Rocket Pop Sour Beers: A Tart, Fruit-Forward Craft Beer Trend

The Refreshing Flavors of Rocket Pop Sour Beer

As the summer heats up, there's nothing quite as refreshing as an ice cold beer. But beer drinkers are always looking for new and exciting flavors to liven up their summer sippers. Enter the latest craze in craft brewing: rocket pop sour beers. These tart, fruit-forward brews evoke the classic flavors of the rocket pop frozen treats many grew up enjoying on hot summer days.

The Rise of Sour Beers

Sour beers have exploded in popularity over the last few years. Brewers have mastered techniques like kettle souring to perfect the ideal puckering tartness. Fruity additions complement the sour base beer, adding lush layers of cherry, blackberry, passionfruit, and other tropical flavors. Sour beers provide the perfect counterpoint to crushing IPAs and stouts. Their tart and fruity taste instantly conjures up memories of summer.

Rocket Pops Inspire Imaginative Brews

Always looking for new inspirations, innovative brewers started incorporating flavors reminiscent of the classic rocket pop. For the uninitiated, rocket pops are frozen treats with three distinct flavor stripes - cherry, blue raspberry, and lemon. Just like the frozen pops, sour beers featuring this flavor trifecta deliver a refreshing trip down memory lane.

To develop the rocket pop profile, brewers start with a clean, crisp sour blonde ale or wheat beer. Then they get creative with fruit additions. Cherries provide a jammy, red fruit flavor. Brewers also use raspberry or strawberry purees to mimic that sweet cherry taste. For the lemon and blue raspberry, they'll add lemon zest and juice along with a touch of vanilla. Natural blueberry is perfect to deliver that signature blue raspberry flavor.

The Best Examples of Rocket Pop Sours

Rocket pop sours have captivated craft beer drinkers looking for a taste of nostalgia. Here are some of the most popular examples of this inventive style:

Aftershock - New Glory Brewery (Sacramento, CA) - This strawberry-blueberry sour pours a shocking purple that nods to the iconic rocket pop. Sweet, jammy flavors of ripe berry are balanced by a tart, lemon-kissed finish.

Red, White & Blue - Noble Beast Brewing (Cleveland, OH) - Cherry, blueberry, and lemon zest come together for a celebratory sour that tastes just like the patriotic frozen pop.

Razzle Dazzle - Pretentious Beer Co. (Columbus, OH) - A raspberry-forward kettle sour with vanilla and lemon highlights. Tart and deeply fruity.

TripleFlavor - Triple Crossing Beer (Richmond, VA) - This Berliner Weisse has it all - juicy cherry, ripe blueberry, and bracing lemon. Light, crisp, and totally crushable.

Liquid Rocket Pop - HOMES Brewery (Ann Arbor, MI) - Featuring a rotating mix of cherry, raspberry, and lemon flavors, this tart refresher encapsulates all the best flavors of summer.

Why Sour Beers Make the Perfect Summer Drinks

There are several reasons rocket pop sours have become a go-to summer choice for craft beer lovers:

- They are extremely refreshing. The tangy, tart taste wakes up your palate on a hot day.

- Bright, vibrant fruit flavors evoke carefree summer memories.

- Sours pair perfectly with backyard barbecues, days at the beach or pool, and warm summer nights.

- Lower alcohol content means you can enjoy more than one without getting weighed down.

-Fun, bright colors and playful flavors create a cheerful drinking experience.

-They offer more variety beyond typical lagers and wheat beers.

Where to Find These Innovative Summer Sippers

Rocket pop sours are often released in summer as limited edition seasonal offerings from forward-thinking craft breweries. Here are some ways to try these specialty summer beers:

-Check out the seasonal lineups at your favorite local breweries. Many will release their takes on rocket pop sours when the weather warms up.

-Look for sour beer variety packs that offer a sample of different fruited styles and flavors.

-Visit beer festivals and events where breweries showcase their latest creations.

-Use beer finder apps and websites to locate rocket pop sours near you.

-Follow breweries known for kettle sours and fruited beers to see when they announce new releases.

-Ask for recommendations from beer sellers at bottle shops, grocery stores, and craft beer bars.

Rocket Pop Sours Are a Taste of Nostalgia

Rocket pop sour beers have become a deliciously innovative way for craft brewers to channel the flavors of summer. Their experiments with fruit purees and kettle souring techniques have produced some of the most refreshing, crushable beers around. For beer lovers looking to add some variety to their summer drink lineup, keep an eye out for these playful tart brews. With their candy-sweet flavors and tongue-tingling tartness, rocket pop sours are nostalgic sippers that will transport you right back to the carefree days of summer.

FAQs

What exactly is a rocket pop sour beer?

A rocket pop sour beer mimics the bright, fruit-forward flavors of the classic frozen rocket pop treat. Brewers use fruit additions like cherry, lemon, raspberry, and blueberry to create a tart and flavorful sour beer that tastes like summer.

What beer styles are used to make rocket pop sours?

Brewers commonly start with a clean sour blonde ale or Berliner weisse as the base. The light, crisp body allows the fruit flavors to really shine. Kettle souring techniques help develop the perfect puckering tartness.

When can I find rocket pop sour beers?

Rocket pop sours are often released as limited seasonal offerings in summer. Check with your local craft breweries, summer beer festivals, or specialty bottle shops to find these special releases when warmer weather hits.