Best Kettle Sours in Arizona

The best Kettle Sours in Arizona deliver bright acidity, refreshing tartness and plenty of room for creative flavors. Brewers create the style by introducing acid-producing bacteria during a controlled souring stage before completing the brewing process. Consequently, Kettle Sours can develop their signature tangy character relatively quickly while allowing brewers to carefully manage the level of acidity.

What Does a Kettle Sour Taste Like?

Kettle Sours typically feature tart, citrusy and lightly acidic characteristics. However, breweries frequently add fruits such as raspberry, cherry, blackberry, peach or passion fruit, which can dramatically change the final flavor. Some versions taste crisp and sharply tart, whereas others balance acidity with noticeable fruit sweetness.

Additionally, Kettle Sours usually have a light to medium body and refreshing finish. Their acidity provides much of the beer’s character, so hop bitterness generally remains restrained. Meanwhile, creative ingredients can introduce everything from tropical flavors to subtle sweetness. As a result, two Kettle Sours can taste remarkably different despite sharing the same basic brewing approach.

Typical Kettle Sour ABV

Many Kettle Sours range from approximately 4% to 6% ABV. Nevertheless, recipes vary widely, and stronger versions can exceed that range. Therefore, checking the brewery’s listed ABV provides the best indication of a particular Kettle Sour’s strength.

How The Beers Are Ranked

The Kettle Sours below rank based on votes from local beer drinkers.