Raspberry Strong Ale - Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.

Jason

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bright reddish amber with a mild haze from the sediment of yeast and maybe raspberries. Decent lacing stays long enough to make an impression.

Candy like raspberry aroma with a malty backing. Alcohol is quite evident also with a light and clean ester.

Creamy and slightly thick in the mouth, light smoothness within the mild carbonation. Strong alcohol character that the sweetness and tartness of the raspberries ride along with, hopping is mild with little bitterness yet does not leave the brew cloying. Maltiness hits in the middle with a simple lightly toasted grain sweetness and then the alcohol kicks again with a large warming ester.

About time someone brewed a fruit beer with strength, this is no sissy fruit beer you are probably used to. Todd was spot on with the cordial comment. This is an ale to reckon with.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2002 17:57:25 | More by Jason

Todd

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 22oz brown bomber bottle. Area for a freshness date, but it's not marked.

Appearance: A cloudy brown / red / dark amber with a very nice thick and creamy off-white foam head that remains consistent to the bottom. This beer is unfiltered.

Smell: Loads of raspberries and some musty grain in the nose, with an underlying caramel aroma. Smells of a sweet liquor or cordial.

Taste: Very creamy and smooth, with a laid back carbonation. Body is full, heavy, rich, mellow and even. Strong raspberry cordial-like flavour (oh. oh. this is really strong) with some massive alcohol characters and a big malty sweetness, including caramel. Hops lend a slightly citric bitter flavour that complements the raspberries, as well as mixing a spicy character with the alcohol prickle. Alcohol is very present, very persistent and very warming. Beer finishes with a slight grainy feel, a bit dry and with plenty of alcohol and berry residuals.

Notes: A massively complex and tasty beers. Raspberry flavours border overwhelming and contrived, but once the alcohol works its way into your head you won't care. All hail Berkshire Brewing Co.! Hoist one up! I love this freagin' brewery -- or is that the alcohol speaking?

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2002 00:00:01 | More by Todd

Davepoolesque

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

06-15-2013 18:05:14 | More by Davepoolesque

Emkehr

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

06-03-2013 22:40:36 | More by Emkehr

notchucknorris

California

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a hazy reddish amber color with a nice two finger beige colored head.

S: Loads of sweet candied raspberries. A lot of sweetness backing it that seems to be coming from the malt. Caramel, marshmallow and an almost rotten fruit smell that is a mix of raspberry and red apple. A faint tartness as well.

T: Opens with a lot of puréed raspberry sweetness. Almost a hint of chocolate in there as well, like a raspberry truffle. A bit of tartness before a lingering finish of unripe red cherry, some caramel malt and some cherry pit. Finishes a touch dry. The mouthfeel is slightly under carbonated and really smooth, which brings out even more of the sweetness. Definitely a dessert beer. Not getting barleywine from this, but it's pretty tasty.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 01:33:46 | More by notchucknorris

Ecxeeder616

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

05-23-2013 14:32:09 | More by Ecxeeder616

MistahBeah

Massachusetts

3.44/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: Clear ruby hued brownish. No head just a thin rim of tiny bubbles. Small carbonation pressence. Interesting color.

Aroma: Tart raspberries. A little toastiness. Sugary booze

Taste: Follows the nose. Toasty barley malts followed by juicy raspberry tartness. A tad boozy on the finish. Usually not a fan of fruit beers but this one is pretty good.

Mouthfeel: Juicy. A little acidic. Some carbonation. Nothing special

Overall: Good for a fruity beer but nothing like a barleywine. Good dessert beer but not an all the time thing at all

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 05:02:11 | More by MistahBeah

cadaugherty

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -27.4%

05-08-2013 00:22:42 | More by cadaugherty

beertardis

Rhode Island

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

04-27-2013 23:44:21 | More by beertardis

yottachem

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

04-11-2013 20:53:29 | More by yottachem

mendvicdog

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

04-08-2013 02:38:37 | More by mendvicdog

nquigley16

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a nice redish-amber-brown with a pretty good golden white head. The aroma is extremely strong rasperry with a tiny bit of booze and sweet malt in the background. The taste is quite nice, starts with raspberry and ends with a bit of malt and booze, very similar to the smell. Nice mouthfeel, pretty good level of carbonation.
One very nice thing is the raspberry flavor doesn't taste artificial at all- it tastes like fresh raspberries.

Overall a nice beer, not very barleywiney or strong, but nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 00:56:08 | More by nquigley16

AngusOg

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

04-06-2013 21:35:09 | More by AngusOg

DruRho

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

04-06-2013 21:25:57 | More by DruRho

duceswild

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

04-06-2013 21:24:13 | More by duceswild

DerekMorgan

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.5%

03-13-2013 22:53:15 | More by DerekMorgan

Prost76

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-09-2013 15:29:07 | More by Prost76

hopley

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

02-23-2013 04:32:58 | More by hopley

Mikecap

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +5.5%

02-22-2013 02:40:58 | More by Mikecap

seeswo

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

02-04-2013 14:47:36 | More by seeswo

bluerabbit

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.5%

02-03-2013 00:35:49 | More by bluerabbit

PEIhop

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

12-31-2012 02:43:08 | More by PEIhop

marlinsfan4

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

12-23-2012 03:13:38 | More by marlinsfan4

JessxSpikes

Rhode Island

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

12-11-2012 01:06:27 | More by JessxSpikes

ComRock12

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

11-19-2012 23:59:48 | More by ComRock12