A Flavourful Adventure: Exploring Session Sours and Fruity Delights
As summer arrives, nothing quenches your thirst quite like a refreshing sour beer. These unique brews are perfect for warm days, offering vibrant flavours and a delightful tartness. From fruity sours to indulgent cake-inspired creations, let’s dive into a selection of standout sour beers that will tantalize your taste buds and elevate your summer gatherings.
Vault City ~ Piece Of Cake 4.8% Birthday Cake Sour
Piece Of Cake is a celebration in a glass, brewed to mark Vault City's sixth birthday. This pastry sour brings together the jammy sweetness of strawberries, the tartness of raspberries, and the luxurious touch of sweet vanilla icing. The result is a dessert-inspired beer that pours a beautiful pink hue, with a creamy head that invites you to indulge. Each sip delivers a rich, indulgent flavour, reminiscent of a freshly baked birthday cake.
Interesting Fact: The concept of cake-inspired beers has gained popularity in recent years, showcasing brewers' creativity in blending dessert flavours with traditional brewing techniques. This beer exemplifies how fruit and sweetness can come together to create a memorable drinking experience that captures the joy of celebration.
Pairing Suggestions: Piece Of Cake pairs wonderfully with a variety of desserts, particularly a classic vanilla sponge or cheesecake topped with fresh berries. For a savoury option, try it with a charcuterie board featuring rich cheeses and cured meats; the sweetness of the beer can balance the salty, savoury notes beautifully.
Howling Hops ~ Fruit Sour No.2 4.0% Orange, Apricot & Lime Sour
The Fruit Sour No.2 offers a delightful spin on seasonal fruit, combining the vibrant flavours of blood oranges, apricots, and a splash of lime. This refreshing sour strikes a harmonious balance between tartness and sweetness, making it incredibly drinkable. With its bright orange hue and crisp finish, it’s the ideal thirst-quencher for sunny afternoons.
Interesting Fact: This sour is part of a seasonal fruit series designed to showcase the best of what nature has to offer. The careful selection of blood oranges and apricots not only provides an explosion of flavour but also highlights how different fruits can interact to create complex tasting notes in sour beers.
Pairing Suggestions: This beer is perfect for outdoor picnics or barbecues. Pair it with grilled chicken marinated in citrus, where the flavours of the beer can complement the dish. For a light dessert, consider serving it with lemon sorbet or fruit salad to keep the refreshing vibe going.
Moonwake ~ Yuzu & Kaffir Lime Sour 4.2% Fruited Gose
Yuzu & Kaffir Lime Sour invites you to experience a burst of tangy flavour like no other. This Gose features the unique combination of yuzu rind and kaffir lime leaves, creating a vibrant, bittersweet sensation on the palate. The result is a refreshingly sharp sour that evokes memories of sipping refreshing beverages on a sunny day.
Interesting Fact: Yuzu is a citrus fruit from East Asia, often used in Japanese cuisine for its fragrant zest. Its popularity in craft brewing has grown, thanks to its bold flavour and aromatic qualities, which lend a delightful twist to sour beers like this one.
Pairing Suggestions: The zesty nature of this Gose makes it an excellent pairing for sushi or sashimi, where the bright flavours of the beer can enhance the freshness of the fish. For a casual option, try it with spicy Thai dishes, as the acidity will cut through the heat and complement the vibrant flavours.
Siren Craft Brew ~ Delicious Things 6.0% Tropical Fruit Sour
As the name suggests, Delicious Things is an explosion of tropical flavours. This summer sour packs a punch with juicy Alphonso mango, peach, and guava, all harmonizing in a mouth-puckeringly sharp base beer. With a vibrant colour and fruity aroma, it invites you to indulge in the tropics, making it a perfect choice for those hot summer days.
Interesting Fact: The use of Alphonso mango, known for its sweetness and rich flavour, showcases how specific fruit varieties can enhance the quality of a brew. This tropical fruit sour celebrates the art of blending different fruits to create a complex yet balanced beer that speaks to the essence of summer.
