alborada - sour

Raspberries and cherries are the undisputed queens of summer. Their deep red color magically draws the eye, our noses follow their sweet scent, and before we know it, our fingertips are sticky and pink from impatiently transporting one fruit after another into our mouths. Hardly anyone can resist the charm of these midsummer sweets—especially when they’ve been masterfully crafted into a fantastic sour beer!

The Spanish brewery Cierzo Brewing Co. has created such a sour beer with Alborada: A gentle base of malted barley and wheat meets an explosive blend of freshly harvested raspberries and cherries on the palate. The delicious brew flows into the glass in a magnificent rose-gold hue, carrying a fleeting veil of pink foam on its densely clouded body. The aroma transports you straight to grandma’s orchard: ripe cherries and juicy raspberries entice the nose and entice you to take the first sip. The flavor is pure summer: soft notes of golden grain meet fruit, fruit, fruit. The powerful sweetness of the cherries and raspberries is elegantly balanced by their own fruit acidity, and a mild 10 bitterness units provide a beautiful contrast.

Nothing beats a rich raspberry sponge roll with whipped cream or a covered American cherry pie with homemade vanilla ice cream – but this beer really comes close to the timeless classics!