We know, we know, you’re thinking, “Is there really a food holiday for every day of the week?” The answer: Yes, yes there is. Today, June 25, is National Strawberry Parfait Day, so we’d encourage you on this 78-degree day to head to Peaks & Pints for … strawberry beer. Strawberries have become more and more popular as a flavor component in malted barley brewed beverages. Though it has been pointed out that some hop varietals impart flavor characteristics likened to strawberries, there are in fact actual brews that use the scrumptious fruit to add their own deliciousness. Stop by our Proctor District Tacoma craft beer and cider bar, bottle shop and restaurant for our in-house strawberry beer flight, Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Strawberries.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Strawberries
Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry Fruit Beer
5.1% ABV
One of the oldest operating breweries in the world, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery has been brewing with the same derivative yeast strain in the same stone vats for the last 255 years. They even keep a small team of Shire horses — a breed that traditionally pulled brewery wagons — to deliver beer around its hometown of Tadcaster. But for all this tradition, Samuel Smith is remarkably modern. All but one of its beers is vegan and the brewery has an entire line of organic ales, including its Strawberry Fruit Beer. According to Samuel Smith’s, it’s brewed at All Saints Brewery in Stamford, England using all manually operated equipment. Barley and wheat are combined to make an ale, fermented and aged for an extended period, then taken to Samuel Smith’s brewery in Tadcaster, England. It is at this stage where they blend in pure strawberry juice to create a fruit-forward ale with malt and some bittering hops on the back.
Lupulin Sticky Puddles – Honeydew, Raspberry, Strawberry, Banana
9% ABV
Founded in April 2015 by Jeff Zierdt and Matt Schiller, Lupulin Brewing Company opened in Big Lake, Minnesota, was the homebrewing duo’s dream, along with Jeff’s son, Aaron Zierdt, who became head brewer after an apprenticed at a brewery in Stockholm, Sweden. Their Sticky Puddles – Honeydew, Raspberry, Strawberry, Banana is the latest in their big and sticky imperial sour series. This fruited sour is based on a popular smoothie, featuring copious amounts of honeydew melon, raspberry, strawberry and banana.
Abita Strawberry Lager
4.2% ABV
The only beer brewed with Louisiana strawberries, Abita Brewing’s Strawberry Lager is brewed with Pilsner and Wheat malts and Vanguard hops. The berries are noticeable on the nose, but not overpowering upon tasting. The relatively high carbonation levels also perk up the flavors quite a bit and make this a very refreshing treat. If you’re a fan of Abita’s Purple Haze, which is their raspberry wheat product, you’ll probably really like this one.
Fort George Ponchatoula Strawberry Lager
4.2% ABV
Though located in Astoria, Oregon, Fort George Brewery’s employees hail from all over this mostly acceptable nation, bringing their taste for diverse regional favorites and unique seasonal beers with them. A small but vocal contingent of well-traveled individuals from multiple departments worked together to brew this tribute to a Southeastern favorite (see above). Ponchatoula Strawberry Lager is a fine, silky-smooth lager brewed with more than 18 gallons of fresh strawberry juice, glimmering and golden in color, subtly sweet and refreshing.
Timber Strawberry Brûlée
6% ABV
The plaid-wearing outdoors enthusiast Jason Stein would leave his Upper West Side apartment in New York City and travel to Long Island to homebrew barrel-aged imperial stouts and barleywines in his parents’ garage. He eventually called his talent Timbers Ales. From his Snack Stout Series comes Strawberry Brûlée, which uses the base recipe of Pallet Brûlée, which has then been conditioned on maple syrup, coffee, and strawberries.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
