Everyone agreed: The bier comes before the berry. We wanted a bier with a berry accent - not the other way around. It needed to have just enough black raspberries to give it a refreshing tanginess - but not so many that it overshadowed the tettnanger hops and special malted wheat.

It took a while - five months and at least fifteen berry suppliers. But when we finally got it right, everyone knew it. There was a definite (but not overwhelming) black raspberry aroma and flavor, a subtle hoppiness, and a lively color and body.

But just to be sure, we poured another round.