Sour Smoothie - Tropical Punch
Hi-Wire Brewing

Pours a bit cloudy but fairly clear pinkish liquid with a finger of white bubble. Aroma is sour base, grain, lemon, and tropical fruit. Taste follows suit with a largely sour flavor and some fruit undertones. Feel is thin. Overall when I hear “smoothie sour” I expect a fruit pulp, very thick experience. This did not live up to it and is mostly another seemingly filtered sour ale.

Taking a trip down smoothie lane once again, Hi-Wire takes this sour ale series to the tropics with a tropical fruit punch inspired sour ale that's a vacation for the tastebuds anytime you see it on the shelf.

Pale and peachy pinkish gold, The Tropical Punch version of Sour Smoothie glows with a diffused haze while building a lofty froth of stark white foam. As the bubble settle, a scent of tropical fruit is front and center along with citrusy, cidery and slightly winey component. Gentle sweetness of sourdough, taffy and vanilla cream offer a soothing malt base for the acidity and fruit flavors to come.

The middle palate sees a big transition from fruity sweetness to tartness as the underlying acidity of green grape, green apple, lime, lemon and gooseberry. And that's before the flavor additions of pineapple, guava, passionfruit, mango and orange make their way into the flavor profile. Following with a creamy sensation of cereal, vanilla and light marshmallow, and a balance of sweet cream comes with balance and complexity. Trending more than tart bust shy of full-fledged sourness, the beer finishes as friendly as it starts.

Light crisp and refreshing, but certainly fuller for sour ale, the creamy sweetness and residual grain keeps the taste balanced and may want greater sourness wanted for true fans of greater dryness and acidity, but these flavors come together quite well as the glass finishes much faster than it should.