Beer Review: Great Notion Double Blueberry Marshmallow Shake
When it comes to the “culinary” side of craft brewing, Portland’s Great Notion is essentially royalty. They don’t just brew fruit sours; they liquefy decadent desserts. Double Blueberry Marshmallow Shake is a spin-off of their beloved flagship Double Blueberry Shake, taking an already intense fruit bomb and wrapping it in pillowy confectionery sweetness.
If you are a purist looking for a subtle, oak-aged wild ale, look away. But if you want an unadulterated, smooth, fruit-forward indulgence, this is a masterpiece of the Fruited Sour genre.
The Technical Specs
Style: Fruited Sour / “Milkshake” Sour
ABV: 9.0%
Ingredients: Massive amounts of real blueberry puree, Madagascar vanilla beans, marshmallow flavor, and gelatin (Note: despite the creamy “shake” moniker, this contains no lactose).
Tasting Notes
Appearance and Aroma
It pours an opaque, incredibly dense, deep indigo-purple that looks more like fresh-pressed berry juice or a premium fruit smoothie than beer. A thick, violet-tinted foam rises to the top and leaves a dramatic, jammy residue on the sides of the glass as it slowly settles.
The aroma is absolutely massive. The moment you crack the can, the room fills with the scent of wild, woody blueberries, vanilla bean frosting, and the sugary, nostalgic scent of a freshly opened bag of campfire marshmallows.
Flavor Profile
Great Notion calls this an “Earth Shake,” and the flavor profile perfectly balances the line between intense tartness and rich sweetness.
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- The Lead: A giant wave of authentic, jammy blueberry puree. It tastes as wild berries plucked straight from the bush—vibrant, slightly tannic, and deeply flavorful.
- The Mid-Palate: The tartness of the berry is immediately met by a velvety, pillowy rush of sweet marshmallow cream and rich vanilla.
- The Finish: It wraps up like a slice of gourmet blueberry pie à la mode. The 9.0% ABV is completely hidden behind the mountain of fruit and sugar, leaving a lingering, sweet-and-tart berry jam finish.
Mouthfeel and Drinkability
The mouthfeel is remarkably thick, plush, and full-bodied, mimicking a dairy milkshake without actually using any milk sugars. Thanks to the heavy saturation of real fruit puree and the gelatin conditioning, it coats the palate in a rich, satisfying way. It is a heavy drink, but the natural acidity of the blueberries cuts through the sweetness just enough to keep it from feeling cloying.
Double Blueberry Marshmallow Shake is a triumph of modern flavor extraction. Great Notion delivers exactly what is promised on the label: a rich, decadent, marshmallow-stuffed liquid blueberry pastry. It is best enjoyed fresh as a dessert beer, shared with a friend who appreciates the wilder, sweeter side of the craft beer revolution.
Available at SF Tequila Shop
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