Pisgah Red Devil

Brewed by Pisgah Brewing Company
Style: Fruit Beer
Black Mountain, North Carolina USA

Sampled during BA monthly gathering at Stub & Herb’s in Minneapolis, MN. From a growler, pours a hazy reddish caramel brew with a thin off-white head that quickly dissipates to a fine film and thin ring. Aroma of wheat malt, some bing cherries, flowery hops, a hint of red berries, and some vanilla. Taste is medium bodied, with flavors of cherries, caramel malt, some light earthy spices, and a hint of raspberries. Finish is semi-tart with a nice balance of cherry and caramel malt with plenty of alcohol warmth.

Appearance: Hazy, reddish-pink body with a small, fine, white head. Smell: Vague pale maltiness and a waft of tart-smelling cherry juice, with only a minor backing of raspberries. Taste: Light, brief maltiness then it’s off to the tart cherries and raspberries, though as with the aroma, it’s mostly cherries. A touch of sweetness emerges briefly, but eventually gives way to more tartness. Tiny pinch of spices. Finishes tart. Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carbonation. Slight syrupiness to the mouthfeel. Drinkability: A reasonably pleasant interplay between the tart and sweet fruit components, but, for me, it leaned decidedly on the tart side of things. Decent overall.

Pours a red color with a white head. Aroma is cherries, wheat, grain, and some earthy hops. Flavor is cherry, wheat, some hops, and a sweet cherry finish.

Pinkish orange, with a pinkish white head. Aroma of cherry, of course, and also a touch of toast and citrusy hops. Flavor is cherry and, uh, Sprite? Maybe? Just a touch o’ bitterness at the end. Tasty, but could possibly get a bit fatiguing if you try to drink more than one. On tap at Barley’s, Asheville.

Date: 01/19/2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Asheville Winter

dark red, fine white head, sweet malt aroma with lots of fruity character, sweet malt flavor, lots of fruity esters, nice cherry character blends well with the esters,
-------- /> Date: 01/20/2008
Mode: draft
Words: Barley’s NC

opaque rusty red, fine pink head, bits of drippy lace, sweet fruity aroma, rich and fruity flavor, not quite as estery as last time, cherry comes out stronger as it warms,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

Tap @ Barleys Taproom Asheville, NC. Pours a hazy redish pink with a small light pink head that leaves some lacing. Light aroma of tart cherries with a hint of raspberries. Taste is the same as aroma. Medium thin slightly tart mouthfeel. Good but lacked any malt or yeast complexity.

Draught. This is definitely a red color. The nose is fairly estery with delicate spiced notes and a wallop of cherries. After sipping, I find the cherries are much more prominent in the flavor. It’s almost medicinal, very sweet and ridiculously fruity. There are hints at pie and spices. I guess I’m a little hard on this one because it is so sweet and fruity.

Sample from a keg at a Pisgah tasting at Bruisin’ Ales, Asheville. This is a Belgian-style blonde ale mixed with cherries and raspberries added to the secondary fermentation. I am not often a fan of fruit beer; I’m fond of Atlantic’s Blueberry Ale, and the occasional old-school sour cherry lambic if the mood strikes me. But this was absolutely stupendous. Very well-balanced, and silky smooth. Oh, I could have gone home right then and there a happy man. My note was, "best fruit beer I’ve ever had, basically," which is probably a stretch, but not *too* big of a stretch.