Wednesday, July 13, 2011

21st Amendment Brewery - Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer

Although most fruit beers are sissy at best, I toast 21st Amendment Brewery for this delectable/unusual flavor.

21st Amendment Brewery was founded in San Francisco in 2000 by two buds, Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan, who met 5 years prior. Named for the ending of Prohibition, they celebrate the culture of the great breweries of old, making unique, and hand crafted beers

It is brewed in a classic American wheat beer style, and then undergoes a secondary fermentation using fresh watermelon (although the can says concentrate and additional watermelon juice). The end product has a hazy glow like that of any other traditional wheat style beer.

The taste is malty and smooth, with a kiss of watermelon flavor at the end that doesn’t stay with you. It rolls down the tongue then vanishes. The watermelon flavor is a bland mimic of a jolly rancher. Just enough to let you know it’s there. Sort of a touched by an angel situation. I personally don’t look for a fruit flavor to linger with me like the hops of an IPA. Just get in, do you job, and get out.

The beer comes in a can which first drew my attention at the local bottle shop. One might think, “craft beer in a can?”, I say “don’t be a jabrone, pour it in a glass and drink up”. It’s tasty on steamy summer day for 1 or 2, then switch to something else. Probably a fine accompaniment to fried chicken.

Alcohol Content: 4.9% ABV
Yeast: Top Fermenting Ale Yeast
Hops: Magnum
Malts: Two-Row Pale, White Wheat
Bitterness Units: 17

Drinkability: 7/10
Taste: 7.5/10
Value: 5/10
Curb Appeal: 7/10

Overall: 6.625/10

5 comments:

  1. my first review, don't be too harsh

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  2. Now I have to start doing this, thanks a lot.

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  3. hah I liked it. I have always wanted to sit in the room when they are coming up with the idea of a watermelon beer.

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  4. In high school, I drank Zima with watermelon jolly ranchers added

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  5. I thank you for the information and articles you provided

    ReplyDelete