Siren Craft Brew Pink Paloma Cocktail Inspired Sour 5.0%
Siren Craft Brew’s Pink Paloma is a refreshing and vibrant cocktail-inspired sour that effortlessly balances the tart and sweet notes of a traditional Paloma cocktail. Pouring a striking peachy pink hue, it immediately catches the eye, while the flavour profile teases your taste buds with the perfect blend of grapefruit, lime, and a sprinkle of sea salt. The beer takes you on a unique journey, with a subtle yet prominent tequila wood influence that gives an added depth of complexity. The malts—malted barley, wheat, and oats—bring a soft and smooth body that enhances the fruit-forward character of this beer, allowing the fresh citrus notes to take centre stage without being overpowering. The touch of agave syrup adds a light sweetness, which balances the sourness from the grapefruit and lime juice, rounding out the beer’s vibrant flavours.
Interesting Fact: The Paloma cocktail is one of the most popular drinks in Mexico, traditionally made with tequila, lime, and grapefruit soda. Siren Craft Brew has cleverly captured the essence of this beloved drink by aging the beer on tequila-infused oak, bringing that signature agave flavour to the brew. This playful and experimental approach allows beer drinkers to experience a cocktail-inspired brew in a new, exciting form.
Food Pairings: Pink Paloma pairs wonderfully with fresh, zesty dishes. Try it alongside ceviche, where the sharp lime and refreshing fish will complement the beer’s citrus flavours. It would also be a great match for grilled shrimp tacos or a zesty avocado and grapefruit salad. For something a bit sweeter, pair it with a lime and coconut cheesecake to highlight the refreshing citrus character and balance the sweetness of the dessert.
Electric Bear Sun Of A Beach Tropical Ice Cream Sour 4.8%
Electric Bear’s Sun Of A Beach is a tropical ice cream sour that transports you straight to a sunny beach with every sip. This 4.8% ABV sour is inspired by the nostalgic flavours of a classic ice lolly, blending mango, lemon, and mandarin with creamy vanilla. The beer pours a hazy golden colour, reminiscent of a sunny day, while the flavour profile is both fruity and smooth. The combination of fruit purees and mandarin essence gives it a burst of citrus, with the vanilla extract adding a creamy sweetness that ties everything together. The malts—extra pale, wheat, dextrin, and flaked malted oats—ensure the beer has a soft, smooth body that enhances its dessert-like quality. The sourness is well-balanced, offering just enough tartness to cut through the sweetness, making this beer the perfect balance of fruity refreshment and creamy indulgence.
Interesting Fact: This collaboration with Dutch brewery Kompaan has resulted in a beer that captures the essence of summer fun in a glass. Electric Bear’s use of tropical fruits, combined with a creamy vanilla finish, gives the beer a playful yet sophisticated twist, making it a standout in the growing category of fruit-forward sours.
Food Pairings: Sun Of A Beach is a fantastic match for fruity desserts like a tropical fruit salad or a sorbet, where the beer’s creamy, fruity flavours will amplify the sweetness. It also pairs wonderfully with spicy dishes, such as jerk chicken or a tangy Thai green curry, where the beer’s refreshing tartness will contrast beautifully with the heat. For something simple, try pairing it with soft cheeses like brie or goat cheese, where the smoothness of the cheese complements the beer’s creamy character.
Vault City Sweet Shop - Fizzy Cherries Sour 4.7%
Vault City’s Sweet Shop – Fizzy Cherries Sour is a tangy and sweet beer that bursts with vibrant cherry flavours, offering a nostalgic taste experience. At 4.7% ABV, this sour is light and refreshing, yet full of intense cherry fruitiness. The beer opens with a burst of juicy, tart cherries that dominate the palate, while a subtle fizziness adds to the fun, making it feel like a fizzy candy or soda. The malt base is light, providing a smooth foundation for the fruit to shine without being too heavy. The balance between sweet and sour is expertly handled, allowing the cherry’s natural tartness to be countered by a gentle sweetness, leaving a clean, crisp finish that encourages another sip.
