With the weather warming up, fruit-forward beers are showing up on shelves, taps, and in shopping baskets, so we have rounded up the latest fruit beer releases to celebrate the onset of spring.
Rodenbach Fruitage
Fruitage, a refreshing cherry flavoured beer from renowned Belgian brewery Rodenbach, is now available in Australia. Crafted from all natural ingredients, Rodenbach Fruitage is a blend of ripened and aged ale, young ale, and seven per cent cherries.
These elements undergo a mixed fermentation process, with the main fermentation and warm maturation occurring with top-fermenting yeasts at ambient temperatures. The secondary fermentation takes place over two years, where the beer is matured in oak casks and exposed to bacterial flora, including lactic acid and acetic acid bacteria, and wild yeasts that are present in the wood. This results in the production of fruity esters, which give Fruitage its vibrant taste.
Fruitage boasts a dark red colour, a lower acidity leading to a longer shelf life, and a complex and agreeable flavour profile.
The Rodenbach brewmaster suggests drinking Fruitage with ice cubes, a slice of lime, and mint. Food pairing suggestions include red fruits, dark chocolate, and cheesecake.
Rodenbach Fruitage is available to purchase from Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores nationwide for $17 for a four-pack or $84.99 for a case.
Brewmanity Limontarta
Taking you to a sunny beach in Capri from the streets of South Melbourne, Brewmanity’s Limontarta is a kettle brewed sour beer infused with fresh lemon for a unique and refreshing beer perfect for lazy summer days.
The base of pale malt, wheat, and rolled oats provides a balanced platform for the souring process to begin. A light, citrusy hop is added to the boil, which is then highlighted by the lemon infusion. The final touch is the addition of lemon zest, which has been steeped in vodka, evoking the beer’s namesake, limoncello.
With an ABV of 4.5 per cent, tasting notes for Limontarta describe a cereal body with a sour finish, and a pleasant, palate cleansing citrus flavour.
Limontarta is available both on tap and in pack.
Seeker Brewing Strawberry & Watermelon Sour
Seeker Brewing has released the limited-edition Strawberry & Watermelon Sour, a Berliner Weisse-style kettle sour celebrating fresh summer fruits. A revamped version of the brewery’s Sweet Buzz fruited sour, the beer is fermented with Seeker Brewing’s house yeast strain, with the addition of fresh watermelon and strawberries providing sweetness and vibrancy. The resulting beer is sweet, sour, and refreshing, with an approachable 3.5 per cent ABV.
The cans feature artwork from local artist Zoe Suji, depicting the sweet buzz of summer and days spent soaking up the sun by the water.
Seeker Brewing Strawberry & Watermelon Sour is available directly from Seeker Brewing, priced at $25 for a four-pack and $75 for a 16-pack.