My latest Vue Weekly column came out the other day. I discuss those little wedges of citrus fruit – lemon, lime or orange – stuck onto the edge of your glass. Why are they there? Do they enhance the flavour or detract? Is it just some kind of bar trendy-ism?
I attempt to answer those questions in the column. I know the beer geekiest among you have a decisive and judgmental answer – never with the fruit. I admit I always discard the wedge – I want my weizen / wit / wheat ale unadulterated. However I think us beer geeks need to be not quite so fast in our accusations of the wedge. I know many people who sincerely prefer the flavour of their beer with the lime/lemon pushed into the glass/bottle. Who am I to say that they are mistaken? If they like it, they like it, and more power to them.
I think it is more important to inform readers about WHY pubs put the wedge in the beer. Then the customer can make an educated decision about their preference. Ultimately my role as a beer educator is to help people figure out which kind of beer they like best and offer the best possible examples of that beer. If they like a citrus wedge in their beer it is my job to tell them which beer works best with that.
I am curious, actually. How many of you dunk the wedge? How many dump it? I hope to be surprised by your answers. Let me know.
The Vue article offers a run down on the reasons for the citrus. Read it here.
September 19, 2010 at 4:23 PM
In my younger, less-educated beer drinking days I ordered pint after pint of Big Rock Grasshopper with the lemon wedge on the edge of the glass. I would often drop it right into the beer, and occasionally I even squeezed it directly into the beer. Being who I was then, with an underdeveloped palate and no knowledge of European style wheat beer, I enjoyed it.
Fast-forward to the present, having experienced great witbier and a Weihenstephaner or two: I’d probably scream like Ned Flanders with purple drapes if a server brought me a wheat beer with a lemon wedge attached. For reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3OpgwpgqXA
So in other words, I agree completely. Do what you like, it’s your beer, not mine. Enjoy it!
Cheers,
Scott
September 20, 2010 at 8:31 AM
No fruit for me. I used to do the Grasshopper thing as well, but no more.
September 20, 2010 at 9:00 AM
In a high quality beer I ask when ordering that they don’t add any fruit, but if the beer is not as great (ie: American Wheat) I get the fruit as it ads some flavor. I also stay away from the skunky beers with lime.
September 20, 2010 at 9:43 AM
I agree with Kurtis – if the quality of the beer is good, I wouldn’t think about polluting it with a lemon or lime wedge. However, many a crappy beer is made tolerable by virtue of fruit. Now, I’m more of the opinion that you should just drink no beer instead of crappy beer, but sometimes you just can’t get around it.
Anyone remember those obnoxious Alexander Keiths commercials where the faux-Scottish guy screams about sullying his beer with a “wee piece o’ froot”? I have to laugh, because Keiths is one of those beers that tastes better when masked by citrus.
September 22, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Thanks for the Keith’s tip, Mel. If I’m ever stranded somewhere on the east coast with limited beer options I’ll remember to try that. Also, thanks for learning me a new one about merkins! 🙂
Cheers,
Scott