FRUIT SALAD IN A BOTTLE

With a fruity base of guava and passionfruit, this pale ale might be a challenge for classic beer lovers

IT would appear that it’s a case of “no olds barred” when it comes to developing a new taste in beers.

In the endless quest to appease the market, some brewers venture outside the box – way outside.

Now James Squire has come up with some cracking beers over the years, but their latest offering, the James Squire Tall

Tales Tropicana Spring Ale, is a mouthful in more ways than one.

Not only does it have a lengthy name but the infusion of guava and passionfruit pulp leaves you wondering “what’s going on?”

No doubt this is aiming at a younger market, or for those beer drinkers who aren’t “hard core”.

This ale has a bright, cloudy lemon/orange appearance with a tight white head and an unmistakeable fruity passionfruit aroma.

The initial mouthful is an onslaught of flavours – a fruity/ beer mix which some may find a little sour at first.

There’s buckets of flavours that linger, it’s slightly creamy in nature with a slight bitterness in the aftertaste.

Confusing is a word that

comes to mind. It’s definitely unusual but does the job as a thirst quencher on a hot day.

For those who don’t like the strong beer flavour but would prefer something that masks the aftertaste, particularly the bitterness, this will hit the mark.

While it is refreshing in nature and the taste does grow on you, I can’t see myself having a session on this, but I could down a six pack at a party.

This is an interesting full strength beer but with the fruit flavours competing with the nature of the pale ale beer, purists will find it conflicting.

It would be well suited to curries that use fruit – Indian or Asian styles.

Having seen the market deluged by pale ale, followed by pacific ale styles, don’t be surprised if the fruit beers are next.