Drink of the Week: Widmer Prickly Pear Braggot

Haven’t heard of braggot? You’re not alone—this ancient mix of mead and beer was mentioned in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales but has since fallen off of many a contemporary beer drinker’s and craft brewer’s radar. We recently acquainted ourselves with a modern interpretation of the style when we tasted Widmer’s latest release from their Brewmaster’s Reserve series. Napweed honey from northwestern Montana and prickly pear juice are added to pale ale during fermentation, creating sweet, herbal aromas with stone fruit flavors coming through on the super-silky palate and subtle maltiness and hops balancing the sweetness on the finish. Available in 22-ounce bottles and on draught across the country, this brew is a limited release and will go quickly, so pick up a bottle or two while you can—one to enjoy now with friends and one to revisit in a year or so. $10 for 22 oz., widmer.com