Rock Sour Beers - The Sweet & Sour Darlings of Craft Beer

Exploring the World of Rock Sour Beers

Sour beers are rapidly growing in popularity among craft beer drinkers looking to expand their palates beyond classic styles like IPAs and stouts. One particularly unique take on the sour beer craze comes in the form of rock sour beers. Also sometimes referred to as rock candy sour beers, these tart and flavorful brews are often created using unique fermentation methods that lend both sour and sweet notes to the final product.

What Makes Rock Sour Beers So Unique?

Rock sour beers get their name from one of the key ingredients used in their production: rock candy. Brewers will often add pieces of rock candy, which is essentially large, crystallized sugar cubes or larges crystals, to the beer during fermentation. As the beer ferments and the yeast eats away at the sugars, the rock candy slowly dissolves, lending both sweetness and sourness to the beer.

The sugar from the dissolved rock candy provides food for the yeast in the beer. However, brewers will often use specialty yeast strains that leave some residual sugars behind rather than consuming them all. This is what helps give rock sour beers their signature sweet flavor notes to balance out the sourness.

Unique Fermentation Process

In addition to using rock candy, rock sour beer production utilizes a specialized fermentation process. Typically, the wort, the sugary liquid created from mashed grains, is inoculated with both brewer's yeast to carry out regular alcohol fermentation as well as souring bacteria like Lactobacillus. Allowing both types of microbes to ferment creates a tart yet fruity and funky flavor profile.

The rock candy is added at different stages during the fermentation process depending on the exact flavor profile the brewery is aiming to create. The sugar content, yeast strain, bacteria strains, fermentation temperature, and fermentation time can all impact the sweetness, sourness, alcohol content, mouthfeel, and other characteristics of the finished beer.

Notable Rock Sour Beer Brands

While many mainstream beer drinkers may not yet be familiar with rock sour beers, they have a devout following among sour beer fans. Some breweries are earning acclaim for their unique takes on the style.

For example, Rocky Ridge Brewing Co. which is where the "rock" name is derived from, produces a variety of different rock candy-infused sour beers. Their Rocky Ridge Sour Series features beers like Blueberry Rock Candy Sour and Piña Colada Rock Candy Sour along with their flagship Peaches & Cream Rock Candy Sour.

Other breweries putting their stamp on rock sour beers include Blueberry Patch Brewing, which ages its Funky Rock Candy Sour Ale on blueberries for a double dose of fruit flavor. Noble Beast Brewing also has several rock candy-infused sours in its lineup, such as Its So Fluffy Rock Candy Sour and Bonbon Rock Candy Sour.

Serving and Pairing Rock Sour Beers

Like other sour beer styles, rock sour beers make excellent food pairing options, especially with cheese, seafood, acidic dishes featuring citrus, and desserts. Their sweet and tart flavor profile provides balance and cuts through richness.

Most rock sour beers are carbonated and best served chilled in a tulip glass or other glassware suited to appreciating aromatics. Taking a moment to admire their color and allow their aroma to develop is recommended before enjoying their first tasty sip.

Rock sour beers also make intriguing cocktail ingredients. Blending them with fruit juices or using them as the sour component in place of vinegar or citrus creates crave-worthy craft cocktails. They lend complexity and funk while their sweetness curbs excess tartness when mixed.

Why Beer Fans Love the Style

Rock sour beers have earned a passionate fan base for multiple reasons. Here’s a closer look at some of the top traits driving interest in this style of beer:

• Unique flavor profile – the combination of sweet and sour is always a crowd pleaser, and it’s a profile difficult to achieve in beers without additions like rock candy.
• Innovative techniques – beer enthusiasts enjoy experimentation in brewing, and rock sour beers allow creative freedom for brewers to put their own spin the style.
• Alive and ever-changing – the flavors continue to develop and transform over time thanks to ongoing yeast and bacteria activity, lending a dynamic drinking experience.
• Juicy mouthfeel – despite their acidity, rock sours avoid being thin or watery thanks to residual sugars boosting the perception of fullness.

For many sour beer fans, rock candy sours represent the perfect marriage of innovation and balance. Brewers have taken a classic candy most people loved as kids and transformed it into a new, grown-up drink sensation.

Get on the Rock Sour Beer Train

Rock sour beers represent an adventurous foray into experimental brewing techniques to achieve flavors you won’t find in any other beer style. Their rising popularity is no surprise considering the joy that comes from that first sweet-meets-sour sip. Track down a few rock candy-infused sour beers to add some funky, fruity goodness to your next beer tasting.

FAQs

What ingredients are used in rock sour beers?

The key ingredients in rock sour beers are mashed grains, brewer's yeast, souring bacteria like Lactobacillus, and rock candy which lends both sweet and tart flavors during fermentation.

Do rock sour beers contain alcohol?

Yes, rock sour beers do contain alcohol like most other beers. The brewer's yeast consumes sugars from the wort and rock candy, converting them into alcohol and carbon dioxide.

What food pairs well with rock sour beers?

Rock sour beers make excellent partners for cheese, seafood, citrus dishes, and desserts. Their sweet and sour profile provides balance and cuts through rich foods.

How are rock sour beers best served?

Most rock sour beers are carbonated and best served well-chilled in a tulip glass or other glassware that allows you to admire their appearance and aroma before enjoying their flavor.