POG Sour
Maui Brewing Co.

 

There’s really not a more quintessential flavor of the Hawaiian islands that the combination of passionfruit, orange and guava. Even when making beer, this combination of flavor is first in mind.

Maui’s POG Kettle Sour Ale is no exception as it comes to the table with a soft hazy golden blush glow. With a scant white from capping the rim, the tantalizing scent of tangy, racy, fruity and slightly exotic tropical scents ride above a baseline of citrus, cider and wine. Early palate impressions bring about lychee-types of sweetness embedded with sourdough, honeysuckle and fructose.

As the taste quickly tightens and the sourness takes command of the session, the middle palate still shines with the passionfruit, orange and pink guava flavors, fully in support with the common backdrop of lime, crabapple, lemon and sour white grape from its clean lactic acid base taste. With a very low-lying bitterness, the session finishes briskly sour and clean with tropical fruit essence at hand.

Light, crisp and refreshing throughout, the kettle sour ale may lack complexity but its fruity charm more than makes up for its basic quick-souring technique. It’s a welcomed island beer that takes the tastebuds on vacation wherever you are.