Imperial Sharkleberry Skies
Southern Grist Brewing Co.

 

Is it sour ale? Is is smoothie? It might be both. Laden with strawberry, tangerine and banana, Southern Grist's stronger kettle soured ale takes a nice long stroll on the outer fringes of the milkshake side of beer.

Highly turbid and frozen in a matte golden finish, Imperial Sparkleberry Skies bounces with spritzy, short-lived froth. As the beer settles, it strikes the curiosities with a radiant perfume of the prescribed tropical and citrus fruit along with a winey and tart backdrop. Pastry sweet on the tongue the early palate absorbs a medley of honey, shortbread, taffy and sourdough.

As the flavors roll along the middle palate, its fruit flavors only intensify as the orange and strawberry rise to the top while the banana links up with the undercurrent of malts. The beer's underlying acidity hosts nuances of white wine, cider, lime, lemon and gooseberry to add even more complex fruit notes. As the taste concludes, its does so with a tightening sourness that registers on the late palate with the character of a creamy sangria.

Full, rich and continued pastry-like textures keep the finish rounded, smooth and fruit filled, certainly fuller in body than the average sour ale. A medium length linger of fruit is cut short by the thirst quenching properties of the beer's sourness within. Tart, crisp and refreshing despite its smoothie tendencies.