Rating:

“Brewed using our Sour Smoothie Base then loaded with a stupid amount of banana, coconut cream, vanilla and milk sugar, then boosted with classic blue heaven syrup and a touch of blue spirulina. Enjoy this heavenly milkshake!”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Absolutely outrageous colour – some fusion of hypercolour blue and green with a massive creamy head which bubbles and foams on the surface. Excellent retention and lacing as it eventually reduces.

Aroma: Our first thoughts go straight to Seeker’s ‘Ocean Eyes’ smoothie sour which is the sole reason we made this purchase. We’ve been chasing anything that resembles that beer and bam! Here we are. Of course, there are notable differences…this is giving off more sherbet-esque and or candy vibes, creamy coconut, mashed banana, milk sugars, mixed berries and even an umami-like scent. Insane that this is even classed as beer!

Flavour: We must admit it’s one seriously fun beer. The wild blue/green milk moustaches we’re rocking is hilarious. If not for the alcohol warmth we’d literally be skulling this it’s so delicious. Creamy coconut, banana, vanilla and lactose fuse together with delicate and tart berries, milk sugar, strawberry ice cream and sherbet. It’s pretty much like this from start to finish.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and silky AF. Finely carbed. Fairly thick and full bodied and the 6.5% ABV buries itself nicely.

Overall: Incredible. We’ve gotta say that Ocean Eyes is better but it’s still a really fun and enjoyable drop. The price tag of $22 a can wasn’t all that enjoyable though.

Rating:

“Our version of the refreshing Mexican fermented pineapple beverage. Tepache is conditioned on Pineapple flesh and Rind. Back blended with Pineapple purée, Habanero, Cinnamon, and Piloncillo (Cane Sugar). A kettle sour base that has the addition of Pineapple Terpenes for a citrusy tropical burst of flavour. This beer was made in collaboration with Bintani and was originally released in 2024 for Bendigo on the Hop.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Extremely light and pale golden-yellow pour which dons a fizzy two finger head. It gradually peels off but struggles to produce much lacing.

Aroma: We’d never heard of this “tepache” drink before this. Apparently it means “pineapple beer” in the native dialect. It’s typically brewed with pineapple (of course), habanero peppers, a range of spices including cinnamon, clove and piloncillo (a type of cane sugar) for sweetening. We can pretty much get all of the above. The habanero is the only shy one.

Flavour: Hot damn that’s tasty. Slightly drier than we’d anticipated but all aspects of the pineapple come through i.e rind, core and flesh. The cinnamon is subtle but that suits the beer. This flavour combo always reminds us of that grilled pineapple and cinnamon side dish one would find at a churrasco restaurant. Delish! Not much at all in the form of habanero which sucks. Nice and light, fruity finish which hangs on for a bit.

Mouthfeel: Very crisp, light on and crushable. Mild-moderate body, flat-ish Co2. The 5.5% ABV was well concealed.

Overall: This would be an absolute crusher on a hot day. It’s a shame the weather today is almost the polar opposite. Alas, it’s still a very tidy and enjoyable kettle sour.

Rating:

“Take a trip to the farm gate. From paddock to pint, the Homestead Series are small batch, fruit & veggie inspired beers brewed with produce from our own market pantry or local producers.

A mouthwatering sour beer brewed with home-smoked jalapeños, a touch of smoked malt, and fermented with local pineapple juice.“

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Interesting colour. It pours a hazy golden-yellow complexion with a very faint tinge of green. It forms a fizzy two finger head which almost immediately disappears.

Aroma: Picking up the sweet pineapple instantly. At first the smoked aspect was MIA but as it settles it does take on that grilled pineapple character. Much like the smoked pineapple the jalapeno was a bit shy, until we gave the glass a vigorous swirl, then the fleshy, peppery accents opened up. Very subtle hints of passionfruit, lemongrass and cigar box in support.

Flavour: There’s one aspect we’re really liking and that’s the heat from the jalapenos. A lot of breweries these days extract the heat out of their chilli’s and we’re sat there like why?! It’s one of the best parts! Anywho, the warmth and the earthy, peppery flavour of the jalapeno fuses with the sweetness and subtle smoke from the pineapple magnificently. Punctuated by a gentle acidity and a crisp, hot finish.

