Purple Drink
Toolbox Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
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- Style:
- Wild Ale
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.06 | pDev: 10.1%
- Reviews:
- 21
- Ratings:
- From:
- Toolbox Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Avail:
- Retired (no longer brewed)
- Wants
- 18
- Gots
- 16
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
Notes:
Reviews: 21
| Ratings: 165
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JISurfer from South Carolina
4.24/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I really liked this one. It wasn't overly tart and didn't have fake fruit flavors. I felt it was a nice balance. The color of the beer was as advertised, the first beer Ive had like it. Actually got another one to bring home.
Jan 06, 2017
4.24/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I really liked this one. It wasn't overly tart and didn't have fake fruit flavors. I felt it was a nice balance. The color of the beer was as advertised, the first beer Ive had like it. Actually got another one to bring home.
Jan 06, 2017
dar482 from New York
4.06/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The beer hits of berry flavor up front. A wonderful soft fruit flavor of berry skin, medium tart, and then covered with iced tea powder mix. A well executed sour without too much tart or berry punch.
Nov 06, 2016
4.06/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The beer hits of berry flavor up front. A wonderful soft fruit flavor of berry skin, medium tart, and then covered with iced tea powder mix. A well executed sour without too much tart or berry punch.
Nov 06, 2016
brianmandell from California
3.72/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Hazy pomegranate color with fine lacing. Aroma is mostly sweet berry with some yogurt. Taste is all berry, finishing with lemon juice and yogurt. Some bready malt shows up on the very end. The depth of flavor is surprisingly light. Moderately tart. Mouthfeel is light with good, active pillowy carb. A very simple sour focusing on the berry. Decent but wished it packed more punch or funk.
Nov 04, 2016
3.72/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Hazy pomegranate color with fine lacing. Aroma is mostly sweet berry with some yogurt. Taste is all berry, finishing with lemon juice and yogurt. Some bready malt shows up on the very end. The depth of flavor is surprisingly light. Moderately tart. Mouthfeel is light with good, active pillowy carb. A very simple sour focusing on the berry. Decent but wished it packed more punch or funk.
Nov 04, 2016
Stevem68 from Ohio
3.93/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a turbid raspberry maroon color. Aroma is tart and fruity. Flavor is light tartness with some fruitiness. Has a rich smooth feel and overall very nice.
Sep 03, 2016
3.93/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a turbid raspberry maroon color. Aroma is tart and fruity. Flavor is light tartness with some fruitiness. Has a rich smooth feel and overall very nice.
Sep 03, 2016
Tommo from Texas
3.89/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
im surprised by the negative reviews for this beer. Its not outstanding, but it is nicely tart with very decent berry flavors. Not alot of depth or character, but a decent little sour
Aug 17, 2016
3.89/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
im surprised by the negative reviews for this beer. Its not outstanding, but it is nicely tart with very decent berry flavors. Not alot of depth or character, but a decent little sour
Aug 17, 2016
rodbeermunch from Nevada
4.07/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I really dig the purple and pink hues here, cool stuff, including the artwork which Toolbox seems to excel at. Aroma was of some berries, nothing to big or distinct other than that and some lactic sour notes.
Taste was juicy mixture of blackberries and boysenberries I would guess. Lacking the foot smell of a lot of blackberry beers I've had thankfully. Hardly acidic at all, the sourness is right in the middle of the 1-10 scale. Relatively easy to drink, I paired mine with some blueberry jalapeno cheesecake at Stone.
Jul 28, 2016
4.07/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I really dig the purple and pink hues here, cool stuff, including the artwork which Toolbox seems to excel at. Aroma was of some berries, nothing to big or distinct other than that and some lactic sour notes.
Taste was juicy mixture of blackberries and boysenberries I would guess. Lacking the foot smell of a lot of blackberry beers I've had thankfully. Hardly acidic at all, the sourness is right in the middle of the 1-10 scale. Relatively easy to drink, I paired mine with some blueberry jalapeno cheesecake at Stone.