Pairing Suggestions: Pair this sour with light, fresh dishes such as fish tacos topped with mango salsa or a summer salad bursting with fruits and nuts. For dessert, consider enjoying it alongside a tropical fruit tart, where the sweetness of the beer can enhance the dessert’s flavours.
Yonder ~ Turbo Slurm 4.5% Fruity Sour
Turbo Slurm takes you on a whimsical journey, combining fruity flavours with a cheeky nod to intergalactic adventures. This sour offers a lively combination of citrus and tropical notes, creating a refreshing profile that’s both fun and delicious. Its vibrant character and slightly higher ABV make it an exciting choice for those looking to explore new tastes.
Interesting Fact: This beer draws inspiration from popular culture, blending fantasy elements with craft brewing. The name and concept reflect the creativity within the craft beer community, showcasing how brewers can turn imaginative ideas into refreshing realities.
Pairing Suggestions: Turbo Slurm is a versatile beer that pairs beautifully with spicy dishes, such as jerk chicken or shrimp tacos. The acidity can help balance the heat and enhance the flavours. For a sweet finish, try it with a citrus sorbet or key lime pie, where the beer’s bright notes will shine.
Pressure Drop ~ Weird World 4.5% Sour
Weird World blurs the lines between styles, creating a unique blend of sour and pale ale. Brewed with the tropical qualities of Sabro hops, this beer showcases coconut and pineapple sweetness, balanced perfectly by its tartness. With its inviting hazy appearance and complex flavour profile, it promises a delightful experience that keeps you guessing.
Interesting Fact: The combination of sour and pale ale styles reflects the experimental spirit of modern brewing, pushing the boundaries of traditional flavours. By incorporating unique hops like Sabro, which has distinct coconut and tropical fruit notes, this beer exemplifies how innovation can lead to exciting new drinking experiences.
Pairing Suggestions: Enjoy this intriguing beer with dishes that have a touch of sweetness, such as grilled pineapple chicken or a summer salad with tropical fruit accents. For dessert, pair it with coconut macaroons or pineapple upside-down cake to enhance the fruity elements of the brew.
Mad Squirrel ~ Toucan 4.0% Triple Fruited Sour
Toucan is a tropical paradise in a glass, showcasing the vibrant flavours of guava, pomegranate, and pear. This triple fruited sour is bright and refreshing, with a lively profile that makes it perfect for any sour beer lover. Each sip delivers a burst of fruitiness, ensuring you’re whisked away to a sunny getaway.
Interesting Fact: The use of three different fruits not only enhances the flavour but also highlights the art of balancing sweetness and tartness in brewing. This beer embodies the growing trend of incorporating multiple fruits into sour beers, showcasing how each fruit can bring its unique characteristics to the mix.
Pairing Suggestions: Toucan pairs beautifully with light and fruity dishes. Enjoy it with a ceviche or a tropical fruit salad, where the freshness of the ingredients can be mirrored in the beer. For dessert, try serving it with a light cheesecake topped with fresh fruit to complement the tartness and sweetness.
St Ives x Vocation ~ That's My Jam 4.2% Fruit Sour
That's My Jam is a collaboration that brings the best of fruity sours to the forefront. With an impressive 200 kg of raspberries, this crisp sour is bursting with fruity goodness. The balance of tartness and sweetness creates an inviting flavour profile that refreshes with every sip.
Interesting Fact: Collaborations between breweries often result in unique flavour profiles that highlight the strengths of both teams. This beer demonstrates how creative minds can come together to produce something extraordinary, enhancing the craft beer landscape with innovative brews.
Pairing Suggestions: This refreshing sour is perfect for summer barbecues. Pair it with grilled meats, particularly chicken or pork, where the tartness can cut through the richness. For dessert, consider enjoying it with a raspberry tart or a lemon meringue pie, as the flavours will harmonize beautifully.
These delightful sours and fruited beers exemplify the creativity and innovation within the craft brewing scene. Each sip transports you to a world of flavour, making them perfect companions for summer gatherings, cozy evenings, or simply enjoying a moment of indulgence. Cheers to exploring these exceptional brews!