Mouthfeel: Clean and light on with a sparkling Co2. Mild-moderate body and the 4.4% ABV slots in neatly.

Overall: Our first venture into this Brisbanian (is that a word?) brewery. Very nice and tidy and it does all the things it says it’ll do. And more!

Rating:

“Zesty pineapple sour, with a spicy chilli kick. A super refreshing, clean, sparkling kettle sour, brewed with agave syrup, pineapple and fiery habaneros. Expect a big pineapple candy and citrus nose, juicy, fresh cut ripe pineapple flavour, habanero heat and more than enough acidity to cut through the fat of even the most robust burger, while still complementing lighter offerings.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Pale light golden pour with a very mild haze. It stirs up a short fizzy head but it disappears almost instantly. No head = no lace.

Aroma: Interesting combo of ingredients. We love anything with chilli in it (especially sours) so this was an instant purchase. It gives off margarita vibes. The agave displays a semi-sweet honey and earthy accent while the pineapple reinforces the sweetness and brings a bit of acidity. The habanero’s are nicely integrated too…subtle heat and dried apricot rounds it all out nicely.

Flavour: It all comes together well. There’s zero heat from the habanero’s (much to our disappointment) but the flavour weaves through the sweet and sour aspects of the beer. It has a mix of ripe and unripened pineapple fused with soft floral, earthy and herbal notes that casually roll into the light and dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, refreshing and light on. Mild-moderate body, sparkling Co2. Only 3.8% ABV so it’s ultra crushable.

Overall: Is there any style that GP doesn’t excel at?? Yuzukosho was our favourite summer sour of 2024 and this could well be the contender for 2025. Magnificent.

Rating:

“A blend of barrel and foeder aged beers, infused with the finest Opal Star, Kakapo and Pounamu feijoas, sourced directly from Unicorn Farms in the Motueka Valley. Loaded with over 300g/l of fruit, the finished beer has a light yellow green blush, stunning guava and grape like aromatics and a lush tart fruit palate.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Quite a hazy little number this one…pours a bit like cloudy cider. It produced a short fizzy head but it disappeared as quickly as it came. Zero head = zero lacing.

Aroma: Interesting fruit the old feijoa, looks like a cucumber inside but the flavour couldn’t be any further from it. With one of us coming from a culinary background we can tell you that its flavour lands somewhere between a pear and a pineapple depending on its ripeness. Anywho, we’re picking up subtle pear and sour apple alongside white wine vinegar, oak, green grapes, lime juice and a manky funk.

Flavour: Transitions from the aroma nicely with all the same qualities i.e pear, sour apple, white wine vinegar, green grapes etc. Hints at unripened guava along with tart gooseberry and pomelo. The oak character plays less of a role here but is made up for in this kinda musty and sweaty funk. Mild bitterness throughout and then finishes quite dry and acetic.

Mouthfeel: Light and gassy. A lifted Co2 with mild-moderate body. Quite sour too – a pucker rating of 3.5/5 sounds about right. The 5% ABV is nicely positioned.

Overall: While we respect the complexities of such a beer it wasn’t really to our taste. In our opinion it was over-carbonated and a touch too dry. It’s a well-brewed beer though, don’t get us wrong.

Rating:

“Golden sour beer aged in oak barrels, wet hopped with chinook and cascade.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Pale straw golden pour, capped off by a short fizzy white head which quickly retreats to the rim. Thin wavy lace clings to the glass as we imbibe.

Aroma: If we didn’t know any better we’d think we had a glass of Cantillon’s finest in front of us. Intense wafts of lacto and bretty funk with a hint of musty oak blended through. It has those gorgeous orchard fruits in spades i.e pear, apricot, plum, apple, peach etc. Some raw almond and walnut as well. In-your-face notes of manky cheese cave, sweaty funk, barnyard and white vinegar. Ooft!

