I love
Founders and nearly everything they distribute to Missouri. I also love quality-made fruit beers like
BBQ,
WI Belgian Red, or
Sam Smith strawberry ale. A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to try
Cerise, and I found it a bit over-fruity and sweet, even though I'm a fan of super-sweet fruit beers like Belgian Red. I haven't had it since, mostly because it was just too... fruity.
A couple of months ago, I decided on a whim to get into bourbon. I bought a couple bottles of bourbons I read about online and absolutely fell in love with
Eagle Rare 10. Fast forward a month or so, and I'm in Royal liquor looking around for something to drink. I picked up some saisons from Jolly Pumpkin and Stillwater, as well as a 4-pack of Founders Cerise (hoping that perhaps my memory had failed me). When I got home, I drank half a bottle of Cerise and wasn't that impressed.
So, I added about a quarter-ounce of bourbon to that last half of a bottle... and loved it.
Founders needs to barrel-age Cerise. While I'm happy to add an ounce of bourbon to a bottle of Cerise, the oak and bourbon would add significant depth. Without a doubt, cherries, oak, and bourbon are a match made in polyamorous heaven.
So if you find yourself with a chance to drink a bottle or glass of Cerise - or if you are interested in trying the beer with some complexity - get a shot of bourbon to go with it. You won't regret it.
My wife gave me a bottle of Eagle Rare. Really good stuff. Never tried the Cerise for some reason. I'd probably pick up a single, not sure if I would need four of those.
ReplyDeleteyeah, that's probably the best way to go about it. Cerise gets such mixed reviews, but I think it's a great fruit beer. In any case, isn't that ER tasty? I read several great things about it, so I decided to pick up a bottle. Figured the worse case would be being out $26. Not a big risk.
ReplyDeleteI was pleasantly surprised and would like to try the ER 17 some time; I've heard very good things about it.
I am probably more into whiskey than even beer these days, bourbon most of all. I am not however always well read on he subject. Would love to try It for my next Whiskey 101 night. Where can I find it?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm finding my exploration of bourbon to be a pretty fun adventure so far. I was in Louisville last week and had a blast trying different bourbons there.
ReplyDeleteI picked up my bottle of ER 10 at Royal on 103 & state lin. I know that Hy Vee on state line does NOT have it, but it's not that uncommon (despite the name ;)). I recently tried Elmer T Lee and really enjoyed that one as well (it's caramelly and high in vanillin, so if you like those characteristics, you'll like ETL).
Both of those are around the same price point ($25-30).
I used to work at 435 & Holmes, and know that Royal well. If I cannot find it out here on the Eastside I may have to make a shopping tip down that way, maybe hit Trader Joes & the Asian market as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do dig caramel and vanilla, especially in sipping whiskey. I'll put Elmer on the list as well.