Wild Raspberry Ale - Great Divide Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.55/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Basic beer, with plastic raspberry flavour added. Quite synthetic tasting, somehoppy, not sweet, a chick beer. Nt too gret, thinnish and not finishable. Reddish tinged flavour, with some white head that becomes the lace. A good example of why I do not like fruit beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2009 00:56:43 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.45/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Wild Raspberry Ale looks like a raspberry ale should look. Medium-dark cherry red with plentiful, vigorous carbonation that's creating a decent-sized, very light pink head. It does look a little like a 'girly' beer, but I suppose that couldn't be helped. The head has a quality look about it and persists nicely. Underwhelming lace.

I like the nose. It's fruity with a definite sweet raspberry/black raspberry essence, but it also smells like beer. This is one of the better fruit beers that I've tasted. Like the aroma, the raspberriness is unmistakable, yet the underlying ale isn't lost. This ain't no fake fruit-flavored malternative.

That said, the base beer isn't all that wonderful. It's little more than a straightforward, not that impressive, light ale backbone on which to hang the fruit. The body/mouthfeel is a trifle thin and just a touch fizzy, which doesn't help matters. The finish is sour and dry.

Wild Raspberry Ale is a pretty good effort for the most part. It doesn't overly impress, but it is what (I suppose) the brewers set out to create. Namely, an easy drinking, fairly light, fruity, summertime quaff. Mission accomplished.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2004 23:02:31 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Grabbed this one to round out a mixed sixer the other day. Had never really ad an urge to try it, but what the hell. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 04/07/2009.

The pour was wonderful. Rich and cool looking copper colored amber was tinted with a slight pink color. Nice head of white came up over the top to a height of around two inches before settling back down. Light around of grain, bready malts and a touch of fruit. Lightly sweet as it warmed. The flavor was not what I was thinking. not enough fruit here to really make a differnce. Mostly malt grain like flavor with a slight accent of fruit in the mid palate and finish. Smooth and nice carbonation in an otherwise light to medium bodied ale. Easy to drink offering up little to no resitence.

Overall a very intresting beer that was slightly letting me down in the fruit department. Still would not mind having it again, but I would not look for it.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2009 23:30:40 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.4/5  rDev -32%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

On tap at Great Divide. Pours a nice red color. Nose has a good dose of berries. Flavor is full of berries and not too much else. A bit boring.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2013 03:48:55 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Great Divide Tap Room in Denver, CO.

Pours a clear watery cranberry juice color with a 1/2 inch bone colored head that fades to an oily film. Random spots of lace dot the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, raspberry, and peanut butter for some reason. Taste is of bitter unripe raspberries with a sweet malt taste coming through on the finish. This beer has a high level carbonation with a super crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that I would like to try from a bottle to see how it compares to this.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2011 19:02:54 | More by UCLABrewN84

brentk56

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy garnet color with a decent head that retains well and leaves shards of lace

Smell: Raspberry puree with undertones of grain

Taste: Starts out with a distinct raspberry tone that develops in a slightly tart fashion; after the swallow, the beer finishes relatively dry, with a nice wheat grain, raspberry flavor

Mouthfeel: Light bodied and moderately carbonated

Drinkability: Not something I would want to drink in quantity, this is nevertheless one of the better handled fruit beers I have encountered

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2007 23:42:17 | More by brentk56

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.33/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Brewed On: Apr 09 09.

Just when I was beginning to wonder if Great Divide had abandoned this beer, I see it in a mix-pack at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia. I had my roommate buy it and give me a bottle.

Appearance: Pours a clear, reasonably dark reddish body with a frothy, ivory-hued head.

Smell: Delicately tart black raspberries and fruity, sweetish raspberries.

Taste: Thankfully, it's fruity and sweet without obtaining a ghastly level of diabetes-inducing sweetness. Touch of tartness. Reasonably honest taste of black and red raspberries with maybe a few added thorns too. Touch of underlying barley graininess. Earthy bitterness helps to scrub away any extra sweetness. Dry, tart finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Provides some easy-drinking, some fruit, and, sure enough, some beer for a fine Friday evening.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2009 05:03:09 | More by ChainGangGuy