Flavour: That lacto and bretty funk carries over nicely. More rounded in its delivery too, which we’re digging. Possibly showing its age there. The Chardonnay/barrels are revealing more of its tropical fruit and buttery aspects but it still retains a touch of dryness throughout. It offers a nice crisp finish which resembles more of a Summer Ale or a crisp Golden Ale. Nice touch.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, lean and tidy. The sourness is sharp initially but it mellows out. Co2 and body are spot on and the 6.3% ABV integrates well.

Overall: We raided Carwyn’s cellar for this one! It’d been aged for 6 years and it shows through in its toned-down sourness and ABV. What was great about it was the barrels/wine qualities were still very noticeable. Excellent BA Sour from an excellent brewery.

Rating:

“Mikkeller’s favourite berliner weisse – now with a ton of blueberries added!”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Striking colour. Kind of a light cherry red with dark pink highlights. It forms two fingers of creamy pink-tinged head which slowly reduces. Tonnes of lace left in its wake.

Aroma: Subtle variations of blueberry leading out…fresh, macerated and some candied blueberry as well. It has a really deep vinous accent which is really impressive considering it’s only 3.7%. Hints of Ribena juice, blueberry yoghurt, wheat grains, zesty lemon rind and a flutter of honeysuckle. Actually the latter becomes more floral the longer it sits in the glass. Lovely stuff.

Flavour: Unexpectedly dry and bereft of the typical sweet and tart juiciness that is so synonymous with blueberry-flavoured sours. There’s a tiny amount of sourness upfront then a faint touch of tart blueberry comes through early in the mid. Wheat grains and blueberry-flavoured soda water is the best way to describe it as it carries into a dry finish and a whole lot of nothingness.

Mouthfeel: Bone dry, lightly sparkling Co2. Mild-medium body and the 3.7% ABV is on par for the style.

Overall: This is the first time we’ve ever been nonplussed with a Mikkeller beer. It’s not only the lack of blueberry flavour it’s the complete lack of any flavour at all. Bizarre.

Rating:

“Mango, passion fruit, and dragon fruit combine in this unique kettle sour beer.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Wow! One of the most stunning pours that we’ve seen in a while. It literally shines a bright red colour which looks like some sort of freshly squeezed fruit and veg juice. It forms a big and fizzy three finger head but it quickly disappears. No head = no lace.

Aroma: If we were blindfolded it’d be hard to tell the difference between this and an actual glass of fruit juice. It’s bursting with mango puree, passionfruit, pineapple and guava. The dragonfruit is pretty subtle…guess it’s more for colour and a flutter of orchard fruit. It’s hard to pick up anything else really. But that is in no way a bad thing. Exquisite.

Flavour: Holy moly. This is great coz it feels like we’re getting our daily serve of fruit while having a beer! The mango, passionfruit and dragonfruit tastes so fresh and sweet while this delicate line of acidity provides the right amount of sourness to balance. It all glides so effortlessly into a clean and fruity finish. Good duration on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Light on, mineraly and super sessional. Mild-moderate body and the 4.2% ABV is perfect for what it is.

Overall: Loved it. Even on this late winters’ day it went down an absolute treat. We could only imagine how much better it could be on a hot summers arvo. Cracking drop.

Rating:

“Tart Wheat ale brewed and conditioned with hundreds of pounds of nectarines & white + yellow peaches.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Clear golden pour and a fast-fading white head. It forms a fine collar with next to no lace work on the glass.

Aroma: Very dominant peach coming off initially. It has a strong floral scent behind it too. Heady nectarine, unripened pineapple and lychee also coming through. Somewhat of a spring floral bouquet and a touch of bush honey to make it that little bit more interesting. Maybe some wheat grains off in the distance but honestly it’s hard to get far past the extreme peach and nectarine.

Flavour: This is turning out to be miles from what we were anticipating. We were ignorantly expecting a soured-up, stonefruit-based beauty and we’ve ended up with an overly floral, sweet peachy mess with little acidity and structure. The peach and nectarine pretty much drown out any other flavour and the floral aspect only further widens the imbalance. It does dry up a bit and corrects itself late in the piece but the damage is done by then.

