The Brew SitePress Release: A-B’s Blue Dawg Brewing’s Bold Blueberry Lager – Wild Blue
Tart and Tangy Beer Arrives this Spring to Refresh Palates Nationwide
Not suited for timid or reserved beer drinkers, Wild Blue’s defining taste characteristic is its kick of natural blueberry flavor. The Blue Dawg Brewing team carefully selected a blend of hops and barley malt to ensure they complemented and balanced Wild Blue’s dominant blueberry notes, resulting in a robust and aromatic beer with a refreshing, palate-cleansing finish.
Wild Blue is brewed with a blend of German hops from the Hallertau region in Bavaria and classic Aroma hops from the Willamette Valley in the Pacific Northwest. A combination of two- and six-row barley malt was also chosen specifically for this recipe. Beer lovers will also appreciate this specialty fruit-infused lager’s striking burgundy color, ripe blueberry aroma and its ability to stand up to the strongest of foods.
“This beer is the real deal,” said Jill Vaughn, Wild Blue brewmaster. “With a distinct color and flavor, we’ve crafted a beer that truly stands out. I think it will surprise people, especially those who like to experiment when it comes to new drinks.”
To showcase Wild Blue’s reddish-purple color and slight pink head of foam and to allow its field-fresh blueberry aroma to escape to the nose, pour the beer into a glass with a larger rim. A traditional pilsner will do the trick; or for special occasions Vaughn suggests enjoying Wild Blue in a tulip-shaped glass. “A beer as distinct and unusual as Wild Blue deserves to be enjoyed in a special type of glass,” said Vaughn.
Brewers have been using fruit in beer for years, from Belgian lambics brewed with raspberries, cherries and peaches to fruit-flavored beer mixers like shandys and radlers – popular concoctions in Britain and Germany created to bring more refreshment to beer during the spring and summer months.
The unconventional spirit of this beer is conveyed in every aspect, from its taste to its label that features a cheeky, playful bulldog kicking a blueberry, which visually represents Blue Dawg Brewing – a group within Anheuser-Busch, Inc. that is responsible for the beer’s marketing, selling and advertising.
“We’re focusing our efforts on getting Wild Blue in adults’ hands at local food and film festivals and even fun events like pet parades, where dog lovers can get to know Wild Blue, with its feisty bulldog label,” said Jeff Pierson, innovation manager, Wild Blue. “We aren’t taking this beer down the traditional path. Wild Blue is going places we haven’t been before and we know having the beer at places where adults like to get together, socialize and try new things will be key.”
Already a popular beer in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Missouri, adults nationwide can now find this brew at select grocery and convenience stores. Craft beer enthusiasts have also given Wild Blue their stamp of approval with a gold medal in the fruit beer category at the North American Brewers Association’s 2006 North American Beer Awards, a competition that recognizes top beers by style.
When it comes to food pairings, it’s a common belief that heavier, darker drinks pair with meat and lighter, crisper drinks pair with fish. So it’s only natural that a full-flavored beer like Wild Blue needs to be paired with a dish brimming with robust and intense flavors. Vaughn recommends matching Wild Blue with meat dishes, such as pork rib roast with fig and pistachio stuffing or pork tenderloin with apricot mustard. “There’s nothing shy about this beer, so don’t be afraid to match it with strong foods. You want foods with snap and punch, so they won’t get lost or be overpowered,” said Vaughn. “Or if you’re craving a salad, use a combination of greens like mesclun, arugula, escarole or romaine with some fresh herbs.”
Not only does Wild Blue complement full-flavored dishes, it makes an excellent recipe ingredient, like in one of Anheuser-Busch Executive Chef Sam Niemann’s favorites:
Wild Blue Vinaigrette Dressing
Blend 6-8 fresh hulled strawberries, ½ cup fresh raspberries, ½ cup fresh blueberries and 2 tablespoons white vinegar in a blender until smooth. Add ¼ cup red wine vinegar, ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, ¼ cup granulated sugar and ¼ cup Wild Blue; blend briefly until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and chill.
Wild Blue is brewed in Baldwinsville, N.Y. and contains 8 percent alcohol by volume.
This beer is a fine example of a Belgium lambic lager style, not ale. The color really hits u with a wow, Dark Blueberry with a lighter purplelish head. The taste reminds me of Home made Blueberry Pie. CAUTION— Be Very careful, This Beer goes down like Blueberry Soda!!! Can"t belive A’B is involved, Hope they do not Ruin this Beer, Only help Distribute this new & most flavorful treasure!!! ENJOY. P.S>- This coming from a hophead- I like Green Flash Imperial IPA, Stone Brewing products, MOJO Double IPA
It is a flavorful fruit beer with a HEAVY KICK! Easy to drink but at 8% you might want to sip this one slowy. PS: Do not drink this if you are gambling at a casino…
Why is it that the big three feel like they have to "fool" the beer drinking public by hiding behind fictional brewery names? I guess it stems from attitudes like those espoused by A/B marketers that term beer aficionados "experimenters". This is an A/B beer – it’s not bad. BTW, I get it, I get it – this beer is intended for adults……….
