Crooked Stave Fruity Stripes 6Pk

Description

Crooked Stave Fruity Stripes 6Pk is a fruited sour ale brewed in Denver, Colorado, at 4.5% ABV, sold as a six-pack of 12 oz cans. Fermented with Crooked Stave’s proprietary house mixed-culture of Brettanomyces, this sessionable sour delivers unmistakable tropical fruit character reminiscent of the classic Fruit Stripe gum that inspired its name.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.5% | Origin: Denver, Colorado, USA | Style: Fruited Sour | Brewery: Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project

Production & Heritage

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project was founded in Denver, Colorado, with a singular focus on wild and sour beer fermentation. The brewery built its reputation around house mixed-cultures of Brettanomyces, a wild yeast strain that imparts the earthy, funky complexity found across the entire lineup. Fruity Stripes is conditioned with a small amount of live yeast in each can to maintain maximum freshness, a detail that underscores the brewery’s commitment to delivering an authentic, evolving product rather than a pasteurized facsimile of sour beer.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens immediately with bright tropical fruit passionfruit and guava dominate, layered over a tart, slightly acidic backbone. A playful, candy-like sweetness surfaces that closely mirrors the scent of Fruit Stripe gum, making the beer’s name instantly recognizable on the first sniff.

Taste: The palate follows the aromatics faithfully: passionfruit arrives first, juicy and pronounced, followed by hints of guava and a broad tropical tartness. Mid-palate, an earthy and slightly funky quality emerges from the Brettanomyces fermentation, adding dimension and pulling the beer away from one-note fruit juice territory. The body is medium-light with moderate carbonation, keeping it refreshing and easy to drink.

Finish: The finish lands slightly dry, with lingering tropical tartness and a clean, crisp exit. On the exhale, that nostalgic Fruit Stripe gum character reappears, a signature flourish that distinguishes this beer from the crowd.

How to Drink Fruity Stripes

Serve cold, straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to concentrate the tropical aromatics. At 4.5% ABV, this is built for extended sessions rather than slow sipping. It works well as a Berliner Weisse substitute with a splash of fruit syrup for extra sweetness. Try it in a Beer-mosa blended with fresh orange juice where the tartness replaces the champagne’s acidity. It also makes a surprisingly effective base for a Sour Shandy, mixed with lemonade and a sprig of mint, since the guava and passionfruit harmonize naturally with citrus.

Best For

• Introducing a craft-curious friend to the world of sour beer
• Warm-weather backyard sessions where low ABV and high flavor matter
• Pairing with spicy food at a taco night or barbecue gathering
• Gifting to a sour beer enthusiast looking for something playful and well-made

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Fruity Stripes taste like? Fruity Stripes delivers bright passionfruit and guava flavors over a tart, lightly funky base, finishing slightly dry with a nostalgic Fruit Stripe gum character on the exhale.

How does Fruity Stripes compare to other fruited sours? Unlike many mass-market fruited sours that rely on puree additions and kettle souring, Fruity Stripes draws its complexity from Crooked Stave’s house Brettanomyces culture, which adds an earthy, funky dimension beneath the tropical fruit. This gives it more depth and a drier finish than typical fruit-forward kettle sours.

Is Fruity Stripes good for sour beer beginners? Yes at 4.5% ABV with prominent tropical fruit sweetness upfront, it serves as an approachable entry point into sour beer without overwhelming acidity or intense funkiness.

Where is Fruity Stripes made? Fruity Stripes is brewed at Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project in Denver, Colorado, a brewery dedicated to wild and sour fermentation techniques.

What foods pair well with Fruity Stripes? The tropical tartness pairs naturally with spicy Thai green curry, where the acidity cuts through coconut cream richness. It complements fresh ceviche, grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa, soft goat cheese with honey, and fruit-forward desserts like key lime pie.

What sizes does Fruity Stripes come in? Fruity Stripes is commonly available as a six-pack of 12 oz cans.

Is Fruity Stripes worth the price? Fruity Stripes positions as a mid-range craft sour, and the use of house Brettanomyces mixed-culture fermentation and live yeast conditioning in each can places it above the many simpler kettle sours occupying the same shelf space, delivering genuine complexity at a reasonable price point for the style.

Why Fruity Stripes?

What separates Fruity Stripes from the wave of fruited sours flooding the market is its fermentation pedigree. Crooked Stave’s house Brettanomyces culture the foundation of every beer they produce gives this ale an earthy, funky undertone that prevents it from reading as simple fruit-flavored seltzer. The addition of live yeast in each can means the beer continues to develop subtle character, rewarding drinkers who pay attention. At 4.5% ABV, it manages to be both sessionable and genuinely interesting, a balance that many fruited sours attempt but few achieve.