Interesting Fact: Vault City is known for creating sour beers with playful, nostalgic themes, and the Sweet Shop series is no exception. By focusing on single fruit profiles, Vault City has crafted a sour that captures the essence of classic sweets, bringing back memories of fizzy cherry candies and childhood treats, all while maintaining the quality and complexity that defines their brewing style.
Food Pairings: This beer pairs wonderfully with a range of sweet treats. Think of pairing it with a cherry clafoutis or a slice of cherry pie, where the beer’s cherry flavours will complement the dessert’s richness. For a savoury match, try it with grilled pork or duck with a cherry glaze, as the beer’s tartness will cut through the richness of the meat. A simple cheese board with soft cheeses, such as camembert or brie, would also work well, allowing the beer’s fruity sweetness to shine.
Pretty Decent Choo Loves Kiss Blueberry, Strawberry, Raspberry Sour 5.5%
Pretty Decent’s Choo Loves Kiss is a delightful sour that blends the best of summer berries in a beautifully tart yet balanced brew. At 5.5% ABV, this sour is packed with blueberry, strawberry, and raspberry flavours, creating a medley of bright, juicy fruit that dominates the taste. The malt base, made from water, barley, oats, and wheat, offers a smooth, slightly creamy body that balances the beer’s fruit-forward character. The addition of vanilla provides a touch of sweetness, creating a perfectly harmonious flavour profile that showcases the best of the three berries. The sourness is fresh and crisp, with just the right amount of tartness to enhance the fruity sweetness without overwhelming it.
Interesting Fact: The combination of blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries is a popular choice in brewing due to the natural tartness and vibrant colour these fruits impart. Pretty Decent’s use of these berries in a sour beer is a tribute to the abundant summer harvest, and the added vanilla softens the sourness, creating a more approachable beer for those new to the sour style.
Food Pairings: Choo Loves Kiss is perfect for pairing with berry-based desserts, like a mixed berry tart or a fruit-filled shortcake. The beer’s natural sweetness and acidity also make it a great match for grilled meats, such as chicken or pork, where the fruitiness complements the caramelization of the meat. A goat cheese salad with fresh berries would be another excellent pairing, where the tanginess of the cheese enhances the beer’s tartness.
71 Brewing Strawberry Crush Strawberry & Vanilla Sour 5.5%
71 Brewing’s Strawberry Crush is a luscious 5.5% ABV sour that celebrates the sweetness of ripe strawberries with the smoothness of vanilla. Aged over locally picked Elsanta and Sonata strawberries, the beer is bursting with fresh, juicy fruit flavours that are perfectly balanced by the vanilla’s creamy smoothness. The malt base, made up of extra pale malt, wheat, and oats, provides a light yet full-bodied foundation, allowing the strawberries to shine while the beer retains a refreshing acidity. The finish is clean and crisp, with a slight hint of honey and sherbet, adding complexity to the flavour profile.
Interesting Fact: The use of locally sourced strawberries is a nod to 71 Brewing’s commitment to quality ingredients and supporting local farmers. By using super ripe, hand-picked fruit, they’ve ensured that the beer captures the essence of fresh strawberries at their peak, giving the beer an authentic, vibrant flavour that’s a true reflection of the season.
Food Pairings: Strawberry Crush is an excellent pairing for desserts like strawberry shortcake or a creamy panna cotta, where the beer’s fruitiness will complement the sweetness of the dessert. For a savoury option, try it with grilled seafood, such as shrimp or scallops, as the beer’s acidity will balance the natural sweetness of the seafood. A simple salad with goat cheese and strawberries would also be a great match, enhancing the beer’s fresh, fruity profile.
Unbarred Whisky Sour BA Berliner Weisse 8.0%
Unbarred’s Whisky Sour is a bold 8.0% ABV Berliner Weisse that takes inspiration from the classic cocktail. This genre-defying beer begins with a tart, lemony Berliner Weisse base, layered with hand-peeled, juiced lemons for a burst of citrus. The real magic happens when the beer is aged in a Cameron bridge single-grain Scotch barrel, imparting beautiful whisky notes and a smooth oaky character. The result is a sour beer that balances the tartness of the lemon with the warmth and depth of whisky, creating a complex and intriguing beer that’s as refreshing as it is thought-provoking.
