Kuhnhenn Blueberry Pancake Ale

Brewed by Kuhnhenn Brewing
Style: Fruit Beer
Warren, Michigan USA

Dark gold hue, beige bubbly head gives trouble upon pouring. Obvious blueberry and bready yeast in the aroma, very sweet, almost cough syrup like, but not overwhelming. Nicely tart on the palate, it is unable to find a path through the syrupy sweetness and the overall balance is not the best I’ve encountered from Kuhnhenn’s fruit beers. Tart grainy fruit purée, pie-like, desserty and highly yeasty. Foamy palate proposes explosive big bubbles and an overall gazy profile.

The Lure:
Blueberries leap out of the glass, bursting out from the jiggling tower of foam. Oranges and yeast accompany the blueberries boldly, and loads of sediment defy the weary onlookers.

The Festivities:
A prominent yeast recalls that of Fantôme’s, as does the fruitiness of prevalent oranges, lemons and peaches, and the vivacious carbonation. Mouthfeel is full and serves the authentic blueberries on a sweet and acidic platter.

Transcendence:
Slowly but surely building energy after a night of camping in the country, aroused by the surrounding life.

Sample at the Mondial, from 12 oz bottle (I think). Tiny swirls of dried berry-bits suspended in a cloudy dark amber body with remnants of a foamy ring...aroma of, umm, blueberry pancakes, or the batter from which they are made...body a bit too acidic, one-note fruity, tasty to my fruit-beer loving palate but without enough malt for most...still, an interesting and worthwhile experiment, and probably better on tap or from bottles not sitting too long in the sun...

Blueberry aroma is strong with hefty undertones of pastry dough. Cloudy, murky, tan-brown with a light ring of white head and lots of suspended fruit. Blueberry flavour is strong with lightly tart, acetic sourness. Medium body with strong, prickly carbonation. Sampled at Mondial de la Bière 2005.

Thanks Walleye for the bottle: Pours a deep reddish hue with a mostly lasting head and good lace. Truth in advertising...yup, blueberry pancakes is most of the aroma and quite inviting for the blueberry fan. Some dusty and floral esters appear every so often and even a hit of barnyard funk. The taste starts again with the blueberry but less dominating than in the aroma. You can pick out some notes of roasted malts and lightly earthy finish. The feel is lively and a touch mineral laden. This is good but I still like a few other blueberry infused beers better. Still worthy of a try if you dig this kind of thing.

2004 draught at Michigan Brewers Festival. Pours a deep purple/dark blue with some lighter violet tinges and a small beige colored head. Nice and thick. Aroma has very fruity blueberries; sweet and ripe, with a sugary malt note on the backend. Flavor is lightly bitter and pleasingly fruity without being watery and weak. Lots of blueberries, but an equal dose of sweet malt and some bitter hops hold this one together well. Finishes bitter and a bit loose textured, but not watery. Mouthfeel is a touch gritty, seems very similar to a glass of blueberry juice with lots of pulp in it. Not sure of the alcohol content on this one, but it’s not apparent.

12 oz bottle. Cloudy gold with a fluffy head and small chunks of what I can only assume is blueberry. Aroma and taste is light on the blueberries (which is good) and mellow, sweet hops. Flavor has some toasty grains to balance it all out. Just the right amount of blueberry in this to make it a quaffable libation.

Sampled at le Mondial de la bière 2005. Pours a slightly cloudy caramel / brown color with a thin white head. Aroma of blueberries with a doughy element, maybe it comes from the yeast. Ordinary flavor of mild blueberries. Light body, dry mouthfeel, soft carbonation.