Strawberries, vanilla, and lactose in the key of nitro. The result is a silky sonata ringing with notes of tart berries and fresh cream. Go ahead, try it. Strozzberry tastes like…strozzberries.

Reviews are done by Jim Matt, our Chief Science Officer, who is also a veteran FoBAB judge, GABF judge, and BJCP Master judge.

Malts: 2-Row, White Wheat, Acidulated, Lactose

Hops: Cascade

Strozzberry is our latest canned nitro sour. Talk about what this unique brew brings to the table and how it complements our previous release, Cobbstopper.

We are big fans of experimenting with different flavor combinations here at Rhinegeist, be it malt, hops, fruits, herbs or teas. We played around with this one a bunch to get the perfect balance of strawberry, vanilla, sour, sweetness and creaminess from nitrogenation.

Nitrogenated beers are poured differently from your typical CO2 beer. Talk about why that is and how to properly pour Strozzberry. 

Nitrogen is less soluble in beer than carbon dioxide, and when it breaks out of solution, the bubbles are much smaller, finer and do not contribute to the same prickly carbonic bite sensation that carbon dioxide does. We recommend shaking the can vigorously for about 30-60 seconds, pausing for a couple of beats, cracking open the can, then doing what we call a “hard pour,” into a pint glass.

What makes you want to drink this beer? 

Nice combo of tart, sweet, vanilla and strawberries and a creamy mouthfeel are appealing, especially on a hot summer day!

Appearance: Dark gold in color with a hint of pink. Slightly hazy, cascading nitro effect in the glass. Persistent off-white head.

Aroma: Low malt and hop aroma. Complex fruity aroma of berries, light fruity esters, moderate vanilla and cinnamon notes.

Taste: Low malt and hop flavors. Upfront berry that dissipates to moderate cinnamon and vanilla notes on the finish. Medium-high acidity, low bitterness, lightly sweet finish.

Mouthfeel: Light body, creamy, no alcohol warmth or astringency.

Overall: A creamy, tart, fruity, slightly sweet nitro/sour ale that pleases the senses.

What foods would pair well with Strozzberry? 

The obvious would be strawberry shortcake, but also try it with something savory like Chicken Vindaloo…the heat and tart from the Vindaloo play nicely with the tart and slight sweetness from the beer.

Ideal glassware for Strozzberry? 

Shaker pint glass.