Cosmic Blur
Heavy Seas Beer

 

 

5 oz pour on draft at the brewery. Pours a cloudy orange color with a small head. Aroma and flavor feature sweet pineapple, juicy mango, and moderate sourness (some of which probably comes from the passionfruit) with a wheaty malt base. Not boozy - I never would have guessed that this is 9% abv. Very fruity and delicious.

 

Heavy Seas Beer "Cosmic Blur"
12 fl. oz. brown glass bottle "23035 BEST BY SEP2023"
$21.49/Frozen Seas Sampler 12-pk @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ

Notes via stream of consciousness: I can smell the fruitiness in the aroma as I uncork it, and even more so as I pour it. It's a hazy deep golden beneath a short head of white that drops readily. The aroma is quite bright as noted, and smells like watered down Hawaiian Punch Berry Blue Typhoon and Flintstone's Vitamins. The flavor delivers more of the mineral character and less of the fruitiness. It seems somewhat artificial so let me check the label... nope, it's all real. It's brewed with pineapple, mango, and passionfruit puree; and I also notice that it's 9% Alc/Vol! I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I generally drink fruity sours in warmer weather and 9% is too high for that. That much alcohol doesn't mix with the sun and having a few in a row. Back to the flavor though: it's not too tart, not too sweet, and just bitter enough. It's fruity for sure but there's also a malt component to it so it's not like you're drinking a malternative, it actually tastes like beer. It's medium bodied, acidic, and gently crisp. All in all I'd say it's nicely done.
Review #8,650

(12 oz bottle, 22034 VIN 2022; purchased single off shelf at Roger Wilco, Pennsauken... poured into a fat tulip)

L: moderately hazy, orange-amber liquid with yellow highlights; some foam on the pour, lil slug of sediment at the end... keeps a thin collar, but not a cap

S: tangy kettled overtone, murky tropical fruit punch cutting through the middle, gummy fruit slices (or gum drop), peach (chunks in) yogurt... relatively potent and deep for its ilk, if lacking definition

T: bold tart bite up front with the alcohol rushing behind it only to give way to a slightly less bitey but bitter sour in the finish; the fruit flavors are not quite as vibrant (or sweetish) as the aromas seem to indicate... pithy, yeasty bite persists... the malt (graininess) eventually creeps out; rather dry overall, almost hollow in the middle-bottom... no one fruit sticks out, though I thought maybe the pineapple did

F: lightish-bodied, almost slick on the sides; only a mild warmth from the alcohol, obscured some by the rounded-off tart bite... it all seems to sit up front and at the sides; very little action at the back... like mid-morning sunlight on the palate

O: for a kettle sour, not bad, surprisingly moreish in a way; shame they had to boost the fruit and booze to make it more palatable... this was a recommendation from a friend who loves the big crazy beers - finally got around to it, pal (2047)

 

Lovely little craft sour ale, more sweet than sour. Unremarkable look, but it tasted and smelled great. Nice and tropical, plus no weird tacky/sticky mouth feel afterwards like some sweeter sour ales. I'm a big fan!

 

This bottle intrigues me. What is this “unique” yeast strain? Is it close to another common strain? Or is it one they developed themselves? I don’t know, but I hope it can back up the tropical fruits used in this beer. Let’s find out

Pours a hazy orange gold with 2 fingers of white head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

This is certainly tropical as hell in the nose, and honestly reminds me a bit of Jell-O. I’m picking up on aromas of tart pineapple juice, orange, sweet strawberry, underripe mango, kiwi, light bready malt, and lemon zest

Tasting this, I do think I’d actually call it unique, at least for the style. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting pineapple juice, tangerine, tart mango, kiwi, orange zest, and light crackery malt. The swallow brings notes of tart pineapple juice, juicy strawberry, tart mango, cantaloupe, orange, and light passionfruit

A medium body pairs with moderate tingling carbonation, resulting in a soft and juicy beer. Finishes mostly dry with a balanced tartness

This one is really solid, and drinks well below the abv. I will give it to Heavy Seas for making something unique. Now I want to know even more about the yeast

Quite a tasty high gravity kettle sour as others stated more sweet than sour as the "tropical" in the title. A bit heavy to be a session drink but I could probably finish one or two a sitting no problem. Not offensive in taste ABV doesn't become cloying and price was right at about 3 bucks a single. Not bad!

Appearance: Hazy yellow body, large white head, light lacing.
Aroma: Passionfruit, berries and assorted tropical fruit with an assist from pineapple.
Taste: More tart than sour. Still showcasing the tropical fruit.
Mouthfeel: Soft, fruity, medium bodied (even at 9%), moderately carbonated, lingering finish.
Overall: Mixed feelings. Liked the start and finish but the middle had its ups and downs. Still interesting and glad I tried it. Well within its 'best by' date.