Jul 28, 2016
Fcolle2 from Illinois
4.04/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a cloudy red/purple color. Aromas of boysenberries, blueberries, vinegar and hints of yogurt. Taste is plesently tart with flavors of boysenberries, blackberries, vinegar, and some lacto notes in the finish. Nicely balanced and on the lighter side
Jul 24, 2016
4.04/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a cloudy red/purple color. Aromas of boysenberries, blueberries, vinegar and hints of yogurt. Taste is plesently tart with flavors of boysenberries, blackberries, vinegar, and some lacto notes in the finish. Nicely balanced and on the lighter side
Jul 24, 2016
Reema from California
4.06/5 rDev 0%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle poured into a tulip glass.
Pours an extremely hazy deep plum purple color. Smell is of intense berry, berry jam, fruit juice, along with a candy like sourness. Taste reflects the smell. Initial berry sweetness immediately lead into a pleasant semi-lacto tartness. Finishes with a lingering fruity sourness that goes away immediately. Feel is like and carbonated well to fit the flavor profile. Overall this is a pretty good beer with great berry qualities that make this pleasant to drink.
Jul 06, 2016
4.06/5 rDev 0%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle poured into a tulip glass.
Pours an extremely hazy deep plum purple color. Smell is of intense berry, berry jam, fruit juice, along with a candy like sourness. Taste reflects the smell. Initial berry sweetness immediately lead into a pleasant semi-lacto tartness. Finishes with a lingering fruity sourness that goes away immediately. Feel is like and carbonated well to fit the flavor profile. Overall this is a pretty good beer with great berry qualities that make this pleasant to drink.
Jul 06, 2016
ptykozoon from California
3.97/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours purple - that's cool. Lacing and spotty islands.
Smell is jammy; cherry, strawberry, boysenberry. Very fruit forward, can't even tell this is a sour.
The boysenberries really shine. A very fruit centric beer. Yogurt. Lemon acidity and tart in the finish.
Acidic, medium carbonation. Dense mouthfeel, impressive for the low ABV. Lacks complexity.
A nice little sour.
Jun 13, 2016
3.97/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours purple - that's cool. Lacing and spotty islands.
Smell is jammy; cherry, strawberry, boysenberry. Very fruit forward, can't even tell this is a sour.
The boysenberries really shine. A very fruit centric beer. Yogurt. Lemon acidity and tart in the finish.
Acidic, medium carbonation. Dense mouthfeel, impressive for the low ABV. Lacks complexity.
A nice little sour.
Jun 13, 2016
yung_peli from California
4.31/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A: Maroon, transluscent around the edges, 1 finger pink head that quickly recedes, no lacing.
AR: Tart boysenberries, rhubarb, subtle bread/pie crust underneath.
T: Follows nose, finishes tart with slight lactic/brett funk.
M: Body on the thinner side, prickly carbonation.
Like drinking a berry pie. Sweet/tart is well balanced. And that color :)
Jun 03, 2016
4.31/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A: Maroon, transluscent around the edges, 1 finger pink head that quickly recedes, no lacing.
AR: Tart boysenberries, rhubarb, subtle bread/pie crust underneath.
T: Follows nose, finishes tart with slight lactic/brett funk.
M: Body on the thinner side, prickly carbonation.
Like drinking a berry pie. Sweet/tart is well balanced. And that color :)
Jun 03, 2016
Phil-Fresh from California
3.92/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle.
A: Big, juicy jammy boysenberries, coupled with a light sourness.
A: Deep Reddish, almost burgundy color, totally opaque with a massive, light pink head that has excellent retention. Lots of lacing in the glass.
T: Tart boysenberries, very jammy with a nice sweet tart quality, moderately sour with a bready quality that lightly lingers.
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. The beer is tart, but not very acidic.
O: Solid; very jammy, lots of sweet/tart boysenberries – not a lot of barrel character. While tasty, I really don’t think the name fits. The beer makes not so subtle hints at being “purple drank” – but doesn’t look, smell or taste like that concoction at all. Tastier as one consumes more, however please choose a better name that better characterizes the beer.
