Arbeiter Cranberry Arbeiter

Arbeiter Cranberry Arbeiter. 

5 % ABV, 20 IBU, Arbeiter Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

And now we have a beer that maybe I should've opened up last week, on Thanksgiving Day. Or at any time in the last five days. It matters not why or how not, but I'd better drink it up quick, I've got three more Arbeiter beers to get to, so let's get to drinking. 

It's a cranberry version of their "light ale", sometimes referred to as a kölsch, but not necessarily by them. 

Clear, deep crimson coloring, small white head. 

In the nose: There's the berries. All-cranberry, nothing but. Not too tart, though. 

In the mouth: Here it is on the palate as well. Bit of a bout between tart and sweet, but it's mostly pleasant. Little bitterness, minor malt. Not much happening underneath the fruit. Light bodied, clean, slightly tart, simple. 

I would have taken this to my family gathering, but instead I met up with friends. Was I thinking that it wouldn't have gone over as well with my beer nerd friends, or was it just that I wanted to bring more interesting beers to our get together? 

I think the answer is both. 

Prairie Artisan Ales Seasick Crocodile Sour Ale

 

Prairie Artisan Ales Seasick Crocodile Sour Ale. With cranberry, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

6.3% alc. by vol. Brewed and canned by Kreb’s Brewing, McAlester, OK.

Thoroughly clouded, bright pinkish color, small white head.

In the nose: cinnamon hits first, ginger coming up behind. Fruit is silent.

In the mouth: Kicking it off hot and spicy. Quite tart and with that, the cranberry takes center stage, spice is at the side. With each new sip, that’s what we get: tart cranberry, puckering, spices. Light bodied, refreshing, unique. Tasty little sour ale, I like it.

Oliphant Brewing's Damn You, Bog Boy!

Oliphant Brewing's Damn You, Bog Boy!
5 % ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

Clear, bright crimson coloring, large pinkish head.

In the nose: Tart, vibrant, fruity. Nice.

In the mouth: Nothing but cran-tastic. Clean, crisp, light bodied, and sour. Cranberry's fully in charge, with the orange and cinnamon off to the side. Just enough spice to make it all a little extra nice. Not too sweet, not too tart. If there's any flaw, it's a little thin.

Other than that....Tasty. Refreshing. This is a good one, and I recommend it.

Cranberry sour with orange zest and cinnamon.

There's only one song you should listen to while drinking this beer, and this is it:

Alaskan Cranberry Tart

Alaskan Cranberry Tart. Ale Brewed with Cranberries and Spruce Tips. Alaskan Brewing, Juneau, Alaska. 5.8 % ABV. 25 IBU.

Clear, pinkish hue, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: fruity, tart, clean.

In the mouth: Starts out moderately tart, with cranberry flavor coming through. Drops off thereafter, spruce tips take control, and it ends dry and clean. Small amount of hop bitterness, but a persistent spruce tip attack. Citrus notes pop up and blend with other flavors.

If you want an intense "sour" sort of beer, this is not it. It is a good ol' drinkable, fruity ale with just enough tart to earn the label.

I enjoyed this bottle fine enough, but wouldn't make it through a 6-pack. It's not made for me, though, this I know.


This American tart-style ale exhibits cranberry fruitiness in harmony with malt, wheat, hops, and spruce tips.

This light-pink wheat beer has a hint of spruce notes in the aroma, with a honey sweetness and fruity medley of berry intensity prominent in the nose. The flavor is tart at the beginning, with sweet cranberry and citrus mellowing the overall taste. It has a very light mouthfeel and finishes crisp and clean.

Cranberries are paired with the same Sitka spruce tips we use in our award-winning Winter Ale, with Pilsen and German acidulated malts, plus malted white wheat and Nugget hops.

Original Gravity: 1.050
ABV: 5.8%
Bitterness: 15 IBUs

Color: 8 SRM

Destihl Wild Sour Cranberry Criek

Destihl Wild Sour Cranberry Criek. 5% ABV. 17 IBU. Kettle sour ale with cranberries and cherries. Destihl Brewery, Normal, IL.

Clear, bright crimson coloring, amble off-white (bordering on pink) head on top.

In the nose: sweetness and sour, nice and fruity. Not too this, not too that, right on.

In the mouth: Sourness grips the palate right away, an intense, puckering sour sensation that true sourheads will enjoy. Cranberries pop and spark, cherries give it the sweet and yum. Rich and vinous. Refreshing and delicious.

Our non-traditional Cranberry Criek evolved by merging tart cranberries with sweet cherries, normally associated with a traditional Kriek, but in a kettle sour beer that is wonderfully intricate, balanced, fruity and tart. We then dry-hopped this crimson-colored beer for a touch of citrus aroma and flavor, adding another layer of complexity and a perfect finish. Cheers! 

Enki Creamery Reserve Cranberry Cacao Porter

Enki Brewing Creamery Reserve Cranberry Cacao Porter. Brewed and bottled by Enki Brewing, Victoria, MN.

Bottle one of two purchased at the brewery in November, with every intention to share at holiday gatherings, but just forgot. Ah, well. I'll drink this now by my lonesome, and save the other for a bottle sharing party. Let's jump right into it, now.

Thoroughly dark with a full, rich cocoa-tinted head. Looking fine.

In the nose: Fruit pops out first, we're getting that hint of cranberry, though it's hidden by the rich malts, the cocoa tones, and the light coffee flavors.

In the mouth: It's bigger on the palate, great big cranberry flavors nestled into a solid cocoa porter. Rich malt, with flashes of fruit in every sip. Sweetness and tartness together. Tasty stuff. Medium mouthfeel.  Long, fruity/malty finish. Fine cranberry cacao porter, this. If you see it, go drink it.

Surly One-Time Cranberry Sour Ale

Here's a beer that's popped onto the taproom list late last summer/early fall, and it still shows up again and again. I was able to get a keg for our Surly Showcase event a few weeks ago, and it's still hanging on, so I was able to get a pint after work and take notes. Here they go....

Clear, nearly-pinkish/bright crimson coloring, slim, but lasting, rose-white head.

Aromatics: tart 'n' fruity, just enough sweet and just enough sour.

In the mouth: it's tarter and tarter. A good amount of puckering going on, keeping time with the cranberries. A constant twist of sour and sweet. Real cranberry flavor coming through. Lightish, medium-y bodied, and utterly of ease to drink down. Piece o' cake tossing this back and enjoying the heck out of it. Heck, I'm going to call it, it's yummy. Put that down in the books.