If you think the foamy head on that frosty mug of beer looks a shade pink, your eyes are not deceiving you.
That’s because this beer has the unlikely ingredient of blackberries.
A full pound of blackberries per liter, in fact.
The Palos Verdes Brouwerij West’s beer is whimsically named “Dog Ate My Homework.”
I had a chance to try a sample of that, as well as some of the craft brewery’s other beers, all made in a classic Belgian style.
You taste the berries in the “Dog Ate My Homework,” but it is not cloying in the least. It’s not at all like a blackberry soda. Instead, the berry flavor is melded with distinct hoppiness and bitterness to make it quite well rounded.
I can imagine sipping this often during the height of summer because it’s so refreshing, goes down so easily, and is just too much fun.
The Tripel is rich and very smooth. The Saison Extra is extremely dry and clean tasting. It’s like a beer version of Brut Champagne. The Brouwerij West is wonderfully malty with a subtle coffee note.
Brouwerij is known for its wacky looking labels, as you can see from the photo above. They’d be a conversation starter at any backyard barbecue.
Brouwerij West’s beers, available in 500ml bottles for about $8, are sold at Whole Foods Markets, and served at such restaurants as A16 in San Francisco, Camino in Oakland, and Press Club in San Francisco.