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 Sea Dog Bluepaw: Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale
by erik lars myers
 Brewer: Sea Dog Brewing Company, Topsham, ME
Style: 20A. Fruit Beer
This probably isn't fair for me to review. I have such great associations with this beer and the Sunset, my favorite bar ever, where hot summer days are ended by frozen blueberries bobbing up and down inside a cold pint of Bluepaw, that I probably have an undue fondness for it.
This is one of the only fruit beers I can think of that's a repeat-drink-er. I can drink one after the other and I just don't get tired of it. Probably because it's not overly sweet, it's not cloying, it's refreshing, and it's got a really nice, even, blueberry flavor that just can't be beat.
Aroma: Strong blueberry aroma, and nothing else. No malt or hop aroma to speak of. The blueberry almost smells fake - like a blueberry scratch-and-sniff sticker (perhaps due to the flavoring coming from syrup rather than actual fruit?), but a little tangier. (9/12)
Appearance: Beautiful clear, golden straw-colored ale. Very little head retention. (2/3)
Flavor: Very clean and crisp. Maybe some light hop floral notes, but nothing strongly hoppy or malty. Blueberry flavor is there, but not overpowering, slightly tart and very nice. It really manifests itself on the aftertaste. and lingers, as if you just swallowed a mouthfull of blueberries. Very refreshing. (17/20)
Mouthfeel: Light-bodied and crisp. The light effervescence really serves to clear your palette at the end of the sip. (4/5)
Overall impression: A very nice, clean, refreshing fruit beer that is just an absolute pleasure to drink. I only wish there were a little something more to the underlying beer style to lend it a little body, but as a showcase to the fruit flavor it's just plain wonderful. (8/10)
My total score: (40/50)
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