Double Vanilla Pineapple Creamsicle Hill
Southern Grist Brewing Co.

Tasted in a Rastal Teku glass from a one pint can on August 6, 2021.

 

There's an expectation of sweetness when brewers use pineapple in beer. But the creaminess that Southern Grist puts into their sour ale is both unexpected and ultra decadent.

Double Vanilla Pineapple Creamsicle Hill shares a bright golden straw appearance while capping off with a soft and fluffy meringue. As its scent of sweet cream, tropical fruit and tangy acidity rolls off of the foam, the first sip leans in with a succulent sweetness of agave, lychee, monk fruit and cream soda.

Deliciously smooth and creamy, the middle palate shines with stewed pineapple and pineapple juices. A slight and toasted savory elements allows the taste to go into an upside down shortcake type of sweetness with toasted edges and topped with the cream of marshmallow. Not to be outdone, the sourness kicks in for a tangy, slightly more than tart type of sourness that penetrates the fruit and cream for a piquant finish of sour spiciness akin to green apple, lime, lemon and white grape and passionfruit.

Medium bodied but certainly fuller for sour ale, the beer finishes both sweet and sour with a creamier aura drifting about. Its a delicious fruity sour ale that either begs for more dessert sweetness or more sour dryness. The "in-between" status achieves a nice balance but the curious tastebuds want to know.