Vanilla Black & Blue Hill
Southern Grist Brewing Co.

 

 

Sweet, tangy and filled with fruit, the lactobacillus heavy blueberry and blackberry beer that Southern Grist reserved for their third anniversary is enough to sing about. But doing so might have a cease and desist letter waiting on you. But you won't care. This beer is just that good.

Pouring an enticing but somewhat ridiculous indigo deep blue, the dark reds, purples and pinks isn't playing around just as a lavender froth builds above. Cream candy and blueberries take center stage as the nose collects a battery of dark berries, vanilla, heavy cream and candy shop scents. Notions of pulled candy, taffy and cobbler wash the palate with a medium sweet taste, surprisingly lighter in profile than the nose suggests.

As the ale rolls along, its hard candy sweetness pulls back and the sourness begins to flex its acidic muscles. Cider, red wine, cranberry, rhubarb and lime begin to bridge the clean sourness into the realm of fruity; and that's where the reckless amounts of blackberry and blueberry await. Although more sour than sweet, its malty impressions stay alive thanks to the marshmallowy taste of sweet cream and vanilla that trail in a cream candied way once again.

Medium bodied but seemingly firmer because of the juiciness of fruit flavors and its creamy impressions, but the beer also seems lighter from the mild vinous alcohol and the clean lactic sourness that breaks up the malts with ease. Ultimately, this is a tart smoothie with about five percent alcohol. Its should be counted as a full serving of both dairy and fruit.