namesake, the peach aromas being at the forefront, along with some hints of bread, spice, and bourbon.  The flavor is very similar to the smell, an earthy mix of bread, peach, oak, and bourbon...and somehow it works.  And it proved to be a lovely 8% ABV libation to wind down with on a Saturday night.

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