Mouthfeel: Nice and crisp, tart and refreshing. Perfectly carbed, mild-moderate body. Can’t fault the texture at all.

Overall: This is a rare strike out for BL. They are human after all! It’s just a little incongruous but we’ve already forgiven them 

Rating:

“Bursting with intense aromas of apricot, peach and a hint of passion fruit, this super fruity sour beer is ripe for the summer. The strong yet balanced acidity plays off of the fruit and makes you wanna cuddle up to another glass.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Pale gold to yellow with a faint orange tint. Minimal head formation, anything that did manifest fell away almost immediately. Very little lace work as we go.

Aroma: Smells fantastic. What is it about fruits like peach, apricot and nectarine that work so damn well with sours? We think the flavour fusion of floral sweetness and succulent bright acidity with the sour, citric and vinegary notes are simply made for each other. Gorgeous hints of sour grapes, lemon juice, rockmelon, white vinegar and a whisper of oak. Superb.

Flavour: It’s been a while since we’ve had a proper sour. We must admit the intensity of the sourness tapers off after another sip or two and then it’s all about the delicious stonefruits. We’re getting the passionfruit but not the uber sweet and nectary type…more the tart-sweet Panama variety. Really subtle white vinegar, fresh lemon juice and an earthy, woody finish which lingers.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, slightly acidic with a lifted Co2. Light-moderate body and the 4.5% ABV was surprisingly low for how much flavour it packs.

Overall: A very clever and delicious counter to Snugglebug. We didn’t even know they released this alongside it! Like, a year after the fact! Both are impressive sours in their own right.

Rating:

“Double the passionfruit, double the yuzu and double the ABV, but just as sessionable as the original, this imperial version of an annual favourite packs a serious punch with balanced tartness and a semi-dry finish. It’s the same Passionista you know and love, dialled up several notches to celebrate summer.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Hazy golden pour capped off by a thumb of super fizzy head which rapidly disappears. Zero retention so zero lacing.

Aroma: We remember when they first released the original version back in 2019 (we think) it was close to beer of the summer for one of us. Tropical summery vibes thanks to the waves of sweet, nectary passionfruit countered by the immense tartness of the yuzu. Just like this dialled up version…but with double the ABV! Subtle hints of apricot, peach, vanilla and kaffir lime as well. Get in my belly.

Flavour: Yummo! Sweet, sour, nectary. Hiding the booze very well. Obviously the passionfruit dominates and the tart yuzu plays more of a support and balance role. Delicate hay/straw, wheat grains, apricot, peach and more obscure herbaceous notes. A well balanced and light fruity finish which pulls up a bit short.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, light on and vibrant. A spritzy Co2 and an extremely well masked 7.6% ABV.

Overall: To be honest there’s very little difference between this and the OG…the most noticeable difference is that we’re getting drunk a bit quicker! Still, a cracking sour which begs to be crushed on a hot summer arvo.

Rating:

“Each year, after enduring the long, grey Northwest winter, Oregonians are rewarded with a bright and bountiful summer, and few flavors embody this epic season better than fresh berries and lavender. Oregon Summer features sour wheat ale aged in oak barrels for 10 months with locally grown blackberries, boysenberries and lavender, capturing a slice of summer in every can.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Deep strawberry complexion with a short fizzy head that disappears before we could even put the glass back down. No head…no lace.

Aroma: Initially the olfactory’s are met with an almighty mixed berry sweetness. It’s amazing how far they’ve taken the feature berries…to the point where we can pick up every berry imaginable. And that’s not to mention the cordial version, the ice block version and the confectionary version. The woody oak adds a certain sophistication but also a crucial balance as well. Sort of funky, creamy, yoghurt-esque sourness to it. So good.

Flavour: It’s been so long since we’ve had a proper sour beer that it’s hitting us like a tonne of bricks. Full on eye-wincing, saliva-inducing sourness. It reminds us of a super sour, boozy, berry-flavoured slush puppie with a nudge of woody oak, yoghurt, cheese cave and a bit of sweaty funk. We were a little unsure of the lavender but thankfully it’s rather minute and only helps to set up the super complex finish.

