Mango Crush for Easter!

The weather is finally getting warmer in Saratoga Springs! The daffodils are blooming, and brewers are putting out their summer offerings. We’ve been developing Easter cocktails all week, and now are getting down to business on some new Spring beer.

As the weather is warmer I wanted to go with a type of sour beer, but without the minerality of a gose; there is plenty of salt in ham, so i wanted something to help balance out that flavor. The Southern Tier Brewing Company has come out with MANGE CRUSH SESSION SOUR ALE.

It is made with mango purée and milk sugar. It is a 4.0 beer. It’s not as sour as other beers in this category. The sweetness from the milk sugar tones down the sourness. If I was going to rate the sourness on a 1 to 5 scale, I would give it a 1.

When poured it has a beautiful spring-yellow hue, with a white foamy head. There is minimal lace in the glass once the head dissipates. You can smell the mango, but also a hint of lemon. It is not bitter at all, and will compliment well typical Easter side dishes.

I enjoyed the light, fruity character of this beer, with that subtle sour twist. Try it as you celebrate Spring!

Hello, Salty Goodness!

Sour beers...you love 'em or hate 'em. There does not seem to be any middle ground. I love them on a hot summer day.  Now melon brewed beers... again love 'em or leave 'em. I’m a leaving type.

By accident about a month ago I had an Anderson Valley Briney Melon Gose. I asked for a gose at a local BBQ joint not realizing I would get a melon one. Right off you could taste the watermelon, but not in an offensive way. I find other melon flavored beers have a floral/soapy aftertaste to me. This one did not. It was very refreshing and the briney saltiness reminded me of a good margarita. After doing some digging, I was able to find it in a can at a local beverage mart. 

I had it again at home, and it was just as good as I remember. I think it would work well in a summer beer pairing menu. Match it up in an appetizer course with a hearty cracker and hummus or stinky cheese. Or pair it with a fish course of salmon, either grilled or roasted with fennel.