Slushy XXL - Anderson vs Smith
450 North Brewing Company

 

There's a battle a'brewin' in the beer industry- a battle between what is the standard sour ale and what's a smoothie. Still blurring the line that separates the two, 450 North is perfectly happy to stoke the fire with a lemon, lime, orange, pineapple and green apple ale that'll have the tastebuds ready to fight each other.

Just like pureed oranges, Anderson vs Smith pours like a dense and pastel orange while drawing in the nose with a full citrus scent. A drift of tropical fruit and cider with the soothing scent of cream, vanilla and wafer lead into a rich taste of macerated fruit, sorbet and sherbet as the initial taste is rife with cereal and fructose.

The smoothie sour ale fully saturates the middle palate in nearly teeth churning effect with its intensity. Juicy, creamy and rich, notions of fruity cocktails and sorbet come to mind. As the listed fruits drape in what seems of ice cream, the suggestions of vanilla and heavy cream soothe the senses before a tangy flavor steps in late. Finishing with a somewhat tannic bite and a citrusy tartness, the late taste is cidery, winey and uncomfortably bittered.

Full bodied, off-cloying and firmly meant as a dessert beer, the malty-sweetness and fruit remnants accompany the sourness as a long aftertaste of fruit peels, piths and pulp linger on the tongue.