Razzle Dazzle Nitro Sour Ale w/Raspberry and Vanilla

Razzle Dazzle Nitro Sour Ale w/Raspberry and Vanilla. That name is basically a sentence. The beer, a 6% brew from Toronto’s Blood Brothers Brewing, comes in 355mL cans that are, as always from BB, super stylish.

The beer directs its drinker to “shake before pouring”, because this potion is thick. Even rattled (but not fully shaken), the beer left some serious sediment in its can. It’s a vibrant plum-coloured ale that pours with a pink-hued head. The nose is quirkily balanced between sweet-as-can-be vanilla and tart red berry. The flavour keeps the party going, although the result is a bit overwhelming. The raspberry tartness doesn’t really get off the ground before the vanilla sweetness cuts its legs out. The finish is sweet, fruity, and short.

The real keystone that makes Razzle Dazzle so engaging—more than its liberal use of raspberry (which I love)—is it’s smooth texture. This beer is sour velvet. In truth, I’d have cut the vanilla element completely, or else reduced it significantly, because I found the result a bit too sweet and a smooth, sour razzer without the sweetness would be exquisite. Still, this beer is worthy of praise for its innovative style and execution.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.