Beer of the Weekend #835: Cranium Crush
The beer tonight, and final beer from my Michigan haul, is Cranium Crush, brewed by Petoskey Brewing of Petoskey, Michigan.
The color is deep gold. A finger of dense, buttery, beige-colored head settles very slowly and leaves an even skim when it does. The aroma is fruity, dark, and very reminiscent of a snow cone (or at least the syrup used to make snow cones) or cotton candy. Wow, is it enticing! Raspberry is the dominant scent and flavor, and for good reason: the beer is brewed with raspberry puree. The mouthfeel is full and creamy and the flavor reminds me of Bubble Tape or perhaps Big League Chew. The flavor is sweet and candy-like up front but bitterness emerges and it begins to taste more like beer than a snow cone or a huge wad of fruity bubble gum. As it warms, the ABV becomes noticeable but the strength of the bitterness fades. Also used in the brewing process are waffle cones, but it has been so long since I had a waffle cone that I can’t pick out either an aroma or flavor.
Fun facts about Cranium Crush:
• Style: The brewery calls it “raspberry waffle cone cream ale.”
• Price: $8.99 per four-pack of 16-ounce cans at Tom’s Party Store on East Grand River in East Lansing.
• Alcohol content: 7 percent ABV.
• IBU: 15.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
The color is deep gold. A finger of dense, buttery, beige-colored head settles very slowly and leaves an even skim when it does. The aroma is fruity, dark, and very reminiscent of a snow cone (or at least the syrup used to make snow cones) or cotton candy. Wow, is it enticing! Raspberry is the dominant scent and flavor, and for good reason: the beer is brewed with raspberry puree. The mouthfeel is full and creamy and the flavor reminds me of Bubble Tape or perhaps Big League Chew. The flavor is sweet and candy-like up front but bitterness emerges and it begins to taste more like beer than a snow cone or a huge wad of fruity bubble gum. As it warms, the ABV becomes noticeable but the strength of the bitterness fades. Also used in the brewing process are waffle cones, but it has been so long since I had a waffle cone that I can’t pick out either an aroma or flavor.
Fun facts about Cranium Crush:
• Style: The brewery calls it “raspberry waffle cone cream ale.”
• Price: $8.99 per four-pack of 16-ounce cans at Tom’s Party Store on East Grand River in East Lansing.
• Alcohol content: 7 percent ABV.
• IBU: 15.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
