Judge’s Review: 84 Rating – Clausthaler Grapefruit by Radeberger

Fruit Beer | Year-Round | Germany

By Joseph Formanek

Judges Rating: 84
Aroma: 22
Appearance: 5
Flavor: 33
Mouthfeel: 8
Overall Impression: 16

Clausthaler Grapefruit by Radeberger is being evaluated as per the 2021 BJCP Guidelines as Style 29A, Fruit Beer, though this is a non-alcoholic example.
The aroma is that of a turbid, peach-colored grapefruit soda, with strong, seemingly natural grapefruit aromatics and a carbonation spritz that tickles the nose. There is also a mild sweet malt character in the background. No hops are noted. There is a rather impressive white head when first poured that dissipated very rapidly.   
The flavor follows the characters in the aroma quite well. Grapefruit predominates up front, with the malty sweet character noted in the aroma coming through in the middle and becoming dominant in the finish. The malt character is a bit of a distraction, as it becomes quite cloying as the drink proceeds, negating the natural dryness in the finish that is typically seen in a grapefruit-based drink. There is no hop character to note. The carbonation is initially moderate but decreases rapidly. The brew has a medium body with a rather thick, sweet, lingering finish. 
Overall, this brew presents as a somewhat sweet grapefruit soda with a malty background. A higher level of carbonation could help cut the residual malt sweetness in the finish, as could a higher level of hop bitterness, which would also be complementary to the grapefruit flavor present.