Michigan summertime beer taste test: Fruity brews dominate
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Axios Detroit's summer beer tasting lineup: Pigeon Hill's Beach Please, Eastern Market Brewing Co.'s Pineapple Market Day, Arbor Brewing Company's Strawberry Blonde, Brew Detroit's Campin' Beer and Short's Brewing's Soft Parade. Photos: Samuel Robinson/Axios
'Tis the season in Michigan for enjoying a beverage in the sun — and local breweries give us many summer-specific options.
- So we're continuing our blind taste-testing tradition to help you decide which six-pack to pick up on your way to the beach or backyard bonfire.
- No, we're not beer experts. But we sure do have opinions.
What happened: The three of us met at Sam's place and each poured beers into separate numbered cups to keep the breweries' identities anonymous. We scored the beers on a 1-5 scale based on tastiness and drinkability, then added up our scores for the final ranking.
- The highest possible composite score was 15.
Of note: Readers made some good suggestions, but we didn't see them in the stores we checked — Amy L. likes Mitten Brewing Co.'s Mango Gold and Cheryl S. suggested Saugatuck Brewing Co.'s blonde ale.
First (tied): Soft Parade, Short's Brewing Co.: 12
- "Now this is a summer beer," Joe wrote, giving it a 4.5. "More complex and balanced fruit flavor."
- Soft Parade is the only beer Sam actually enjoys — he recognized it instantly and gave it a 5.
- Annalise was less impressed, rating Soft Parade 2.5 and noting it was "a bit sickly sweet."
First (tied): Pineapple Market Day, Eastern Market Brewing Co.: 12
- "This is hazy like the sky this week and tastes sweet, but not as sweet as Soft Parade," Sam wrote.
- It's "fruity in a bright way, not an overly sweet way," Annalise wrote, noting she enjoyed sipping it but would be good after half a can.
- Joe said he'd stop after one.
Second: Strawberry Blonde, Arbor Brewing Co.: 11
- Sam rated this one a 5/5 — "It's super fruity and sweet; you could eat it for breakfast."
- Joe rated this beer low, at 2.5. He called it "not bad, unremarkable."
- Annalise gave it a 3.5, saying it "tastes like I'm sitting on a fruit farm. Cute but not my favorite."
Third: Campin' Beer, Brew Detroit: 10.5
- Annalise ranked this one higher than the other two did, 4.5. She enjoyed the subtle smokey flavor.
- Joe wrote he "could crush a few at a BBQ or baseball game but probably wouldn't buy to drink at home."
Fourth: Beach Please, Pigeon Hill Brewing Co.: 9.5
- It's "slightly fruity but not overpowering" and "pretty smooth," Joe wrote.
- "Weird body odor aftertaste that is not at all pleasant to my taste buds," Sam said.