Fruit-flavored beers are becoming quite popular. These light, slightly sweet ales typically smell more fruity than they taste, and tend to be relatively low in alcohol – making them perfect session beers for summer. Here are five brewed in the Valley:
SanTan Mr. Pineapple: The downtown Chandler brewery added fresh pineapple to its German wheat ale and cranked up the carbonation to debut this seasonal, one of my faves, at its annual summer luau in 2010. It’s available only in draft, but will be sold in 16-ounce cans next year. 5% alcohol by volume (ABV).
Papago Orange Blossom: Papago’s most popular beer, a light American wheat ale flavored with mandarin orange and vanilla, tastes like an old-fashioned Creamsicle. Available only in draft. 4.5% ABV.
Four Peaks Arizona Peach: This slightly hazy golden ale made with fruit puree has been part of the Tempe brewery’s everyday lineup since it opened in 1997. Available only in draft. 4.2% ABV.
Phoenix Ale Watermelon Ale: This new Phoenix brewery introduced its year-round wheat beer fermented with an extract of watermelon in October 2011. Also available in 12-ounce bottles. 4.8% ABV.
Sleepy Dog Monje Azul: Blue agave technically isn’t a fruit, but its syrup makes this Tempe brewery’s seasonal Belgian blonde ale light and slightly sweet. Also available in 22-ounce bottles. 5% ABV.
