Last year at the Clear Lake Beer Festival, Manitoba Beer Cast had a table set up to interview various Manitoba beverage producers and talk to people who just love beer. The most intriguing booth of the entire night was Stanley, Manitoba's Blumstein Brewing. Their owners were passionate about their product and discussed what made their product different from the rest, and judging by the line to their booth, people were loving it! As a former farm boy, seeing multiple farm-based breweries in this province absolutely excites me - we're doing a great job finally showcasing some of the best agriculture the world has to offer right here at home. Brad at the Manitoba Beer Cast has been one of my biggest supporters of this website for a long time, one day he came into my workplace with a big smile on his face and a bag in his hand going "you have to try these!" It was an assortment of Blumstein's beers, including their world's best Saskatoon berry beer (his and Blumstein's words). So of course, I'm intrigued, I have to try this "world's best Saskatoon berry beer" myself. Thanks Brad!
From the can: What's a Beeren Pflücker? Every Mennonite village needs a helpful Beeren pflückers (berry pickers)! In late June, when the Saskatoon berries are ripe, it's all pflückers on deck! Enjoy the taste of a Manitoba berry harvest in our Saskatoon Pale Ale, brewed with Loral hops and loads of handpicked Saskatoon and wild berries. Pairs well with Formavorscht (farmer sausage), perogies, and schmount fat (cream gravy), especially at a potluck. 5.2% ABV
Appearance: Looks like some sort of milkshake IPA or sour to me. The beer is VERY foamy so I had to wait a couple minutes for it to settle. Deep, opaque, peachy cream body and an off-white head that leave behind lots of bubbles on the glass as it starts to settle.
Aroma: There's definitely a hefty Saskatoon berry aroma in there, it's tart, yet sweet, a tad creamy, and a bit of a leafiness that reminds me of rhubarb to a great deal.. it's bringing me back of the best product Moosehead ever made, a Straweberry Rhubarb Milkshake IPA (RIP).
Taste: It's mildly sweet, quite creamy, a tad leafy and the tartness that I got in the aroma is popping up mostly at the very end, leaving behind a tart aftertaste that lingers for a good few moments. It's got a lot of the milkshake IPA vibes that I was getting in the aroma. Oh, the tartness at the end is 100% Saskatoon.
Overall Thoughts: Is this the best Saskatoon berry beer of all time? From the small handful I've ever had? Yes it is! It's got the tartness you expect from Saskatoons but it's tamed a good deal to make it an approachable all year round kind of beer. Like Wheat Ales? Like Milkshake IPAs? Heck, like Sours? You'll for sure love this one. This is better than the fresh Saskatoon berry pies my grandma would make, with berries straight from the bush behind the farmhouse. I hope to see Blumstein's beer creep into Liquor Marts in Western Manitoba one of these days, but it's tough when you're a small operation. If you're in the Southern Central Manitoba region, check it out at one of the local LCs there.
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