Imperial Cherry Mango Peach Hill
Southern Grist Brewing Co.

 

 

4 pack, 16 oz can, born on 6/15/21, into Bearded Iris Stange.

Super thick and goupy dark red with a finger of pinkish head that dwindles to nothing within a minute.

The three fruits are here in the aroma, heavily, creating a 100% juice fruit punch or fruit juice vibe. Kinda like the V8 Splash stuff.

Flavor brings fruit punch as well, and it seems like cherry is the loudest note, but then the other two catch up and it blends equally. Fruit punch is the best way I can describe it. A hint of bathtub Sangria can be sampled among the fruit assault. The fruit flavor does not stay very long however, encouraging more dangerous behavior in the form of continual sips of this 7.5% beast. Once again however, the achilles' heel of these Imperial fruited Hills is the presence of alcohol. This gives it a slight plastic or super glue note on the very end, which turns the whole beer from a fantastic experience to merely a decent one.

Feel is slick and juicy with a little bit of heat (I would actually have preferred it to be here instead of in the flavor). Leaves cherry tannins on the palate along with the lightest blanket coating of microscopic fruit particles.

Overall, decent, but this is the third or fourth Imperial Hill I've had, and I can easily say the regular Hill beers are where it's at. Honestly, I'm picking hairs apart here, but I feel when they crank up the alcohol, it takes something away and replaces it with palatable heat, and that's not something I prefer. Leaves me fuzzy headed in short fashion, but it's not nearly as enjoyable as a standard Hill (and you get to have more before said fuzzy feeling!).

I will continue to pass on Imperial Hill beers as long as there are regular ones around.

Again, I'm being picky. This is still a really good beer.


$20 / southerngristbrewing.com

We all have those days when we just put together something to eat by clearing the fridge. Well Southern Grist does similarly by clearing their pantry of mango, cherry, peach and malt with an stronger fruited sour ale.

Imperial Cherry Mango Peach Hill kicks off with a rusty mauve color and suspended in a muddy visual density before topping off with a loose and fleeting froth. After settling like fruit puree, the scent becomes tantalizing with a bevy of pitted, tropical and stone fruit with a certain bellini-like tease of wine and cider. A sweeter tone though hits the palate with the maltiness of shortcake, pastry tart, sourdough and fruit rollup.

As the layers of flavors unfold, its the cherry that dominates with its depth of dark berry, plum and currant character before the lighter influences from mango and peach add a nearly orange-like complement. But its background of gooseberry, papaya, green apple, white wine, lime and lemon provide a sharply sour balance to close.

Fuller for sour ale and somewhat densely packed with fruit puree, the beer finishes fruity and bready for a fruit tart finish and a medium length linger of fruit cocktail with a light peppery burlap afterglow.