Interesting Fact: The use of Scotch barrel aging in a Berliner Weisse is an innovative technique that blends two seemingly contrasting styles—sour beer and whisky. By aging the beer in a whisky barrel, Unbarred has added layers of complexity, with the oaky character and whisky warmth providing a unique twist on the Berliner Weisse style.
Food Pairings: Whisky Sour pairs beautifully with rich, flavourful dishes such as roast duck with citrus glaze or a hearty steak. The beer’s lemony tartness and whisky notes also make it a great match for a cheese board featuring aged cheeses like cheddar or gouda. For dessert, try pairing it with a lemon meringue pie, where the beer’s citrus character will complement the tartness of the pie, while the whisky notes provide an intriguing contrast.
Turning Point Hard Pivot Blueberry & Coffee Sour 5.0%
Turning Point’s Hard Pivot is a bold and unconventional sour that pairs the tart brightness of blueberries with the rich, earthy flavours of Rwanda Mbilima coffee. This 5.0% ABV brew is an intriguing combination, where the bright, tangy blueberry notes are met with the deep, roasted complexity of coffee. The blueberries bring a natural sweetness that contrasts with the coffee’s bitterness, creating a delightful balance. The malt base—made up of barley, wheat, and oats—adds smoothness and body, while the addition of maple, caramel, and vanilla enhances the overall richness of the beer. The result is a sour that feels full-bodied and layered, with each sip offering a balance of fruitiness, coffee richness, and subtle sweetness.
Interesting Fact: Rwanda Mbilima coffee is known for its vibrant fruit-forward flavours, which makes it a perfect complement to the blueberries in this sour. The coffee’s bright acidity and subtle chocolate notes are beautifully integrated into the beer, enhancing the natural fruitiness of the blueberries and creating a unique flavour profile. The inclusion of maple and caramel further adds complexity and sweetness, making this sour feel like a decadent treat.
Food Pairings: Hard Pivot pairs well with bold, rich dishes like barbecue pork or grilled steak, where the beer’s fruitiness and coffee notes can complement the smoky flavours. It also works beautifully with a rich chocolate dessert, such as a dark chocolate torte, where the coffee and caramel flavours in the beer enhance the chocolate’s depth. For a lighter pairing, try it with a soft goat cheese salad, where the beer’s tangy fruitiness contrasts nicely with the creaminess of the cheese.
Yonder Passion Fruit Nectarine Sorbet Sour 4.5%
Yonder’s Passion Fruit Nectarine Sorbet Sour is a delightfully fruity and refreshing beer, perfect for warm weather or any time you’re craving a tangy treat. This 4.5% ABV sour is part of Yonder’s Scoop Series and is designed to mimic the refreshing, fruity experience of sorbet. Passion fruit and nectarine are the stars of the show, providing a burst of tropical fruitiness that’s both tart and sweet. The malt base is light, featuring a delicate balance of wheat and oats, allowing the fruits to shine without being overpowering. The sourness is bright and clean, providing a refreshing contrast to the natural sweetness of the fruit, making this beer incredibly drinkable and thirst-quenching.
Interesting Fact: The Scoop Series by Yonder is dedicated to creating fruit-forward sours inspired by refreshing ice creams and sorbets. By using fresh fruit like passion fruit and nectarine, they’ve created a beer that captures the essence of a sorbet in liquid form. The result is a brew that’s not only refreshing but also packed with tropical flavours that are perfect for summer or as a palate cleanser after a rich meal.
Food Pairings: Passion Fruit Nectarine Sorbet Sour is a perfect match for light, refreshing dishes like sushi, particularly with tuna or salmon. The beer’s tropical fruitiness pairs wonderfully with seafood, especially shellfish like shrimp or lobster. For dessert, it’s a natural companion for sorbet or fruit tarts, where the beer’s fresh fruit flavours will enhance the sweetness of the dish. A simple goat cheese salad with fresh herbs would also work well, as the sourness and fruitiness of the beer complement the tangy cheese and greens.