Mouthfeel: Sharp, crisp and mineraly. A nice vibrant Co2 and a well masked 5.7% ABV.

Overall: Seriously top notch stuff here from Cascade. No surprises though, they’re one of the best sour breweries in the world for a reason. You Oregonians don’t know how lucky you are!

Rating:

“It’s the time you have all been waiting for – a Sunday Road sour! What better time to drink this refreshing brew then under the hot Australian sun! Let the sounds of Summer Samba dance around your ears, while waves of raspberry, bursts of boysenberry and hints of vanilla take your taste-buds on a waltz of their own.“

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Pouring a slightly rusty strawberry red with a short and fizzy white cap which quickly retreats to the rim. Not a whole lot of lacing to speak of.

Aroma: Smells like a bunch of fresh berries that just got thrown into a blender. Super aromatic and very summery vibes. Obviously the raspberry dominates but the blackberries do punch through with their delicate, musky and floral character. Nice and basic Sour base in support – light, citrusy and mildly funky – letting the feature ingredients do all the talking as it should. Solid start.

Flavour: Bursting with it. All sorts of mixed berry notes swirling around…mostly raspberry, strawberry and blackberry with very tenuous hints of blueberry and tart green grapes/gooseberry as well. Some wheat grains, hay and straw add a slight earthy-ness while tart green apple/pear roll into a crisp and fruity finish which lingers nicely.

Mouthfeel: Light, clean and mineraly with just the right amount of effervescence. Mild-moderate body. Liking the 5% ABV too, it’s a tad higher than your standard Kettle Sour but it hides it well.

Overall: This is the 2nd instalment of SR’s summer samba. In our opinion it was probably released a little too early but that aside it’s a cracking sour.

Rating:

“A Sour Ale brewed with Bergamot, aged in oak barrels. Spontan Goes Spontan is made with bergamot, which is a fragrant citrus fruit commonly found throughout the Mediterranean. Bergamot is also a key ingredient in Earl Grey tea, so get ready to get posh with this lovely sour ale.
Expect a tart and fruity beer that’s perfectly balanced and refreshing.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Hazy deep orange almost amber complexion with a quickly vanishing head. Lacing is mostly wet and wavy and struggles to stick as it ebbs.

Aroma: Interesting. The bergamot is expectedly the dominant scent and it displays ripe tangy lime juice, mandarin peel and blood orange notes. Quite a floral bouquet on it as well. More delicate hints of Angostura bitters, pine needles, Earl Grey tea, spice and fresh herbs also coming through. We must admit the sour side of it is no where near as direct as we had anticipated. Still, a lovely aroma.

Flavour: Oopht! We’ve definitely spoken too soon on the sour front. The acidity is next level and the bitterness is akin to freshly squeezed yellow grapefruit juice. The heady bergamot is again front and centre with its fusion of tangy lime, bitter grapefruit and orange rind leading out. There’s also flashes of tea leaf, herbals and pine but really it’s the bergamot show from start to finish.

Mouthfeel: Sharp, prickly and bitter. Quite dry with mild-medium body. The 7.2% ABV adds a touch of heat but it’s generally well behaved.

Overall: We’ve had our eyes on this sour range from Mikkeller for a while now. Namely the Spontanbasil but the price tag and uncertainty had kept us at arms reach up until now. Not too bad. The bitterness was a bit to overcome but in the end it was a fairly tasty drop.

Rating:

“Acid Raindrops is our ever evolving range of fruited sours. Pouring a bright orange, this batch is loaded with apricot and blood orange purée. It’s exactly what you’d expect.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Hazy light apricot-orange hue with a quickly vanishing head. Literally zero lace as we go.

Aroma: There’s just something about apricot in sour beer that goes hand in hand. In our opinion all the best Lambic and Gueuze have distinct aromas and flavours of apricot so there’s something about its tangy, tart, peachy and at times earthy profile that is delicious. Here they’re smelling a bit like the dried variety with hints of kumquat, peach skins, wheat grains, buttered bread and old herbs in support. The blood orange is hard to even pick up which is a shame.

