Pineapple Blackberry Hill
Southern Grist Brewing Co.

Brazen in their use of pineapple, blackberry and lactose, if this is the hill that Southern Grist is willing to brew, then its the sour hill that the brewery is willing to die on.

With an expected dark purple pour, Pineapple Blackberry Hill pushes a racy and spritzy froth to the rim before dissipating completely. But its tangy and tantalizing scent of macerated berries and a hint of tropical fruit offer a winey, pastry-laden perfume. Generous sweetness make initial palate introductions with the malty suggestions of pastry dough, cream and taffy to kick things off on the candied side of sweetness.

The full balance of the beer is felt as the fruity sour ale washes over the middle palate. A growing flavor of blackberry control the taste with a robust dark berry flavor that also shares aspects of plum, blueberry and cherry but with that additional pineapple nuance that resides slightly behind the blackberrry. The beer's underlying fruitiness of lime, lemon, green apple and gooseberry add more complexity as the ale finishes winey, cider-like and with a playfully tart balance.

Medium bodied but certainly fuller for sour ale, the beer's rich taffy flavors and textures keep the body propped up even as the ale strives for a fruity and tart finish. An aftertaste of blackberry glaze and acidity rides the line where tart meets sour for a session that's more fruit-filled than sour.