Polite Beer Expressions - Review of Prickly Pear

Aug 12

Aug 12 Alvarado Street Brewerys Prickly Pear: Review by @Robyn_Seto

This lovely kettle sour comes to us from Alvarado Street Brewery based in Monterey, CA. This brewery has a very small distribution area spanning from the Monterey/Salinas Area to Sacramento, CA. Alvarado is a newer brewery to me; they have only recently broadened their distribution to include Sacramento due to closures of taprooms during the Covid-19 quarantine. I feel very fortunate that I am able to easily obtain their wares, as they produce some delectable beers.

Prickly Pear is no exception to Alvarado Street’s exquisite brewing. As previously mentioned, this is a kettle sour and it features a probiotic that produces lactic acid. Lactic acid produces a smooth and sometimes creamy mouthfeel, which is certainly present in this beer. Also featured is prickly pear, a fruit produced by the nopal cactus, which has a unique flavor that reminds me of watermelon candy. So what does this beer taste like? If you are apprehensive about super sour tartness, this does not have it! This is very lightly tart, but mostly you will enjoy the fruity flavor and delicate sweetness of the prickly pear. The tartness paired in combination with the fruitiness and the smooth mouthfeel creates a flavor that, to me, tastes very faintly like Sour Patch watermelon candy. It’s hard not to want to pound this one back, but at only 6% abv it won’t put you out for the entire day if you do.