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Alright... I admit it... I like fruit beer. Though I recognize some short-commings in this brew, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Certainly reminds me of New Glarus Raspberry Tart (without the steroids). Very pronounced raspberry aroma even before decanting into the glass. An admirable ruby-purplish hue with brilliant clarity. Though fluffy in the head retention, the carbonation is fizzy and terse. Tastes very bold with raspberries, but without the bite-ey astringency or tartness. Probably a decent ale even before the raspberry additions. The beer wears a bit thin and metalic rather quickly, but I remain seduced by the berry flavors and aromas. I would like to see a wheat addition to add body and texture, but not if it means becomming Purple Haze-like. it's a good beer to take to parties because the chicks dig it, your B.M.C. buddies can cross-over, and I can enjoy it as well.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2006 18:57:45 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice red color with a pinkish colred sprtizy looking head,nice tart raspberry aroma with some odd butteriness in there as well but not a bad thing.Wow some complexities to this fruit ale there is the fresh tart raspberry flavors but the firm dry malt backbone stands up well to the raspberry flavor and there is some hop bittering dryness in the finish making this a real enjoyable brew.I bought this for my wife and I drank it for her and really enjoyed this will be great in the summer heat.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2005 19:39:56 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A clear and distinctly reddish body is capped by a thin head of creamyoff-white foam that holds fairly well and leaves some splashes and spots of lace at the outset of the glass. The nose delivers a combination of sweet raspberries and darker, slightly tart and more complex black raspberries over a lightly caramel-touched and biscuity maltiness. It's a very natural raspberry scent, and I'm guessing that they're using all real fruit. It's not sweet like most other raspberry ales. The body is medium-light with some residual dextrins and a restrained carbonation level that gives it a nicely creamy mouthfeel. The flavor is decidedly raspberry-ish, but authentic. It's not sugar-sweet, and neither are fresh raspberries. It may be "juicy", but it's not "sugary". And that's an intersting change from the common, processed-sweet-raspberry beers. Very nice. It seems completely natural. The flavor delivers a wider, more biscuity malt than the nose suggests, and the fruit just soaks into it. It's very well balanced, and it's firm bitterness make just enough of an appearance to dry the finish - although the fruit flavor does linger. It's not bad, and certainly worth trying for fans of the style. In fact, if anythings lacking here, it might be just a touch more tartness that could lend it a bit more of a refreshing quality. Real raspberry flavor... can I get an "AMEN"?!?!

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2004 16:19:54 | More by NeroFiddled

WesWes

New York

3.53/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a raspberry red color with a thick frothy pink head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a mildly malty scent that's pale, light, and slightly grainy. It is sweet with a bit of raspberry zest. The taste is decent as well. It has a dry, pale malt flavor that is infused with raspberry flavor. It is not too much, but it has a good fruity flavor. It has a sour aftertaste. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a decent fruit ale. I like the raspberries, but the grainy, dry taste is a turnoff. This should be refreshing, but it's not.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2005 21:46:19 | More by WesWes

Mora2000

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a medium brick red color with a white head. The aroma is caramel malt with a bunch of semi-sweet raspberry notes. The flavor is raspberry with some bready malt and a some grassy hops. The beer is not as sweet as expected and there is a little bit of dryness. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Decent, but there are much better fruit beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 04:15:01 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.53/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a clear, ruby color with a small, tan head of foam. it left little to no head.

S - It smelled of raspberry and sweet caramel malt.

T - It tasted of caramel and rich malt. The raspberry flavor added a milt tartness.

M - It was crisp and sharp with a smooth mouthfeel. A light bodied ale with a dry finish.

D - This is a pretty nice fruit beer. It is not overdone as many fruity beers can be.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2010 21:44:41 | More by zeff80

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

2.93/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep pink/purple color, with a large white head that has a pinkish hue to it, fades slowly and leaves a spotty lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is full of raspberries, along with light malts and a touch of hops.

T: The taste is tart up front with taste of raspberries but it's not as strong as the smell leads you to expect. It's also surprisingly malty with a little smokiness. There's a very mild hops presence, but not much balance. The after-taste is slightly tart.

M: Crisp but not very smooth, light-to-medium body, medium-to-high carbonation, finish is clean and dry.

D: Not very tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, decent kick, not quite as fruity as most fruit beers but it's not a beer that I would want to drink again.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2009 02:58:42 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.08/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

(leftovers from Thanksgiving)

Pours red going towards purple, great clarity with a thin tan head dropping away to nothing. No evidence of lacing.

Smell: Some fruit, with a little sourness

Taste: Some tartness and little bit of berries come through. I also get an understated sourness (noone will think Lambic).

Mouthfeel: A tad thin and under carbonated.

An uderstated effort that would go okay with salad, dessert, or a cheese plate. probably better to me in hot weather, fruit beers aren't usually my thing.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2005 03:12:40 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.95/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a dark red with a soft pinkish white head, good retention and lace.

S: Raspberry jam, not particularly fragrant but very pleasing.

T: This is how fruit beer should be done. Real raspberries hit immediately, leans more towards the black raspberries. Some malt mid-palate.

