Style: Kettle or Quick Sour

ABV: 8.5

92/100

Aroma:	11
Appearance:	2
Flavor:	19
Mouthfeel:	4

Pure Project Hydra

What the brewers say

“A multidimensional sensory experience.”

What our panel thought

“Nose leads with hops, while citrus and fruit follow. Sweet lime, dragon fruit, light strawberry flavors come out after an initial hop bitterness. Very well-balanced in the interplay of sour, sweet, and fruit.”

What our editors thought

“The pink color is suggestive, but the nose dives deeper with unexpected fruity hops. On the sip, vaguely pungent and spicy red-berry notes push forward, and the combination of tannin and spice undercut the sweetness. A light hop bitterness helps cleanse the palate.”

Review printed in: Best in Beer 2021 (December-January 2022) (View All Issues)

Print Shelf Talker

How We Review

REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Pure Project Everything Gold May Stay

Raspberry dominates aroma. Light, simple acidity. Hint of raspberry smoky notes. Light notes of sour cherry. Solid, strong acidity. Finish very dry. Tartness and fruit linger.

Pure Project Lief

Gin-like aroma—herbal, floral—with musty lemons and grapefruits balanced by cellar funk. Enticing, bookish. Flavor brings gin botanicals, woody citrus, grapefruit—oddly sweet and bitter, muddling the acidity. Lively mouthfeel on fluffy carbonation, smooth finish. Sticky tobacco-tar bitterness.

Phase Three Brewing P3 Dark Czech-Style Lager

“The roast and chocolate malt nose is almost porter-like, but the flavor rekindles memories of tmavé in Prague. A hint of sulfur in the aroma as it warms. Brown, clear, lovely head that retains well. Pronounced, but soft, toast, milk chocolate, and bread crust. Dark malt melds with plum and cocoa notes to bring pleasant depth, but the finish is clean and smooth. The floral and spicy hop character pushes it farther away from porter, all while staying in perfect harmony. Light fig and cherry from malt esters. Distinct and well-presented flavors, thoughtfully defined with impressive balance. Finishes dry as the toast and chocolate linger. Inviting aroma with flavors that keep you at the table.”

FRESH BEERS >

The best new craft beers available in a beer store near you. Sponsored content.

New Belgium Dominga Grapefruit

New Belgium wood cellar blender Lauren Limbach was gifted a new foeder that she aptly named Dominga—a play on the Spanish word for Sunday. She first created a mimosa-inspired golden sour called “Dominga: Goddess of Brunch.” Now we are excited to introduce the cocktail-inspired version, Dominga Grapefruit Paloma. Inspired by the classic cocktail of Mexico, Dominga packs a refreshing combo of bright grapefruit and lime flavors, along with agave and a pinch of salt.

Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest

Oaktoberfest is our oak-inspired homage to the great German tradition of Oktoberfest. We go the extra mile of maturing this beer in French oak barrels to create an amazingly smooth mouthfeel. The result is a classic German festbier with a hint of West Coast hoppiness. Grab your stein, don your lederhosen, and enjoy!

Firestone Walker Parabola ’24

Parabola is always a beast of a beer, with intense flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, and roast coffee—yet each annual release also bears its own subtle imprint. For this latest edition, we aged the beer for a year in 12-year Elijah Craig barrels. These coveted bourbon barrels imparted signature notes of charred oak, caramel, and cinnamon, taking the Parabola experience to new heights. Pour some out in your favorite snifter; behold the impossibly opaque color as you allow it to warm up a bit; and then let the dark magic of Parabola stun your palate with its unrivaled flavor and complexity.

Sierra Nevada Cosmic Little Thing Hazy Double IPA

For the latest in the Hazy IPA series, ride Sierra Nevada’s interstellar wave of tropical flavor in this Cosmic Little Thing, a hazy nebula glowing with Comet, Strata, and Helios hops for notes of citrus, berries, and lychee. Head into orbit with this 8 percent ABV hazy double IPA before the next Hazy IPA rotator hits. Look for Cosmic Little Thing in six-packs and 19.2 oz singles.

Firestone Walker Cosmic Crusher Juicy Imperial IPA

Out-of-this-world flavor that packs a punch—take a journey with Cosmic Crusher. “Cosmic Crusher is our crazy adventure into the realm of imperial juicy IPAs,” says brewmaster Matt Brynildson. Cosmic Crusher is built around two ultra-tropical hops—Galaxy and Strata. The result is a level of flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel that can only materialize at high strength, crossing the line into a whole new cosmos of punchy mango and pineapple character. SKUs available: 12 oz six-pack cans, 19.2 oz single serve, and Mind Haze Variety Pack.

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion

Luponic Distortion is the Firestone Walker trailblazer that continues to break the rules, back for the first time since 2021. The classic Luponic Distortion base recipe returns with an all-new hop blend to deliver a fresh blast from the past. Brewed with a secret blend of new-age hops, the 2024 edition of Luponic Distortion turns up the volume with mind-bending flavors of lychee, peach, nectarine, and strawberry. Available exclusively in the Beer Before Glory IPA Mixed Pack.