So I debated for a while whether to get the He’Brew Origin tonight or not. I’m now working at one of the greatest liquor stores in the world (well, certainly in the Lansing area), and I was going to pick up a beer after work tonight.

I thought about the Bittersweet Lenny for a while (possibly my favorite beer ever), but I didn’t want anything that big and hoppy tonight.

The manager isn’t crazy about fruit beers, so he didn’t think I should get the Origin, as its a pomegranate amber ale. But after talking it over with one of the other guys the consensus was “why not?” I like everything else I’ve ever had from the brewery, and I don’t mind fruit beers.

So I bought it on my way out the door.

First off, its not as red as I expected, even for an amber. It has a nice, deep gold color, and something closer to an amber at the heart. Pours without a lot of head.

It has a nice, fruity, sweet aroma. You can definately smell the malt, but there’s something else there too. I’m not enough of a fruit connoisseur to tell you, but I’m going to assume that’s what pomegranates smell like.

Its a nice change of pace from normal ales. Its not too weird that you’ll be turned off, but if you want something with a flavor that’s a bit off the path for an ale lover, this might be it. I wanted something fairly light, and not too hoppy - this fit the bill; you can taste the hops, but its not too much (although my tastes in hops runs a bit heavier than most).

I have no complaints, except that it might not be worth $6.19 a bottle. For a dollar less it might find its way into a mixed six pack more often, but as it stands, this’ll be something I’ll only get now and again.

7/10