Schell's Arminius

This is a recent offering from the August Schell Brewing Company of New Ulm, Minnesota. They were established in 1860 and they are the second oldest family owned brewery in the United States, behind Yuengeling. This beer is a 6.5% ABV pale hoppy lager made using German, American and French hops.

From their website, explaining the name: Schell’s Arminius is named after the legendary chieftain of the Germanic Cheruscan tribe better known as Herman the German. Arminius’ united coalition of Germanic tribes famously defeated the Roman army some 2,000 years ago, and permanently established the border of Germany, which still exists today. The Herman Heights Monument, which sits atop the hill in New Ulm, overlooks the town and Minnesota River Valley below. His eastward looking gaze and upraised sword signify freedom from Rome.

The beer pour yellow golden in color with a tall, white, thickly foamy head. The aroma is citrus, blueberries, just a touch of passion fruit, over crisp golden grain lager.  The taste follows directly along the aromas, the fruit turning floral, nearly herbal on the finish, adding in currants. The finishing taste is not entirely pleasant to me. The beer drinks smooth, crisp and refreshing. Nice experiment, but it didn’t work for me (although I often like hoppy lagers this tastes like currants to me, which I don't particularly like).