It had been a good night. I had enjoyed a few beers, and I was ready for dessert. Liquid dessert. Beery dessert. The solution: Atwater Blueberry Cobbler Ale, a tasty blueberry ale from the Atwater brewery of Detroit, Michigan. Blueberry ales and I go way back, back to the 90s in fact, which is perhaps as far back as they go.
I like my blueberry ales brewed with local fruit. Local beer should feature local ingredients when possible, don’t you think? I’ve enjoyed beers made with blueberries from Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Georgia, Louisiana and more. This is the first I’ve enjoyed with Michigan blueberries, and based on a strong porter no less.
From the website:
Blueberry Cobbler is deceptively complex outing that features bready malts the dryness of fermented blueberries, light vanilla and blueberry aromatics. Strong, yet the flavors play well together.
A widely interpreted style that has its roots in the tradition of blending beers at the tap, porters are regarded as the first English ales with great followings. The modern Porter ranges from brown to deep black with ABV just as variant.
Atwater Blueberry Cobbler Ale has an alcohol content of 8% by volume with 38 IBUs. This is a seasonal selection available from July to October according to Atwater. It runs $9.99 a 4-pack at Total Wine, and that is the only downside. I feel like I’m being shorted two bottles. A half star off for that.
Atwater Blueberry Cobbler Ale pours to a dark brownish blue color with a thick creamy tan head and a rich blueberry and pie crust nose. Taking a sip, the beer has dark brown porter notes at the fore, slightly cobbler crusty if you will in their malty goodness. Then the palate bursts with tasty, juicy blueberry fruit, the center of any good cobbler. It finishes balanced to slightly sweet, tasty and a wonderful dessert beer.
As dessert. Not with it.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft