Is this ‘the sourest beer ever’ created?

Edinburgh craft beer brewery Vault City has released what it claims is “the sourest beer ever” for International Sour Beer Day.

The 4.3% ABV sour beer, named Vault Dweller, has been inspired by Toxic Waste sweets and is being positioned as a way for consumers to relive their trick or treating days with the brew being released in time for Halloween.

According to the brewery, Vault Dweller has a “triple sour hit of lemon and lime juice paired with a sour beer base” that recreates “the incredibly sour taste of the iconic Toxic Waste sweets popular in the noughties”.

Speaking to the drinks business, Steven Smith-Hay, Vault City’s co-founder, said: “We’re known for pushing the boundaries of flavour, and The Vault Dweller might be a bit of a shock to the system – but that’s exactly what we’re going for. It’s about having fun with flavour.”

Addressing the naysayers of adjunct-heavy beers, Smith-Hay explained: “We like to celebrate all the rich diversity within craft beer, and while this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, this style has carved out a unique space for exploration and creativity that helps open up the category to consumers who haven’t previously enjoyed beer.”

He added: “We’ve always tapped into nostalgia to create our bold and interesting sour beers. Flavour, like great music, can transport a drinker to a particular place or time in their lives or memories, and that’s all part of the Vault City experience” and noted: “it’s important to remember that nostalgia often plays a significant role in our appreciation of flavours.”

Smith-Hay told db: “At the heart of our beer is the same unique mixed fermentation house culture that’s been propagated and utilised in every Vault City release since the brewery started, and that base beer is full of tropical, sherbet-like flavours that lend themselves perfectly to this type of nostalgic release.”

In addition to the launch, Vault City is giving away 200 flights of sour beer at its Edinburgh taprooms to celebrate International Sour Beer Day which takes place today (20 September).

Beer fans can visit Wee Vault in Haymarket, or Porty Vault in Portobello to sample Vault City’s core range for free. The flights are served on a first come first served basis and yet all attendees need to do is show that they are following the Vault City and Vault City bars’ Instagram pages.

According to Smith-Hay: “The sour beer category is growing massively in terms of popularity, and we’re out put our unique stamp on it. It may not be terribly traditional, but it’s a tried and tested formula that’s proved by the success of our sour beers – one in three sour beers drunk in the UK will be one of ours.”

The drinks are available from Wednesday until the bars close on Sunday, or until flights sell out.