Tomb

I get confused with all these new trends. Wasn’t it last year that brown was the new black, or was it hip to be square? Well this year’s trend is that beer is the new wine. I admittedly don’t drink the fermented grape juice often. I have always believed beer is the more dynamic beverage. So here are some quality fruit beers for the more adventurous to replace those boring bottles of wine.

Boon Kriek (5 per cent) — This is a light summer aperitif that is a solid replacement to the more alcoholic summer wines. This fruit beer is only fermented with wild yeasts, which would make many vintners cringe, but this Belgian classic is meant to be sour and sweet in the same sip. Only beers fermented with wild yeasts that hail from the Seine Valley of Belgium can be called lambics, which is a protected appellation, like champagne. Boon Kriek is one of these beers. Like most fruit beers it is wheat based and showcases the raw charm of cherries added to casks of straight lambic for secondary fermentation. This beer has a champagne effervescence and is a perfect match for light salads and soft cheeses.

Dogfish Head Festina Peche (4.5 per cent) — For those unfamiliar with Dogfish Head, this Delaware brewery’s motto is “off-centered beer for off-centered people.” Dogfish Head, like Boon, revisits a rare style of beer, but this one is indigenous to East Berlin, not Belgium. The Berliner Weisse was built for the long hot summers in East Berlin. It’s brewed to be sour, sometimes aided by adding lactic acid during the fermentation process. In Berlin, these are often served with a variety of syrups, but Dogfish Head has infused this beer with peaches. Like the Boon Kriek, it is both sweet and sour and its slight lactic edge is a perfect match for grilled chicken, fish or salad.

Dieu du Ciel Rosée d’hibiscus: (5.5 per cent) — Unlike the two previously mentioned beers this one’s history is short — fermented in the mind of visionary brewer Jean-François Gravel, who has become a rock star in the brewing world. This unique hibiscus-infused drink seems built for patio consumption. Although it’s a vibrant pink colour in the glass, this is far from the foo foo drinks some fruit beers are. Rosée d’hibiscus has converted many of our wine-drinking friends and it has been hard to keep this beer stocked in the house. (Editor’s note: the author of this article distributes Dieu du Ciel).

Unibroue Éphémère Apple (5.5 per cent) — Éphémère means “fleeting light” in French, fitting for our all-too-short Alberta summers. This beer started out as a quarter annual rotating seasonal offering from Unibroue, but it became so popular that they have made this part of their year-round selection. For those travelling to Quebec or the U.S. it can be found on draft at some establishments. This green apple beer, flavoured with apple must, is both tart and sweet and has a gentle effervescence. It is as great to cook with as it is to drink.

Our summer is almost over and all of the above beers are built for patio enjoyment, so get out and enjoy our beautiful evenings before they disappear. Please note that not one lime was harmed or added to a beer in this article.