Sour Beer and Cherry Punch

I discovered sour beer while on vacation in Sonoma. We were dining at Woodfour, a brewery and restaurant in the charming town of Sebastopol. Not only do they serve some of the finest food in town, but they also make fantastic beers, right on the premises. Needless to say, I couldn't resist ordering a tasting flight! The first beer on the lineup was their Berliner Weisse (Berlin White), a German-style beer made with sour mash. Bone-dry, complex and utterly refreshing, this beer reminded me of wine. I was smitten... and sour beers have been a favorite ever since.

Here, sour beer finds its way into a thirst-quenching summer punch! Tart cherry juice, cherry liqueur and light rum mix perfectly with the light beer... and the blend is brightened with a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Light and super-refreshing, it's the kind of punch you'll love to drink on a hot, lazy day.

On a side note, this punch is also delicious (if not slightly sweeter) with any Belgian-style white or pale beer.

Raising a glass of this punch to you... cheers!

Sour Beer and Cherry Punch

serves 4
active time: 10 min

1 1/2 cups (355 ml) tart cherry juice
3/4 cup (175 ml) light rum
1/3 cup (75 ml) cherry liqueur (Maraschino, Cherry Heering or any other cherry liqueur)
1/4 cup (60 ml) fresh lime juice
32 oz (95 cl) Berliner Weisse (Berlin White), gueuze, lambic or any other unflavored sour beer - chilled (alternatively, use a Belgian-style white beer)

Place the cherry juice, rum, cherry liqueur and lime juice in a glass container and refrigerate until very well chilled, 2 hours to overnight. Place the chilled cherry juice mixture in a large pitcher. Add the beer and serve immediately.

Viviane's Tip

You'll want to add the beer just before you serve this punch, so that you can enjoy the beer's delicious, creamy foam in every sip.

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Take another sip: Pomegranate sangria with kumquats!