Whatever happened to truth in adverising. Nowhere on the label says that this beer is a product of Anheuser-Busch. And as I read this it is. Of course the grocery store I bought it in, Rouse’s ,Anheuser Busch has 33 feet of shelf space. Andthis beer was promoted in the section to support local products. You even fooled the grocer besides me. So now I’m debating on drinking it, yes I haven’t opened it. And if I return it to the store, they probably will be as much upset about the beer purchase as me. So where is a small brewery in Baldwinsville, NY
I love this beer. Now I just need to find a store with a ample supply. The store I got it from only had one six pack boo-hoo till 4 find more.
AB has a brewery in Baldwinsville, NY. It is not small. It’s been there a while.
The comment above by "Chris" shows that he’s a bit confused about beer styles. Lambic is a spontaneously fermented ale, with a relatively low abv%. Yes, Wild Blue is a fruit-beer, but the similarity begins & ends there. It’s a lager, there’s no wheat used and there’s none of the complexity associated with lambic. I was also dismayed to learn that this is an AB product, though I’ll admit that it’s enjoyable.
this beer is good. i like it straight from the bottle with a shot of vodka in it, though it doesnt need it with the alcohol content already in it. its also good on rocks with a splash of lemonade. good for the beer drinker and expirimenters. very refreshing on a hot summer day, just wish i could find it in the local liquor stores
Great beer, it tastes very balanced..smooth and strong at the same time. Goes good with pretty much every entree.
A terrible tasting drink. Not worthy of being called a beer. Tastes more like blueberry cough syrup. First one went down the drain after initial tasting. The rest are in fridge waiting for unsuspecting vistor. I am sorry I spent money on this swill.
Wow…. I love fruit beers and this one moves to the top of my list. I found this at Wallgreens in Santa Fe and was plesantly surprised. Had I known it was an AB beer I probably would have passed. Everyone is right about the punch… goes down like blueberry soda but watch out! Hope I can fine more throughout my travels.
Beer Lover is so incorrect here, since there is no such thing as blueberry cough syrup. This is a fine tasting lager from Anheuser Busch, which I will be buying weekly if not daily. Our local Albertsons sells it regularly, and I run them out of stock on it continually. Beer Lover…..get some taste buds, bud!
I have found a new favorite beer! Unfortunately the two stores I found it at only seem to have 1 or 2 six packs when I shop. A lot of times they are empty.
Cheers
I was looking for a beer for some friends that were coming for dinner. I found wild blue on the shelve but only one six pack. I bought it because the bulldog looks like ours. I bet on horses the same way the one that look good. But the was a winner Love this lager. Even my husband liked it and he is a hard sell on anything new. Of course ran out and can not find any more. I have got to find a good stock of this one.
We found your beer at a local shop while looking for something different. So we picked up a six pack of Wild Blue. It was probably one of the best tasting beers we ever have had and we are some what of conisures of novilty beers. We think we have a new favorite. Thank you for making such a great product.
It suckssssss!!!!!!!1
Pour it into a glass and think grape juice with fizz. Take a drink and be surprised by the intensity of the blueberry. Finish your glass, see some sediment in the bottom and feel a little buzzed because this craziness is 8% Alc./vol. By Blue Dawg Brewing in NY this blueberry lager is amazing. I am not one for fluffy fruit flavored beers. The first time I had this was the 4th of July; part of the red, white, and blue theme, the beers I bought all had one of those colors in their names. I figured a bunch of people, easy to pawn off a beer. This sh.. was so good I gave away two, and horded the rest. It is good in a crazy way, so if you like blueberries and adventure, I highly recommend giving Wild Blue a try.
i grabbed this at my local bevmo to give it a try. i’m not one who enjoys fruity beers and Wild Blue is no exception. I compare this to a wine cooler in flavor. the high alcohol content will entice me to finish all six but the ensuing hangover will swear me off from buying anymore of Wild Blue.
WILD BLUE is the best! I drank it while visiting my brother’s family in Phoenix,and I hope that when I get home to Chicago, I will be able to purchase it for consumption. It is the yummiest beer I have ever drank, and I have been drinking beer for 40 years.
Blue dawg, let me know where to buy it in the 604 area.