Beer Pick: Wild Heaven Watermelon Blend Emergency Drinking Beer

Credit: Reid Ramsay/Beer Street Journal

Credit: Bob Townsend

Credit: Bob Townsend

Credit: Reid Ramsay/Beer Street Journal

Father’s Day weekend is ahead of us, and warm weather is upon us.

Wrecking Bar Brewpub's Seventh Anniversary Weekend kicks off today. And many more area breweries will be hosting Father’s Day events on Sunday.

But Wild Heaven will be celebrating Watermelon Blend Emergency Drinking Beer, a light, bright red beer that’s in cans for the first time this summer.

Beer Pick

Watermelon Blend Emergency Drinking Beer

Available on draft and in special 12-ounce cans this summer

Profile

Though Wild Heaven has a portfolio that includes Belgian-style ales and American-style IPAs, its most popular offering is Emergency Drinking Beer. The light, low alcohol session-style brew marries aspects of a pilsner and a gose, and gets its bright, saline flavor profile from additions of citrus zest, Portuguese sea salt and lemongrass.

And then there’s Watermelon Blend, available this summer in cans for the first time. According to Wild Heaven co-founder, Nick Purdy, “the team cuts the rinds off the watermelons, slices them up and runs them through a tabletop commercial juicer.” The “very bright red juice” is added to the brite tank, then carbonated and packaged.

The result is, well, Emergency Drinking Beer, but with the unmistakable aroma and flavor of watermelon, though not too sweet, and certainly well qualified as a summer sipper.

Pair with

I’m tempted to say that this beer should be paired with a hot day on the porch or at the beach. But it would also do well as an aperitif for weekend brunch, or as accompaniment for a watermelon and feta salad or prosciutto-wrapped cantaloupe.

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