Just as my website was getting hijacked, my latest Vue Weekly column was published. It was an unusual choice for me, on a number of levels. First, I am not a big fan of fruit beer generally. Second, I abhor efforts to dilute beer with tomato juice or other such non-beer beverages. So why review Steigl Radler, the Austrian grapefruit shandy (a beer blended with 50% juice)?
Because my friends told me to. Why else?
I heard from three of four different people, including some Sugar Bowl staff, that the beer was fascinating and I should try it. And then I thought, well if I am going to try it I might as well review it and give the whole thing a point. So I did. You can read the resulting review here. And you are correct, I pick up a clear flavour of Mountain Dew. This is Mountain Dew beer! It makes sense, in a way, because Mountain Dew has a citrus accent, just like Radler does. The beer doesn’t really do it for me, but I can understand why people brought it to my attention – it is unique.
So there you have it. I bought a bottle, drank it and reviewed it. Can I do something else now?
November 13, 2011 at 11:05 PM
I’ll dare say it… I’d try this brew… normally I’d avoid fruity things. but Mountain Dew IS my favourite pop, so — plus — as I get older and my metabolism continues to tank and I can’t drink Belgian strongs all the time, I’m always on the lookout for a tasty 4%ish beer. Who knows – I might like it.
Your article also reminds me of the time I was at Sherbrooke and a clerk was in the cooler helping a woman look for a brand of beer. I, always hoping to show my beer knowledge, asked what she was looking for, and she said it was “Radler”, which was a term I hadn’t heard of at the time. My helpful attitude ended when she added emphatically “It’s the only beer I’ll drink, cause it’s the only beer with taste.” Which I thought was just the BEST thing to say in a room full of 500 different kinds of beer.