Great Notion Greater Things: Strawberry Pineapple Mango Tart Ale
Appearance: This beer pours a hazy, vibrant, and dense color, likely a deep coral or pink-orange hue, reflecting the heavy fruit additions. Expect it to be opaque—more like a thick, pulpy smoothie than a traditional beer—with a soft, quickly dissipating white or pinkish head.
Aroma: The nose is a tropical explosion. You are immediately hit with the distinct, ripe sweetness of mango and pineapple, followed by the jammy, candy-like essence of strawberry. In true Great Notion fashion, the aroma is often described as smelling exactly like the promised adjuncts—in this case, a liquid version of a tropical fruit chew or a pink popsicle. There’s a subtle, clean tartness underneath, hinting at the sour ale base.
Taste: “Greater Things” delivers on its aromatic promise, providing a multi-layered, fruit-forward experience.
Initial Impression: A rush of bright, sweet strawberry and tropical pineapple hits the palate first.
Mid-Palate: The mango flavor rounds out the experience, adding a deeper, luscious juiciness. The “sour pink chewy candy” element, likely a blend of added sugars or flavorings, adds a sweet-and-sour pop that brightens the fruit and prevents the beer from becoming too cloyingly sweet or purely tart.
Finish: The tartness is well-controlled; it’s pleasantly acidic but not intensely puckering, allowing the fruit to remain the star. The finish is smooth, leaving a lingering, candied tropical fruit flavor.
Mouthfeel: The texture is a signature element of Great Notion’s tart ales. Expect a medium-to-full body that is creamy and thick, almost “fluff-like,” often achieved with adjuncts like oats or wheat. The carbonation is typically moderate, providing just enough effervescence to lift the heavy fruit and keep the beer from feeling too heavy, yet smooth enough to contribute to its dessert-like quality.
Great Notion‘s Greater Things Strawberry Pineapple Mango Tart Ale is another masterful execution of a “culinary-inspired” sour. It is a deliciously decadent brew that blurs the line between beer and a tropical fruit smoothie or dessert. It caters perfectly to the craft beer drinker who enjoys big, bold, and heavily fruited flavors over traditional sour complexity. While it might be too sweet for sour purists, fans of the “smoothie sour” style will find this an immensely enjoyable, high-quality, and fun indulgence.
Available at SF Tequila Shop