Topic Archives: Vegetable/Fruit Beer

Posted in New Realm Brewing, Coming Soon

POG: New Realm Tropic Dream launches year-round

New Realm Tropic Dream, a fruited wheat ale, joins the brewery’s lineup year-round in March 2022. 

Tropic Dream is a “POG” beer – aka Passionfruit Orange Guava. If POG brings up flashbacks of the milk cap game from the 90’s there’s a reason. The POG drink dates back to creator and product consultant Mary Soon, who worked for Haleakala Dairy in Hawaii in 1971. The caps to the milk bottles spawned the 1990’s milk cap game. Interestingly, the original POG drink was never sold with cardboard caps, but the dairy gave the caps with the POG logo as promotional items in the 70’s. A teacher in the 1990’s was using the milk caps as a counting aid in the classroom, brought up this milk cap game she used to play, and well- it all really caught on. The 90’s kid fights over collectible POGs began. 

As for this “POG,” New Realm’s Mitch Steele and brewing team brewed up something tropical, using fresh blood orange, passionfruit and guava juices. The final recipe was decided after eight different fruited wheat batches. POG goes together for a reason, apparently. 

Tropic Dream has a prominent tropical fruit character, with a slight tartness and smooth finish. It’s light, refreshing, and a beer that we are really proud of.” – Mitch Steele

New Realm Tropic Dream is available at all brewery locations now, with 12-ounce cans launching the first week of March. 

Style: Fruit Beer (w/ Passionfruit. Blood Orange. Guava.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Seasonal Release. 
Debut: March 2022

5% ABV

Posted in Founders Brewing, Don't Miss This

Maple syrup bourbon barrel Founders Frootwood back for 2nd time

Founders Frootwood

Founders Frootwood debuted in 2017. For the first time since its release, Frootwood returns to the brewery’s taproom this month- nationally in January 2022. 

The beer was a big hit amongst the brewery’s barrel-aged beer fans. Frootwood is a cherry ale, aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels. As you might recall, one of the Founder’s most requested beers is also aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels – Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS).

A flavor Battle Royale.

From the moment this story hit Beer Street Journal 2017, the readers were worried the beer would have too much cherry. Or even worse, being too sweet or too boozy. The result was actually a “Battle Royale” of flavor. Each sip pulled you three ways. The main contenders are bourbon, cherries, and maple syrup – each fighting for dominance.  When you hear someone say a beer is “all over the place,” Frootwood is a great example of just that. We hope the latest release is just the same.

We took a crisp, light-bodied cherry ale and hid it away in oak barrels that held both bourbon and maple syrup. After a lengthy sting, it emerged a changed beer, blanketed in notes of warm vanilla and earthy sweetness. The wood proves itself the star of this beer, adding depth and taming the tart cherry while the maple imposes a velvety texture that lingers for not a moment too long.

Founders Frootwood is a 12-ounce bottle release, as well as draft. Estimated retail $15.99 4/pack. 

Style: Fruit/Vegetable Beer (w/ Cherries. Barrel Aged. Bourbon. Maple Syrup.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: January 2017
Latest Return: November 2021

8% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal 

Posted in Bell's Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Bell’s Mango Oberon is being distributed for the first time

Bell's Mango Oberon

Bell’s Oberon is easily one of the most popular seasonal beers in America. (Unless you live in a handful of areas where it’s year-round). Every so often, and in very limited quantities, variants of Oberon have surfaced, such as Pineapple Jalapeno, Guava Raspberry, and Cucumber Basil. This month, another variant – Mango Oberon, has been selected for wider distribution.

Those living close to Bell’s General Store in downtown Kalamazoo have might have seen this beer in the past. According to Larry Bell, brewery president, and founder, says brewery fans have been asking for Oberon special releases to see more distribution.

12-ounce bottles of Bell’s Mango Oberon start shipping in limited quantities across the United States the week after July 4th.

Style: Fruited Wheat Beer (w/ Mango)
Availability: 12oz Bottles
Debut: July 2020

5.8% ABV

Posted in Bell's Brewing, Don't Miss This, Seasonal Return

Diversity promoting Bell’s Sparkleberry Ale returns for another summer

Bell's Sparkleberry Ale Can

Bell’s Sparkleberry Ale returns to 16-ounce cans for summer 2019.

