Berry bliss: craft beers using berry purees burst with flavor & color.
Brewers constantly seek innovative ways to stand out in a competitive market. One trend that’s gaining momentum is the use of berry purees to add vibrant flavors and rich colors to craft beers. Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine’s recent list of top fruited beers highlights some of the best berry-inspired brews on the market, offering a glimpse into the evolving trends that define this popular style.
The tartness trend:
a sharp turn towards acidity
One of the most striking trends in berry-infused beers is the emphasis on tartness and acidity.
If you’ve been out bar hopping lately, you may have noticed that small craft breweries are increasingly experimenting with beers that deliver a bold, sour punch, and berries are the perfect ingredient for infusing these sharp flavors.
Revelry Brewing Co.’s Ramblin’ Rubus, for instance, showcases assertive tartness with its bright raspberry notes, while Narrow Gauge Brewing’s Meersalz Raspberry balances tart raspberry jam with a hint of salinity.
This focus on tartness not only adds a refreshing edge but also enhances the natural flavors of the berries, making each sip a tongue-tingling experience.
Mixed fermentation and barrel aging:
adding depth and complexity.
Another trend gaining momentum is the use of mixed fermentation and barrel aging to create deeper, more complex flavor profiles.
Beers like West Sixth Brewing’s Sixfold VI: Blackberries and Hacienda Beer Co.’s Insatiable Dreams Strawberry are perfect examples of this approach. By fermenting with wild yeasts and aging in barrels, these brewers introduce layers of funk, oak, and earthy tones that complement the sweetness and acidity of the berries.
However, beware: this complexity can sometimes overshadow the fruit, leading to a more subtle berry presence.
Flavor layering:
crafting multi-dimensional tastes.
Craft brewers are also dabbling with layering – building up complex flavors to create rich, multi-dimensional beers.
Pontoon Brewing Company’s Nightmare Fuel blends raspberry, tart cherry, and black currant with lactose to achieve a balance of sweet and tart, reminiscent of a jammy pie.
Similarly, Prairie Artisan Ales’ No Way Frosé combines strawberry with lime zest, pineapple, and juniper, offering a busy yet intriguing flavor profile.
This trend reflects a growing desire for more sophisticated beers, though it can occasionally result in an overwhelming or muddled taste.
Visual and textural appeal:
a feast for the senses
Berry-infused beers can also be a feast for the eyes and the palate.
Modern craft brewers are paying close attention to the visual and textural elements of their beers, creating drinks that are as appealing to look at as they are to sip.
Good Word Brewing & Public House’s Gran Gran is noted for its “beautiful purple head and rich wine-colored body,” while Reuben’s Brews’ Razzmatazz offers a creamy, rounded mouthfeel that complements its tartness.
These sensory elements are becoming increasingly important as breweries strive to deliver a full-bodied drinking experience.
Lactose and softening ingredients:
rounding out the edges.
To soften acidity’s sharp edges, some brewers incorporate ingredients like lactose into their berry beers.
Pontoon Brewing’s Nightmare Fuel, a fruited sour with raspberry, tart cherry, and black currant, as well as the popular Narrow Gauge Brewing’s Meersalz Raspberry use lactose to mellow the tartness of berry beers and add a smooth, creamy texture.
This approach allows for a more approachable brew that still retains its vibrant flavors, making it a popular choice among those who might find a more acidic beer too intense.
Execution and consistency:
the challenge of complexity
While the trends in berry-infused beers point towards a desire for complexity and bold flavors, the execution can sometimes be a mixed bag.
Beers like Hacienda Beer Co.’s Insatiable Dreams Strawberry demonstrate that while ambition is high, achieving the perfect balance of flavors is challenging.
Off-flavors like rubber or plastic can detract from the overall experience, highlighting the fine line brewers must walk between innovation and drinkability.
Why use berry purees in your trendy new beer line?
Berry purees offer a convenient and consistent way to introduce intense, natural fruit flavors into your brews without the challenges that come with using fresh fruit. The benefits of using Pureé Arête’s premium berry purees extend far beyond flavor. As brewers navigate the complexities of 21st century brewing, including rising material costs, shipping delays, and increased competition, having a reliable ingredient like our purees can be crucial.
Flavor and consistency
Our berry purees are crafted from hand-picked fruits, ensuring that every batch delivers the same robust flavor. Unlike fresh fruit, which can vary in taste and quality depending on the season, our purees offer consistency. This reliability is particularly important for brewers who want to maintain the flavor profile of their signature beers.
Free from seeds, our berry purees offer a smooth texture that blends seamlessly into your brew. Whether you’re creating a fruity wheat beer for the summer or a rich stout for the winter, Pureé Arête’s berry purees ensure that the fruit’s essence shines through.
Innovation and creativity
Brewing is all about experimentation, and berry purees open up a world of creative possibilities. Whether you’re looking to put a unique twist on a classic beer style or develop a one-of-a-kind brew that stands out on the shelf, our purees can help you achieve your vision.
Consider the vibrant, tangy notes of our Strawberry Puree—perfect for adding a summery twist to a light ale. Or imagine the deep, rich color and bold flavor that our Blackberry Puree can bring to a dark porter. For those looking to explore more exotic flavors, our Black Currant Puree offers a tart, slightly earthy taste that pairs beautifully with robust, malty beers.
Cost and efficiency
One of the biggest challenges facing brewers today is the rising cost of materials. Fresh berries can be expensive, especially when factoring in the cost of sorting, peeling, and deseeding. Moreover, fresh fruit is perishable, leading to waste and further expense if not used promptly. Pureé Arête’s aseptic packaging extends the shelf life of our purees, reducing waste and ensuring that you always have high-quality fruit on hand.
Shipping and storage are other areas where our purees offer significant advantages. Fresh fruit requires careful handling and temperature control during transport, increasing costs and the risk of spoilage. In contrast, our purees are easy to store and ship, thanks to our space-efficient bag-in-box or 55-gallon drum options. This not only cuts down on costs but also simplifies inventory management.
Standing out in a competitive market
As the craft beer scene continues to evolve, berry-infused beers are set to remain a vibrant, dynamic, and perennially popular category.
The trends identified in the top beers from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine’s list suggest that brewers are pushing boundaries with tartness, complexity, and sensory appeal.
Whether through mixed fermentation, barrel aging, or the careful balancing of sweetness and acidity, berry beers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, offering drinkers a truly multi-sensory experience.
As brewers continue to experiment and refine their techniques, we can expect even more exciting developments in the world of berry-infused beers.
Craft beer brewing is as much an art as it is a science.
Shop our Strawberry Puree, Blackberry Puree, and our Black Currant Puree.