Beer Wildflower Slip Slop Slap

You could argue most of Wildflower’s beers are suited for summer. Without exception, they operate within the well established bounds of acceptable ABV – somewhere in the five percent range but often lower. And a great many of them are acidic, a characteristic easily interchangeable with “refreshing” – a desired characteristic from beer consumed in an often oppressively hot climate. But every now and then the brewer/blender throws out something that feels like it has a little more grunt and bite. Into that fold steps their summer release, named for the famous UV protection campaign: Slip, Slop, Slap.

It welcomes you by immersing you in bucketloads of delightfully fresh, fruity and citrusy flavours. There’s more bitterness and hop character than you might ordinarily expect from a Wildflower beer but it’s delivered in a way that remains juicy and clean, light and dry, sour and – yes – refreshing. Then it’s topped off with a head that’s impressively lush, floating on top like milk on a cappuccino. Oh, for a world where more summer ales were like this.

Nick Oscilowski