903 "Candy Vibin'" Weisse

Pretty clearly, they couldn't get branding from Skittles. I'm not sure they even tried, but it doesn't seem like something that should have been that hard to get. Maybe it was expensive? Well, the Skittles name isn't going to be a sure-fire hit when it comes to craft beer, so I can understand their trepidation. It is, in fact, with that trepidation that I drink this beer from a brewer that I've only ever had one drink from before. Mind you, I liked it. Will I like this one?

The hazy, gold beer sheds its bubbles like a stripper taking the stage; there's absolutely nothing left very quickly, and it's not always for the better. Either way, I won't be getting any lacing. The aroma is very sweet with a strong grain backing. There is a tartness that comes with the malt, and it's mixing well with the sweet, but I need to be clear - this doesn't smell like Skittles. I actually just had a bunch of Skittles earlier today, coincidentally.

First sip is a lot more of a beer than it is a dessert. Frequently, these kinds of drinks will forego the idea of beer in favor of the style of sweet that they put on the can (be it nana puddin, chocolate cake, or unicorn farts). This one is more of a weisse than anything else, and I'm glad to taste that. However, the sweet treats are still imbuing the beverage with sugar that compliments the grains and tart, and it is doing great. I wonder how good they could make a fake Sour Patch Kids beer.

Tip-in is sweet and tart over grainy malt, and I can taste the attempts at fruits with lemons, grape, lime, orange, and strawberry. Anyone who has had a handful of Skittles understands how those flavors merge and are quite unlike the same flavors coming from, let's say, Fruit Loops. The middle backs off the fruit flavors entirely, and it may as well have become a standard, grain-filled weisse with a little added sweet and tart. The finish is more grains and tart that eventually become watery before fruits can echo in the trail off.

Bottom Line: Not half bad.

3.5/5