Beer column: These fun Whistler creations will leave a (good) sour taste in your mouth

In a metaphorical sense, leaving a sour taste in one’s mouth signifies a negative impression or experience that lingers in a person’s memory.

When it comes to beer, however, it can mean the exact opposite, especially when it comes to enjoying a sour beer outdoors on a hot summer day.

It’s technically still spring, but we’re already getting tastes of summer weather and that’s a clear sign that it’s time to get tastes of sour beer.

For this one, we head to beautiful Whistler and the iconic Whistler Brewing Company, which has two new sours on the menu heading into the warmer months.

First up is the Lime Creamsicle Sour, which comes in at 5% ABV (alcohol by volume) and the brewery calls “the ultimate treat for warm, sunny days.”

Unfortunately for those who are sensitive to dairy, this beer contains lactose to enhance the sweetness, mouthfeel and creaminess.

It’s necessary to give the refreshing lime-flavoured beer an “ice cream twist,” the brewery explains, before each taste finishes with a touch of tart citrus.

Also new from Whistler is the Cherry Sour, which comes in just a tad stronger at 5.5% ABV.

The brewery promises that this one is “big on taste,” powered by cherry and bursting with flavour.

The sourness is balanced by a touch of sweetness and a subtly tart, refreshing finish, which makes it a perfect beer to cap off an adventurous summer day.

Although both are new beers from Whistler, the brewery has been relatively quiet about their releases.

The Lime Creamsicle Sour got a quick Facebook post on May 1, but the brewery hasn’t really said anything about the new Cherry Sour.

Neither are available at BC Liquor Stores, which means you’ll have to scour your local private stores that focus on craft beer in hopes of finding one or both of these bad boys.

You could also shoot Whistler Brewing Company a quick email to inquire about what retail stores in your area might be carrying these products.

Happy hunting!

Josh Duncan is the NowMedia news director and a craft beer lover. Reach him at [email protected]. His beer column appears every Saturday afternoon in this space.