When I look back at all of the different beers that I have tried this summer, one thing is readily apparent: I’m been drinking a lot of fruity beers! Here are just a few of the fruity beers that I’ve had thus far: Terrapin Maggie’s Peach Farmhouse Ale, Ithaca Apricot Wheat, Lindemans Peche, Kriek, and Cassis Lambics, Samuel Smith’s Organic Apricot, Dogfish Head Festina Peche, Aprihop, and Sixty-One, Southern Tier Plum Noir, Founders Rubaeus, and 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat.
Since Summer 2013 has evolved into the “Summer of Fruiting Up My Beer”, I couldn’t resist picking up this can of Manayunk Brewing Company’s Schuylkill Punch when I saw it on the shelf at WineWorks while pulling together a mixed six pack. I was also intrigued by this beer since the words Schuylkill Punch aren’t exactly synonymous with something that you should be drinking. At least not to a Philly native such as myself.
Before we get on with this review, here is what Manayunk Brewing Company has to say about their Schuylkill Punch Raspberry Ale:
Ruby colored ale fermented with over 500 lbs of real raspberries for a distinct berry aroma & a tart, yet not too sweet flavor. This beer is brightly filtered to protect its delicate profile. The name refers to the term used in old days in reference to Philadelphia drinking water & the recipe has been a part of Manayunk Brewing Company since its earliest days.
Let’s find out what this Schuylkill Punch business is all about…
- Appearance: Bright ruby red color. Think fluffy head with a pink hue that tops out at about an inch and then dissipates really slowly, settling down to a thin layer of foam. No lacing.
- Aroma: The aroma is very straight forward, i.e. it smells like freshly pureed raspberries with a hint of biscuity malt and maybe a touch of freshly grated lemon zest.
- Taste: Lightly carbonated with a velvety smooth mouthfeel. Perhaps a touch on the syrupy side. Much like the nose, the palate is very straightforward, i.e. they weren’t kidding when they called this a raspberry ale. The raspberries stick with you from beginning to end, yet are never overbearing. The flavors are slightly tart with hints of sweet malt to lend some balance. There’s a slight pucker in the finish with some of that lemon zest coming through.
- ABV: 6.0%
I gotta admit, I was pleasantly surprised by Manayunk Brewing’s Schuylkill Punch. While it doesn’t have a great deal of complexity, I really enjoyed how the fresh picked raspberry flavors came through from beginning to end. This wasn’t a mind blowing beer, but it was definitely tasty and I would love the opportunity to try it on tap.
