Sunday Night Suds - Blue Moon Short Straw Farmhouse Red Ale

This week's Sunday Night Suds looks at Blue Moon's Short Straw Farmhouse Red Ale.

As mentioned in the Sunday Night Suds post of May 12, the Brewmasters Sampler Box for  Summer 2013 Brewmasters Sampler Box contains five different beers: the flagship Blue Moon Belgian White (reviewed here kosherbeers.blogspot.com/2008/07/sunday-night-suds-blue-moon-belgian.html); Rounder Belgian Style Pale Ale; Agave Pale Ale (reviewed here kosherbeers.blogspot.com/2012/05/sunday-night-suds-blue-moon-agave.html); Blackberry Tart Ale (reviewed here kosherbeers.blogspot.com/2013/05/sunday-night-suds-blue-moon-blackberry.html) and Short Straw Farmhouse Style Red Ale.

Since the Short Straw calls itself a Farmhouse Red Ale, I saved it to review after the Shiner FM 966 Farmhouse Ale which was reviewed in last week's post (kosherbeers.blogspot.com/2013/05/sunday-night-suds-shiner-fm-966.html). But a funny thing happened after I tasted this purported Saison/Farmhouse Ale. I realized that it was not really a Saison.

Although this style of beer is supposed to be semi-dry with only a hint of sweetness, the Short Straw Farmhouse Red Ale bursts with fruit and is anything but semi-dry. This could be due to the fact that it comes from Blue Moon where almost everything they brew tastes like it is made with orange or deserved a fru fru orange garnish. But it also could be due to the spices they add to the brew which they describe as a Flanders Red brewed with hibiscus, coriander and white pepper.

The resulting beer is a refreshing deep red brew with strawberry like fruit and little to no hop bite or bitterness. I could see having this beer with a cold fruit soup or even with a cherry pie (no joke!). It would also be just fine on its own, but why don't you try it out and get back to me with your favorite pairing.

Blue Moon Short Straw Farmhouse Red Ale is certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. For the experts take on the beer, please click here beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/306/82098.

As always, please remember to drink responsibly and to never waste good beer unless there is no designated driver.

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