Several years ago, fruited sours were a common sight across the beer landscape, lining bottleshop fridge doors and a frequent sight on tap. But for a little while, it felt like maybe the steam had gone out of the kettle sour, with their rate of release declining and their appearance in beer fridges dropping.
But as Matthew McConaughey* taught us, Time Is a Flat Circle and tastes and fashions come and go, with several fruited-heavy sours landing across The Crafty Pint desk in a few short days. Are we about to see the return of the style en masse? Or has the latent heat of summer reminded the country that there a few drinks as refreshing as a lightly tart sour and fruit?
Hargreaves Hill’s Strawberry & Watermelon Sour is a beer that's already found plenty of success, having first appeared as a keg only release and disappearing before the brewery’s eyes. It's popularity has seen it return in tins to bring back its heavy dose of strawberry purée, fresh watermelon for a light pink hue. That strawberry is incredibly fresh, vibrant and has a smoothie-like quality, while the watermelon leans into the beer's tart side to drive home it's overall refreshment. So while summer might not have long left, you can't help but wonder if such sours will stick around.
Will Ziebell
*No spoilers for the latest season of True Detective please.
Published February 22, 2024 2024-02-22 00:00:00
