Perry

On the first day of Beermas I went and got for me
More than half a liter of perry

Oh, that’s a big bottle, quite a size for a gift! It’s also a little bit of a lazy start – perry from the pear tree, not a lot of imagination there. But just wait, there will be twisted justifications coming. This is Samuel Smith’s Organic Perry, with a very traditional looking label and lettering. It isn’t a 7 or 8 percenter, like some of those seasonal beers, but even at 5% the amount of 550ml will do a little something to ya.

Looks a lot like champagne, actually, very bubbly and frisky. It’s a little darker than most champagne you come across, though. It has a winey smell to it too, which ought to make sense given that it’s also fermented fruit. There’s a hint of sulfur lurking in that aroma, and just a puff of it in the first sip. Otherwise, it’s on the sweet side of cider, not tart like some apples will give you. The carbonation adds a little sharpness to it, pulling back on the sweetness. It’s nicer than a lot of apple ciders, having a good balance in flavor, and although it loses plenty of carbonation over time, it stays light and easy to drink, not coalescing into syrup. First day down!