Flavour: They could only loosely call this a sour. Again, not picking up any of the blood orange. Some tangy orange citrus is coming through but it’s more in the form of standard orange, kumquat and even at times the dried apricots act for it. Hints of peach/skins, hay/straw, wheat grains, really delicate earthy-ness and fleshy, chewy dried apricot to finish it off.

Mouthfeel: Good energy to it. Light on, sparkling, refreshing. Mild-moderate body. The 5.2% ABV is neither here nor there.

Overall: Look to be honest it’s not all that memorable. It is a pretty tasty drop but its clear lack of sourness leaves us asking what is it? One could almost call it an alcoholic soft drink. Yeah, not really what we’d hoped for.

Rating:

“A vivid purple colour from the fruit, with a rich tart plum flavour, complemented wonderfully by the complex barrel aged wild ale that is Time Lord (a blend of 3 different vintages, the oldest being 5 years).”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Very eye-catching pour. Unfiltered pink-ish/purple hue and a thumb of light pink head forming on top. Decent retention and wavy lace being left on the glass as we imbibe.

Aroma: Smells sharp and acidic. Almost Lambic-like. The plum lifts off with vigour and provides tartness, acidity and also a touch of sweetness. The musty and woody oak comes through beautifully and the prickly lacto/bretty sourness adds the red wine vinegar, sweat/salty qualities, yoghurt and cheese cave. We can’t wait any longer we’ve gotta dive into this.

Flavour: Holy moly. It’s giving off some next level sourness. And we love it! It really kicks off with a sharp acidic sourness, tart blood plums, musty and woody oak. At times we pick up a blueberry note as well. Short bursts of vinegar, all sorts of funky shit, horse blanket, yoghurt, earthy spice and hay/straw before an extremely bretty finish.

Mouthfeel: Sharp, acidic and saliva-inducing sourness. Light-moderate body, spritzy Co2. The 6.7% ABV is hard to pick… don’t know if it’s the booze burn or heart burn!

Overall: Impressive stuff here. They’ve long been one of our go-to’s for anything barrel aged and this is a perfect example why. We dig it.

Rating:

Our annual release of Chapeau Raspberry Sour Celebration Ale!

“We brew this beer to say thank you for giving us another year to do what we love. It’s with the help of you and the people we get our produce from that makes all of this possible. Berries from Westerway Raspberry farm in Tassie’s Derwent Valley and organic Voyager Craft Malt is grown by Organically Greenwood. Now take this beer and celebrate with friends and loved ones. Cheers!”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Such a strikingly red pour. It whips up a big and frothy pink head which deconstructs rather quickly. Minimal lacing on the glass as we hook in.

Aroma: If you had a similar childhood to us then this should also invoke memories of strongly syruped pink lemonade which preceded a fantastic sugar high. Followed by the most unpopular come down! The raspberries are displayed beautifully…kinda artificial on the drive by but once the nose gets deep in the glass they provide that lovely fresh, tart and slightly musty sweetness. Yum!

Flavour: Loving how they’ve managed to pull right back on the intense raspberry flavour here. Sure, it’s still brimming with its tart and musty sweetness but the grains also front up with subtle wheat and straw. Something a little earthy in here too, which provides another layer of counter balance. Finishing with mixed berries and orchard fruits.

Mouthfeel: Light, mineraly and effervescent. Mild-moderate body and very nicely positioned 6.4% ABV.

Overall: This is without a doubt the best beer to come out of Batch. We know they’ve done it before (a while ago now) but they’ve gotta release another barrel aged version of this. We’re imagining the woody oak and more lacto/pedio to get that sharp sourness going. Ooft!

Rating:

“It’s the time you have all been waiting for – a Sunday Road sour! What better time to drink this refreshing brew then under the hot Australian sun! Let the sounds of Summer Samba dance around your ears, while waves of raspberry, bursts of boysenberry and hints of vanilla take your taste-buds on a waltz of their own.“

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Pours like a gorgeous Sydney sunset; mostly pastel orange with a kiss of light pink-ish red. Only a short white cap which quickly retreats to the rim. Some patchy lace clings to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Up to its teeth in mixed berries! We get everything from raspberry, strawberry and blueberry to cranberry, mulberry and red currants. Beautifully woven through is a distinct creamy vanilla which adds a lovely sweetness to it. The grain bill actually gets a good look in too…grainy, kinda musty, a touch of hay and straw. Simple yet extremely aromatic.

