Grapefruit Bubbles is a bright & sunny blend of apple and grapefruit. The perfect vacation for your tastebuds. Read on to get the full itinerary on our latest addition to the Bubbles fam!

Reviews are done by Travis Houston, our Sensory Specialist, Certified Cicerone, and FOBAB Judge.

First off, let’s talk a little about the history of Bubbles and the Bubbles fam.

Just about a decade ago, one of our founders, Bryant, was drinking a lot of Rosé. He pondered how we could create a beverage with a similar flavor profile, and settled on adding peach and cranberry juice to our cider, Semi-Dry. The result was delicious—a rosé-like drink with lower alcohol, but all the complex flavor and acidity of wine. The result was also, technically, sparkling wine, meaning we would have to charge an unreasonable price to cover the much higher tax burden. We solved this problem by creating a base that is slightly more than 50% fermented malt, and slightly less than 50% fermented apple. To this base, peach and cranberry were added, and Bubbles Rose Ale was born. We quickly realized the versatility of this malt-apple base, and created Wowie, along with a line of Fruited Ales. Last year we decided to officially expand the Bubbles brand, adding a rotating lineup that features fresh, seasonal fruit.

What makes Grapefruit Bubbles stand out in our Bubbles lineup?

As with all our Bubbles seasonal offerings, the Vacation Blend is made with real, fresh juice. The complex acidity and tannin from the apple melds wonderfully with the bright, tart pink grapefruit, creating a brew that is extremely fruit forward, with the perfect backing balance of sweetness and acid.

What makes Grapefruit Bubbles a “Vacation Blend”?

As the summer Bubbles release, the timing is definitely right. Along with that, the bright citrus flavor would be perfect to enjoy poolside, or under the shade of an umbrella at the beach.

What are the notable characteristics of Grapefruit Bubbles?

One sniff and it becomes instantly obvious that we used real fruit juice. Pink grapefruit is the sweetest, least bitter variety, and pairs very well with the culinary apple juice that we ferment for the base.

There is a lot of real grapefruit flavor in this brew. How is this achieved?

I’ve emphasized a few times how much real fruit is in the Vacation Blend, both apple and pink grapefruit. Along with that, we also added an all-natural grapefruit flavor, created by extracting the complex top-notes of the fruit and concentrating them. This allows the more subtle flavors that are sometimes lost in the brewing process to be intensified, reinforcing the fresh grapefruit character in the blend.

What makes you want to drink Grapefruit Bubbles?

If you enjoy grapefruit, you’ll want to try this drink. The amount of fruit flavor is impressive, and even more impressive is how much it tastes like fresh juice.

Appearance: Light gold with slight haze and minimal white foam.

Aroma: Fresh pink grapefruit juice with hints of apple.

Taste: More fresh grapefruit, with medium sweetness and complex acidity.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation and a tart, crisp finish.

Overall: The Vacation Blend is absolutely loaded with fruit- bright apple and pink grapefruit- with a perfectly balanced base that brings backing sweetness and complex acidity. The result is a fruit-forward blend that’s loaded with real juice flavor. 

What foods would pair well with Grapefruit Bubbles? This blend would go great with a charcuterie board.

Ideal glassware for Grapefruit Bubbles? A snifter or red wine glass.