Rosé Beers for Summer Sippin’
Rosé wines are an increasingly popular drink for many people. Canned rosé began appearing on liquor store shelves a couple of years ago, and it’s gotten a lot of attention since, especially in summertime. And in the craft-beer industry, brewers are always keen to brew something new and exciting. So, as trends are chased, many commercial brewers and homebrewers have decided to try their hand at making rosé beer.
What’s a Rosé, Anyway?
Rosé beer is a catchall term that encompasses a wide variety of beers. Most rosés are pale beer fermented with grapes or blended with wine after fermentation. The grape or wine addition adds a red color and, sometimes, a winelike character. Some rosé beers contain fruits or flavorings other than grapes. Most are dry, but some are sweet. (Many dry rosé beers are labeled “brut,” a word often used to designate a dry wine.) Some are sour. Most rosé beers have a relatively low alcohol by volume (ABV), but a few are stronger. Some are aged in oak barrels for flavoring, color, or souring. Most are only lightly hopped, but given the popularity of IPAs, some bitter rosés are produced. Many different, , kettle-soured beers, and the list goes on. So you see, rosé beer really is a catchall term — it can mean almost anything.
