Lees Summer seasonal is the delightfully named Strawbeery which as the name suggests, has real strawberries in it. It was on in the THT yesterday and I asked for a taste before committing. It got the thumbs up from me, but the boys I think it is fair to say, were unanimous in not particularly liking it, but I thoroughly enjoyed a couple of pints. The nose is distinctly of fresh strawberry fruit and it's there again in the taste, but it is not overwhelming, more of a subtle hint and the beer itself is astonishingly pale and clear, with a dry, herbal, bitter (not hoppy) finish.
It is quite a departure in style for Lees and one that will divide opinions, but I liked it a lot and as today is starting off bright and sunny, I think it will be perfect later for a few.
Seek it out and see for yourself.
Sorry for the poor quality photo.
16 comments:
that actually sounds quite nice, is it sweet at all??
I was hoping to make something similar with Otley next month, A Pale strawberry beer with something like a Columb-O base, I reckon it'd be great for the summer. Might have to do something else now or might have to make do with just doing the mOtley Brew again which we were going to brew anyway......sod it we'll do it anyway!
Mmm, interesting. Is it fresh strawberry or a strawberry syrup flavour? Fresh strawberries are often a little sour so could that affect what people think of it? If I saw this on the bar then I'd be tempted but maybe only for a little sample... I did have a strawberry lambic or gueuze once and that was very good.
So what's the base beer--underhopped Bitter?
Andy - No - It isn't sweet which is remarkable.
Mark - I seem to recall it is fresh. That would tie in with the lack of sweetness and the slightly tart almost herbal finish.
RabidBF. I am not saying this a perfect summer beer, just that it was enjoyable. Maybe a tad thin, but I wouldn't change my plans if I were you.
Nick: Very pale bitter base. If I were the suspicious type I might say it is Lees Scorcher with strawberries. But I don't know that, though I will ask. In fact I spoke to the brewer briefly on Friday night, not about beer. If only it had occurred to me, but I will find out.
decided to stick to plans anyway and I look forward to you trying it.
Sounds interesting. I'd try it, except you can't get Lees around here.
Well that's interesting due to it being JW Lees, like you say. Quite a departure.
I have a strong prejudice against fruited beers, other than lambics and Belgian sour beers. I'm sure you know the stuff has been thick on the ground in the States for decades and it's almost uniformly crap. The most common approach has always been to add fruit to an underhopped wheat beer, fermented with a thoroughly uninteresting yeast strain.
Not that I don't trust your taste, but I'm deeply skeptical.
I don't make any great claims for it, but it is refreshing and easy drinking. For a Sunday, that'll do.
There have also been excellent, subtle, nicely balanced fruit-enhanced beers in the US for decades. Blackberry or raspberry goes especially well with porter & stout, for one, especially strong ones. Gotta try more than just McMenamin's Ruby Tuesday! (McM's have done excellent raspberry stouts before, BTW.)
My initial thought was Lees? Strawberry beer? Bleeurgh! But, always best to keep an open mind about these things so I will try it if I come across it. I don't think I'll be seeking it out though.
I know what you mean John, but it is actually rather nice. Not the best beer ever, just refreshing, drinkable and not sweet.
I don't expect It'll come this way but I I saw it in a pub I'd just have to try it. You couldn't not!
Found this at The Market Porter, got absolutely no strawberry at all, just pale, bitter and a tad hazy.
Sorry to hear that. The most notable feature was the strawberry nose and the clarity. Cellermanship? Beer too warm?
I spoke to the second brewer yesterday. It does have real strawberries in it as well as juice.
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