Beer Man: Fort Collins offers tasty fruit beer for summer
Beer Man is a weekly profile of beers from across the country and around the world.
This week: Peaches & Barley
Fort Collins Brewery, Fort Collins, Colo.
The name Peaches & Barley does not really do this beer justice, as there are a few other ingredients that make this a special beer.
It also includes apricots, black pepper, ginger and orange peel, and the style is a Belgian saison, or farmhouse ale.
This is not a light, spritzy fruit beer, but it also is not heavy-bodied. The peach and apricot were forefront in both the aroma and flavor. The fruit flavors are the type that hit the tongue and define the term “lip-smacking.”
This is not one of those fruit beers that merely has a fruit-like quality — the peach and apricot flavors were prominent and fresh tasting.
The 7.5% ABV ale poured a clear golden color and an attractive white head formed that also left nice lacing on the inside of the glass.
The mouthfeel was creamy, and a slight tartness helped balance out the sweetness of the beer. If you’ve never experienced a peach beer, this is a good one to start with. I have always found that peaches go extraordinarily well with malt.
Fort Collins has distribution in 18 states, according to its Beer Finder page.
Meanwhile, Brewery Ommegang provided another fruity summer treat with its Rosetta. This 5.6% ABV cherry ale also had a lip-smacking quality, while providing an earthy brown ale base.
While this is an Ommegang release, the label states it is actually made for the brewery by Liefmans, a Belgian brewery that makes its own outstanding fruit beers.
Rosetta poured a brown color with red highlights, and a rocky head quickly formed. The cherry is prominent in the aroma, with a background of oak and bready yeast.
This profile continues in the flavor, with a bit of sweet caramel and a pleasant finishing tartness, although it does not venture into vinegary sour territory.
Ommegang has widespread distribution in the U.S.; its Beer Finder link is here.
I love fruity beers in the summer and both of these ales hit the mark in being refreshing and quality beers.
Many beers are available only regionally. Check the brewer's website, which often contains information on product availability by mail. Contact Todd Haefer at beerman@postcrescent.com. To read previous Beer Man columns, click here.