Slushy XL - Jack's Axe
450 North Brewing Company

Let's say that you're trapped inside a wintry resort while the storm is raging outside. The good thing is that Jack's Axe has your back.

450 North has a shining moment with Jack's Axe, a smoothie sour beer pouring a dense and neon mauve with a hot pink froth quickly rising and falling. With the scent of mulled wine and poached fruit swirling onto the nose, the first sip reveals a creamy sweetness of pastry, squeezebox, fructose and simple syrup. Balance comes from background acidity that brings its own cider, vinous, citrusy tang while the overcast of plum and raspberry carry the session into a smoothly tart finish of cinnamon spice and vanilla cream.

Full bodied and balanced with sweetness and tartness, the ale is a pleasant sipper but hardly shares any resemblance to common beer.