Batida - Guava and Apricot
Southern Grist Brewing Co.

I enjoy a good Sour and this collaboration with Finback was one of the better ones that I’ve had lately! Lots of fun and flavor going on here as this reminded me quite a bit of Magnify's recent Big Pulp. That was unlike anything that I ever had before and so was this, for so many reasons...

Of course, I should start off with the appearance - like mango, guava, and apricot and boy, did this get dark and extremely cloudy as I poured the last of it out of the can. A foamy, sherbet head of tangerine topped this off as it was thick and bubbly and quite loud as it settled down. Only a few dots of suds remained as the head and body of this beer were quite different from each other. Tons of sticky mango, lactose, and some toasted coconut as the taste was nicely sweet, sticky like pulp, and just sour enough to remind me what this beer was. There was a bit of sediment on the bottom but there was so much juice in this that I didn't even care, as the coconut and apricot gave this the sweetness and dankness to take it beyond typical.

Canned on 10/15, this held up nicely over the last three months as the tangy nature of this beer was present, but not overpowering, throughout my time with it. Never felt the alcohol and the bottom was pulpy and thick enough that it easily left me wanting for more. Nice job by Southern Grist on this one, as it could easily replace ice cream, sherbet, or sorbet. As sweet and juicy as a sour gets!

16 oz can, dated 10/15/21, into Kevin Malone's Famous Smashed Grapes glass.

Appearance is unlike anything I've probably ever seen, it is the color of pureed cantaloupe. Head is 1 finger and fades to a foamy carbonated moss.

Tropical aromas of coconut and lime juice bite the nostrils immediately, followed by mangoes and vanilla, creamy apricot sorbet, and very faint hints of waxy guava. Coconut juice permeates the profile. It's like a top shelf air freshener in the tropical variety.

This is why these guys are tops for me. This sour lacks absolutely nothing in character, flavor, or depth. The elements are all here and in good conversation with each other. Coconut water and lime juice open this up, followed by many similar traits from the nose like apricot sorbet and mango vanilla ice cream. Coconut shreds and guava finish this one up, and delicious dry/waxy/semi-sweet guava hangs on the back of the tongue for a good while unexpectedly. (A larger charge of vanilla and lactose making this into a creamy dessert profile is what would bump it to a 5 for me, but that's also not in the spirit of the shaken cocktail.)

Feel is juicy and thick like a citrus milkshake but has a lightness to it and relegates the buzz to the lime juice rather than the carbonation (it's soft). No heat anywhere. Lime juice zings on the finish with a creamy coating.

Overall, another masterpiece from these guys and I was starting to lose hope there for awhile. This is definitely worth your time. Excellent souring here and everything is loud and in charge.

$18 / 4 pack / Southern Grist East Side tap room (now closed)