Mar 10, 2016
3.92/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle.
A: Big, juicy jammy boysenberries, coupled with a light sourness.
A: Deep Reddish, almost burgundy color, totally opaque with a massive, light pink head that has excellent retention. Lots of lacing in the glass.
T: Tart boysenberries, very jammy with a nice sweet tart quality, moderately sour with a bready quality that lightly lingers.
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. The beer is tart, but not very acidic.
O: Solid; very jammy, lots of sweet/tart boysenberries – not a lot of barrel character. While tasty, I really don’t think the name fits. The beer makes not so subtle hints at being “purple drank” – but doesn’t look, smell or taste like that concoction at all. Tastier as one consumes more, however please choose a better name that better characterizes the beer.
Mar 10, 2016
frasergrove from California
4.02/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Thanks to Rolando for this one!
Pours a light purple / maroon color with high haziness, light fluffy pink tinged head that sits around...Aroma is bright berry flavor, tangy...some sweetness. Bright acidic burst on the tongue, followed by a medium body and a crisp tart finish. Light berry essence, and enjoyable!
Mar 05, 2016
4.02/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Thanks to Rolando for this one!
Pours a light purple / maroon color with high haziness, light fluffy pink tinged head that sits around...Aroma is bright berry flavor, tangy...some sweetness. Bright acidic burst on the tongue, followed by a medium body and a crisp tart finish. Light berry essence, and enjoyable!
Mar 05, 2016
Brolo75 from California
4.1/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
500 ml bottle poured into a Belgian tulip
A: Pours a reddish/dark purple color with a light purple head, strangest color I think I've ever seen in a beer, it's hazy, some slight lacing, not much head retention, good amount of carbonation streaming up the side.
A: Tart, funk, mineral/vitamins, boysenberries, on the sweet side, smells pretty good.
T: It's more tart than it is sour, some funk, boysenberries, sweet berry notes, finish is dry, aftertaste is of berries and tartness, berries linger.
M: Good amount of carbonation, light, crisp, dry finish.
O: A pretty solid wild American ale, balanced flavors, nice tart characteristics, could use a little more punch on the sourness, but overall, a solid beer. Definitely going to try more ToolBox.
Feb 24, 2016
4.1/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
500 ml bottle poured into a Belgian tulip
A: Pours a reddish/dark purple color with a light purple head, strangest color I think I've ever seen in a beer, it's hazy, some slight lacing, not much head retention, good amount of carbonation streaming up the side.
A: Tart, funk, mineral/vitamins, boysenberries, on the sweet side, smells pretty good.
T: It's more tart than it is sour, some funk, boysenberries, sweet berry notes, finish is dry, aftertaste is of berries and tartness, berries linger.
M: Good amount of carbonation, light, crisp, dry finish.
O: A pretty solid wild American ale, balanced flavors, nice tart characteristics, could use a little more punch on the sourness, but overall, a solid beer. Definitely going to try more ToolBox.
Feb 24, 2016
von_kaiser from Connecticut
4.28/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Ok...this is good! Grape kool-aid good! Just quit your prejudice and enjoy the boysenberry! This is tart as FUG and provides an interesting twist to what one would expect to be a wild ale. Worth the try and yes, worth seeking out! Cheers!
Feb 21, 2016
4.28/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Ok...this is good! Grape kool-aid good! Just quit your prejudice and enjoy the boysenberry! This is tart as FUG and provides an interesting twist to what one would expect to be a wild ale. Worth the try and yes, worth seeking out! Cheers!
Feb 21, 2016
UCLABrewN84 from California
3.48/5 rDev -14.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Rado for sharing this one at hopodyssey's tasting.
Pours a hazy crimson with a foamy reddish-white head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of chewable vitamin, berry Kool-Aid, and artificial berry candy aromas. Taste is much the same with sour berry, berry juice, and chewable vitamin flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of acidity on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with solid flavors, but the smell isn't all that beer like to me.
Serving type: bottle.
