Organic Raspberry – Samuel Smith

Here’s the thing:  I don’t generally really like fruit beers.  Too often they taste of fake fruit flavouring, other times, the just don’t taste particularly good.  There are exceptions to this rule, of course, like the classic strawberry beer from Belgium, Fruli.  Samual Smith’s has yet to let me down, though so let’s give this a go!

Organic Raspberry Ale - Samuel Smith's

Organic Raspberry Ale - Samuel Smith's

From a 500ml bottle with a very cool old-fashioned looking label, and the remnants of a date stamp on the neck (no idea what it said though), the beer is red-brown, slightly opaque, and has a lovely big bubbly head.  Aroma is raspberry, with (strangely) a hint of blackberry.  My bro Matt, over at onebeeratatime.wordpress.com said he tasted blackcurrents.  Clearly, it doesn’t smell just of raspberries.  There is also a hint of malts, I think.  I could be dreaming about that.  Taste is amazing!  Raspberries, and possibly some other berry-like flavours, some grains, and a very clear hop finish.  Which is strange, I would have thought a hop finish with raspberry ale would be kind of gross, but a nicely earthy hop finishes the flavour perfectly.  Body is light, not syrupy or cloying at all, with a bright carbonation.  It is sweet, but is definitely not fruity soda-pop.  This is an ale, no doubt about it.  It’s surprisingly drinkable, given it’s sweetness and fruit tastes.  Normally I can just about get through one 341ml bottle of fruit beer;  I know for a fact, I will wish I had another of these 500ml bottles when I finish this one.  Sooooo tasty and good.  Incidentally, it goes really well with dark chocolate (this stuff is apparently 80% cocoa).  Raspberries and chocolate, dry bitter cocoa and sweet fruity berries.  Yes, it’s expensive (like $5.50/bottle at the LCBO), but I would definitely say it’s worth it.  Pick one up, and enjoy it on a hot summer’s day.  Cheer’s Samuel Smith!

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