Flavour: Follows on from the nose with pronounced berry characters. At times sweet and juicy but for the most part they’re tart and mildly sour. The vanilla sweetness drops off but is replaced by a tangy orange citrus. Tasting hints of wheat grains and straw along with a faint lick of nectar-filled tropical fruit. Nice tart finish with mixed berries on the back end.

Mouthfeel: It has a bit more resistance than anticipated. Still quite crisp and refreshing though. Medium-high Co2, mild-medium body. The 5.2% ABV adds a bit of extra zing as well.

Overall: We must admit it’s not as sessional as one would expect from a fruited summer sour. We don’t mind the extra body at all we just weren’t expecting it. Alas, a very solid drop.

Rating:

“Cherries paired with golden sour beers stand the test of time, which is one reason why we wanted to blend Stone Age Love, our golden sour beer aged in oak barrels with tart cherries. With 84 pounds of tart cherries per oak barrel, Stone Age Love radiates with flavours found in summer stone fruits. This sour showcases notes of fresh-picked cherries, juicy peaches, and tart plums with hints of melon.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Looks like freshly squeezed watermelon juice! It forms a short foamy head which settles to a collar. A real fine lace clings to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Woooowwww! It’s been so long since we’ve had a Rare Barrel sour we forgot how God damn good they are. Sweet yet somewhat tart cherries hit the olfactories first followed by a gorgeous musty oak, a sweaty and super funky sourness, unripened peach, apricot, mixed citrus and that certain sherbet-esque/rock candy sweetness. Just a pinch of fennel, raw almond and melon for extra measure!

Flavour: Absolutely delicious. Getting more of a candied cherry note as opposed to the sweet and tart characters on the nose. The almond comes through with a distinct earthy-ness but it’s well countered by a mix of tart citrus, stonefruits and subtle pepper. While all of this is embraced by the gorgeous oak it hits a soft sherbet note late in the piece which then finishes rather sweet and nutty. Good endurance on the back end too.

Mouthfeel: Refreshing, light and crisp with a vibrant Co2. Mild-medium body. The 7.2% ABV was incredibly well concealed.

Overall: Honestly how good is Rare Barrel?! If only their beers were a bit more friendly to our wallets  nah, this was a cracking sour. It went down like water on this hot Sydney arvo. Brilliant!

Rating:

“Missouri Sour Brown that aged for more than a year in Oak. Bruin is our base beer for Balaton with lots of funky, Brett notes.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Mahogany complexion with deep crimson hues. It produces a fizzy tan head which quickly retreats to the rim and drags a wet lace down the glass.

Aroma: Extremely rustic and complex. Wave after wave of sharp lacto sourness is followed by this bold, sophisticated and rugged quality that’s very hard to define. Each time we take a whiff we feel like we should be sitting in a dimly lit man cave on old leather chairs puffing on cigars and talking about how successful we are. Nutty, toasty, woody oak, vinous fruits, red wine vinegar, musty barrel room and freshly sliced apple. Amazing.

Flavour: The punchy lacto sourness shocks the palate initially but as it tapers off the typical peachy flavours come through then the tart vinous red fruits, subtle red wine vinegar then the earthy tobacco, woody oak and dried apple. Getting a really subtle touch of sherbet developing late which lays down for a rather funky finish of bretty horse blanket, woody oak and dried fruits.

Mouthfeel: Pretty sharp and acidic upfront but it mellows into a smooth and slick texture. Fairly low Co2, medium body. The pucker rating hits a deserved 3.5/5.

Overall: Let’s see if we can sum this beer up in anything less than an essay. Complex, rugged, earthy yet sharp and fruity. Plenty of red wine qualities throughout, the barrels displaying the woody oak beautifully. Everything is cohesive. Wow…just wow.