Category Archives: Sour Ale

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, England, Pomona Island Brew Co., Sour Ale

Pomona Island Monkberry Afternoon Delight

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Brewery: Pomona Island Brew Co.
Country: England
ABV: 10%
Style: Sour Ale
Other Notes: Imperial Raspberry and Sabro Sour

Brewer Description: (from can) Catch up cats and kittens, don’t get left behind. If you missed Monkberry Moon Delight… Monkberry Afternoon Delight is here. Mmmm, thinking of that extra Raspberry and that whisp of Sabro’s workin’ up my appetite.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.4
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 440ml can, canned on 2nd November 2020, with a best before date of 2nd August 2021. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A cloudy reddish purple colour with an almost two finger pink head that had decent retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Tart, raspberry, yoghurt, ice cream.
Taste: Sour, tart, raspberry, yoghurt, ice cream, pineapple, with slight coconut cream notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Very easy and enjoyable to drink with the alcohol non-existent despite it being 10% abv. Like a tart fruity dessert.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, England, Pomona Island Brew Co., Sour Ale

Pomona Island I Did Indeed… Very Much So

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Brewery: Pomona Island Brew Co.
Country: England
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Sour Ale
Other Notes: Lemon Sour

Brewer Description: (from can) Did you say a Lemon Sour? Rounded out with milk sugar and a touch of vanilla, lending a little sweetness to the sharp, zingy lemon? I did indeed… very much so.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.88
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 440ml can, canned on 2nd October 2020. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy straw golden colour with a two finger white head that had decent retention, while leaving some spotty lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, tart, candy, lemon cake, lemon, vanilla.
Taste: Sour, tart, sweet, lemon sour candies, sharp, acidic, lemon, vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Sharp sour acidic, light bodied, with moderate carbonation.
Overall: I loved the aroma as it was like dessert, and the taste was fine, but the mouthfeel didn’t quite match up. The sharp sour acidity was too much and reduced what could have been a nice easy drinking sour, to something that could only be sipped.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Burley Oak Brewing Company, Sour Ale, USA

Burley Oak J.R.E.A.M. Strawberry Watermelon

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Brewery: Burley Oak Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 4.8%
Style: Sour Ale
Other Notes: Due to the use of natural fruit this beer must be kept cold

Brewer Description: (from can) Sour Ale brewed with strawberry, watermelon, and lactose.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.44
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.4

Intro: A 1 pint can, canned on 18th September 2020. ‘You’re so jreamy’. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A hazy darkish orange colour with a big three finger white head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: You get the strawberry and watermelon, but the mix seems to come together as some strange band-aid and leathery mess that I didn’t really enjoy.
Taste: Tart, but not really sour, and there’s fruity sweetness. Strawberry, watermelon, peach gummy rings, and some light citrus notes.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: The aroma didn’t work for me, while the flavours at first, did not appeal to me. Over time though, I think I grew to appreciate the flavours a bit more. It was ok, but not my favourite in the J.R.E.A.M. line.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Garage Project, New Zealand, Sour Ale

Garage Project Beyond The Pale – Off-Piste

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Brewery: Garage Project
Country: New Zealand
ABV: 4.2%
Style: Sour Ale
Other Notes: 30 years at the Fringe

Brewer Description: (from can) A Garage tradition celebrating New Zealand’s own fantastic fringe festival with a very special avant-garde offering. This year our favourite festival turns 30 and to celebrate we’re going off-piste. It’s a very fringe affair – kettle-soured, spiked with beetroot juice and infused with blood orange and mint; a unique combination creating a startling crystal pink beer with a refreshing citrus palate and delicate lifted aroma. The perfect way to celebrate 30 years of fabulous fringe fun.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.91
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 330ml can, with a best before date of 21st November 2020. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A nice clear orange pinkish colour with a two finger white head that had pretty good retention while leaving only some sparse lacing.
Aroma: Citrusy, blood orange, lime, sherbet like.
Taste: Sour, tart, blood orange, citrus sherbet, lime, candy.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Light and refreshing citrus sherbet notes. The beetroot and mint did not come through as strongly as I hoped though. But it still did make for some good easy drinking.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), 8 Wired Brewing Co., Beer Reviews, New Zealand, Sour Ale

8 Wired Lamponi

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Brewery: 8 Wired Brewing Co.
Country: New Zealand
ABV: 5%
Style: Sour Ale
Other Notes: Raspberry sour with oregano, basil and thyme

Brewer Description: (from can) Who doesn’t like a fresh raspberry sour!? This one is brewed with freeze dried oregano, basil and thyme. Fruity, complex, effervescent and very refreshing!

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.36
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.2

Intro: A 330ml can, with a best before date of 8th November 2021. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy pinkish orange colour with a two finger white head that dissipated quickly and left no lacing.
Aroma: Tart, mixed berries, lemon zest, oregano and thyme.
Taste: Tart and sweet, oregano, mixed berries, with hints of citrus zest and thyme.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: The oregano flavour was too strong and I felt that it overpowered everything else including the raspberry. Not sure it really needed the oregano and thyme. I would’ve preferred just raspberry and basil.