Dec 14, 2015
3.48/5 rDev -14.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Rado for sharing this one at hopodyssey's tasting.
Pours a hazy crimson with a foamy reddish-white head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of chewable vitamin, berry Kool-Aid, and artificial berry candy aromas. Taste is much the same with sour berry, berry juice, and chewable vitamin flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of acidity on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with solid flavors, but the smell isn't all that beer like to me.
Serving type: bottle.
Dec 14, 2015
chinchill from South Carolina
3.92/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours with a hazy purple body. Looks, smells and tastes like it was made with a substantial load of bosenberries. Mildly sweet but moderately tart.
Nice tart and fruity aftertaste.
Dec 06, 2015
3.92/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours with a hazy purple body. Looks, smells and tastes like it was made with a substantial load of bosenberries. Mildly sweet but moderately tart.
Nice tart and fruity aftertaste.
Dec 06, 2015
imonhiatus from New Jersey
4.75/5 rDev +17%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
notes from 3/16/15
4.75 - 4.75 - 4.75 - 4.75 - 4.75
gorgeous color. murky violet, thin pink head, spotty lace. nose is razzy...really nice smell. smells AMAZING. great sweetness, super balanced. Taste to match. it.is literally.like a raspberry kids fruit drink. this is unreal. too drinkable and good.
Sep 27, 2015
4.75/5 rDev +17%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
notes from 3/16/15
4.75 - 4.75 - 4.75 - 4.75 - 4.75
gorgeous color. murky violet, thin pink head, spotty lace. nose is razzy...really nice smell. smells AMAZING. great sweetness, super balanced. Taste to match. it.is literally.like a raspberry kids fruit drink. this is unreal. too drinkable and good.
Sep 27, 2015
Getalegup from Texas
4/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reddish purple color with light carbonation.
Definitely smells funky and lightly fruity.
Flavor is less fruity than the smell with a light tartness.
Overall this was easy to drink.
Sep 22, 2015
4/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reddish purple color with light carbonation.
Definitely smells funky and lightly fruity.
Flavor is less fruity than the smell with a light tartness.
Overall this was easy to drink.
Sep 22, 2015
ClavisAurea from New York
3/5 rDev -26.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I really didn't like the berry addition. It was a bit too sweet for my taste. The tartness was nice and I suppose it balanced the sweetness but still not my thing.
May 20, 2015
3/5 rDev -26.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I really didn't like the berry addition. It was a bit too sweet for my taste. The tartness was nice and I suppose it balanced the sweetness but still not my thing.
May 20, 2015
grze from Nevada
1.76/5 rDev -56.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
This was a major disappointment. Aroma, taste and mouthfeel were all bad. Diacetyl, butter, bandaid...Some of those off flavors can be similar to tart berries taste (like in SLOambic), but this beer was just gross. One of the very very few beers I refused to finish.
May 19, 2015
1.76/5 rDev -56.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
This was a major disappointment. Aroma, taste and mouthfeel were all bad. Diacetyl, butter, bandaid...Some of those off flavors can be similar to tart berries taste (like in SLOambic), but this beer was just gross. One of the very very few beers I refused to finish.
May 19, 2015
Alieniloquium from Florida
3.28/5 rDev -19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
32 oz. growler poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Bright deep pink body. Pretty. Lightly pink white head.
Smell - Yogurt and berries. Some lemon.
Taste - Strong berry. Like blueberry, but berrier. Yogurt flavor, too.
Mouthfeel - Medium light. Very mild tartness. Medium carbonation.
Overall - Lotsa berries, not much else.
Mar 24, 2015
3.28/5 rDev -19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
32 oz. growler poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Bright deep pink body. Pretty. Lightly pink white head.
Smell - Yogurt and berries. Some lemon.
Taste - Strong berry. Like blueberry, but berrier. Yogurt flavor, too.
Mouthfeel - Medium light. Very mild tartness. Medium carbonation.
Overall - Lotsa berries, not much else.
Mar 24, 2015
Purple Drink from Toolbox Brewing Company
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
165 ratings
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