M: Light-bodied, crisp, not as clean as Raspberry Tart.

D: One of the better fruit beers I've had, good price too. To other brewers, enough with the extracts, use real fruit.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2010 04:35:11 | More by Halcyondays

jwc215

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours raspberry red with a thin head.

The smell is of fresh raspberries with some maltiness to it. Better than the typical fruit beer - glad they have a solid barley malt base here.

The taste is of fresh, sweet and tart red and black raspberries. I have to give them some credit for it not being too "syrupy" or "artificial". Not too sweet, as many fruit beers can be. Some malt backing.

Light-bodied - a bit fizzy. No great shakes on the feel, though could be worse for the style.

One is enough...unless you're really a huge fan of raspberries. I like them well enough, but not one I could have more than one of at a time. Try pairing with a salad that has fresh raspberries in it.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2007 21:53:53 | More by jwc215

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.28/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured with dark golden /light brown hue, but no head. The aroma had a smell of hop, malt but with the aroma of raspberries. The raspberry flavor came out in the taste but not enought to be called "Wild Raspberry Ale. It was ok but the taste was weak, lacked hops and backbone, malts and that raspberry taste??? Where was it?? Nose leaves you to believe it will taste much better.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2008 04:02:10 | More by barleywinefiend

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer has a bright glowing red body with a champagne carbonation of lots and lots of tiny bubbles. There is a thin white head that creates a meniscus while sticking to the sides of the glass.

S- This beer has a big raspberry jam sweetness with a dry toasted malt note. As it warms the smell of iced tea really comes through.

T- The dry tart raspberry flavor has hints of caramel malt note with a slight sweetness. The finish is a big carbonic acid flavor with a club soda flavor.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel but the fizz boost the mouthfeel.

D- This beer has an interesting complexity with a unique twist on fruit beer but it is still not that great.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2007 00:03:20 | More by rhoadsrage

Wasatch

Utah

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A trade from jhammerly. Pours a clear dark amber color, some carbonation, nice creamy tan head, lots of nice lacing/sticky around the edge. Scents of malts, raspberry, fruits, and slight caramel. The taste is slightly malty, carbonated, with a nice touch of berries. Light-Medium body, well rounded brew, not a lambic, but tasty non the less. Drinkable, a nice little fruit beer from GD.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2006 22:00:57 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.4/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours with a white one-finger head, fades quickly and leaves some lace. Medium carbonation and light bodied. Ruby/amber clear color. Nose is raspberry. Starts on the sweet side with raspberry overtones and finishes with some tartness. Good summer beer. $1.29 for a 12oz bottle from the Liquor Barn, Lexington, KY

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2004 00:55:38 | More by jdhilt

Jason

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12 oz brown long neck, on the label it states that Wild Raspberry Ale uses hundreds of pound of red and black raspberries. "Month and week bottled" notch on the side for freshness.

Appearance: Reddish almost burgundy in color, good head retention that leaves a thin yet sturdy lace behind.

Smell: Semi tart raspberry nose, clean aroma.

Taste: Smooth mouth feel with a thin malt palate, light tart raspberry flavour hits middle to end. Malt stays thin as well as the hop bitterness but this helps the fruit to shine. Drying grain and tart raspberry finish off the brew.

Notes: Light yet balanced fruit flavour is captured in this beer. A well done fruit ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2002 03:37:00 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

3.18/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle sampled, comes with "month and week bottled" dating notched onto label. Pours slightly purpleish amber, minor white head, limited lacing noticed. Nose is the expected sweet berry and powdered sugar. Yikes, this is a sweet one!, Notes of cola, berries, grape jelly. Might be decent with a fruity dessert, but in general, not one I would reach for again.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2005 03:33:54 | More by Billolick

ppoitras

Massachusetts

2.98/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle purchased as a single at Julio's, Westboro, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1 1/2" dusty rose head over the burgundy brew. Frothy head lasts well, esp for a fruit beer, with good lacing. Aroma is tart and tangy raspberries, all the way. Taste is disappointing. Up front little flavor, and then on the outset some berry tartness comes into play, but nothing like what I expected from the nose. Mouthfeel is kind of thin and watery, and drinkability is okay for a fruit beer, but largely because it lacks the fruitiness that one would expect. Won't be revisiting this one, my least fave of the Great Divide brews.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2005 22:02:25 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Tomdecapolis for this...
Appears a light ruby color with a mild off white head and light amounts of scattered lacing.
Smell is of natural raspberries in overdrive.
Taste is of sugary malt with raspberries coming through all over.
Mouthfeel is smooth, thin, and watery.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2006 19:07:59 | More by weeare138