This fruit-forward release first debuted in 2013 in honor of the Kalamazoo, Michigan Pride Festival. Bell’s Brewery was a presenting sponsor. Since then, the beer has been made more widely available on draft, plus a few 750-milliliter bottles at Bell’s General Store.

This summer, Bell’s Sparkleberry Ale returns in 16-ounce cans. The brewery continues to maintain their partnership with Kalamazoo Pride, a fundraiser for OutFront Kalamazoo.  The Kalamazoo Gay-Lesbian Resource Center, OutFront Kalamazoo, continues to serve the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community of greater Kalamazoo, its friends, and allies.

“Our celebration of diversity is no secret, but this can says it front and center. No matter who you are or who you love, all are welcome at Bell’s.”-  Laura Bell, Bell’s Brewery

Bell’s Sparkleberry Ale is now available in 16-ounce cans and draft seasonally.

Style: Fruit Beer (w/ Raspberries)
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. Seasonal Release.

Debut: June 2013 (Draft)
Can Debut: June 2018
Latest Return: June 2019

9% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

Posted in Founders Brewing, Headlines, New Releases

Founders Blushing Monk returns after multi-year hiatus

Founders Blushing Monk 2019

Founders  Blushing Monk makes a return to the brewery’s Limited Release Series in 2019. 

Back by popular demand Blushing Monk, considered the older, boozier sibling to raspberry heavy Rubaeus is the first release in the brewery’s Limited Series in 2019. The fruit beer is fermented with a Belgian yeast strain on a “abundance” of raspberries.

Fruit-forward ferment aromas and spice esters combine with an abundance of raspberries for a tart and luscious, raspberry-jam character.

Founders Blushing Monk will be available nationwide in both 750-milliliter bottles, new 12-ounce bottles and draft starting January 4th.

Style: Fruit Beer (w/ Raspberries.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles. Draft. Limited Release.
Latest Release: January 2019

9.2% ABV

Image: Founders Brewing

Ed Note: Removed the 750ml bottle size. Only 12oz will be available. 

Posted in Wild Heaven Craft Beers, New Releases

Wild Heaven releases Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer cans

Wild Heaven Watermelon Emergency Drinking Beer

Last summer, Avondale, Georgia based Wild Heaven debuted a “summery” edition of their wildly popular Emergency Drinking Beer. The brewery juiced thousands of pounds of fresh watermelons and infused the juice with their pilsner inspired beer. The result is summer in a 12-ounce can.

Despite the success of Watermelon EDB on draft last summer, Wild Heaven took a year review quality control and packaging best practices ahead of canning this fruit beer – a first for the brewery.

Wild Heaven Watermelon EDB has officially made it’s can debut for this first time in time for the official start of summer. Available in 12-ounce cans and draft as hot weather seasonal.

Style: Fruit Beer (w/ Sea Salt. Lemongrass. Watermelon Juice.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Summer Seasonal.
Debut (Cans): Early June 2018

4% ABV

Lead Image: Eric Johnson, Brewery co-founder

Wild-Heaven-Watermelon-EDB-prototype

Watermelon EDB prototype, summer 2017. Image: Beer Street Journal

Posted in New Holland Brewing, New Releases

Blueberries: New Holland Lost Dune debuts in cans

New Holland Lost Dune cans

New Holland Lost Dune is returning to the Michigan based brewery’s line again for the summer.

Designed for warm weather drinking, New Holland Lost Dune is brewed with local blueberries and coriander, plus a heavy dose of Mosaic hops.

“At New Holland, it’s no secret that we’re inspired by the seasonality of ingredients and flavors. Plus, located on Lake Michigan, summer is a natural inspiration. Lost Dune captures the taste of summer with its refreshing and aromatic body.” – Brett VanderKamp, Co-Founder & President.

For the beer’s official launch on May 18th aka “Dune Day”, New Holland has partnered with the Land Conservancy of West Michigan to support the non-profit organization’s mission to permanently protect and care for Michigan’s natural beauty. Participating locations will be donating a portion of sales from each pint of Lost Dune sold on Dune Day to the Land Conservancy of West Michigan.

New Holland Lost Dune will be available seasonally across the brewery’s entire network in 12-ounce cans and draft.

Style: Fruit Beer (w/ Blueberries, Coriander.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Summer seasonal
Debut: Late May 2016
Latest Release: Mid May 2018

?? ABV