Day 4 of the 6th Annual Advent-ure Calendar
Day 4: Prairie Artisan Ales Seasick Crocodile Sour Ale
When you think of winter/holiday ales you normally don’t think of sour ales and they certainly aren’t for everyone. But, we’re blazing new trails and this calendar is about broadening horizons. Prairie’s Seasick Crocodile is a sour ale with holiday spices including cranberries, ginger, cinnamon & nutmeg. A unique combination that we’re personally very excited about.
Reflections
Ben: I remember trying this last year at a get together and really liking it. The spices were all balanced and the cranberry provided a solid, flavorful background for them all to frolic merrily together. This year’s batch is quite different. Spices are pretty muted, the cranberry is there but barely noticeable, and the finish is way off. It’s almost like they used half the ingredients they did last year. I’ll give this another shot in the future because it was a favorite last year, but my heart did not grow any further sizes with this year’s batch.
Julia: I was SO excited to drink this again last year because I remember it being very delicious and anything by Prairie tends to be good. But oh boy I was wrong. This isn’t terrible but it’s not as good as I remember, something is definitely different. It starts off strong, tasty and full of cranberry. The aftertaste however, is really strange. It’s not a technical term but it is a bit farty. I enjoy the creativity for making a sour with cranberries and holiday spices but it missed the mark this year. I wish it was a little smoother and easier to drink. Even though it’s not for me this year, I will try it again next year.
Adam: Seasick Crocodile is interesting. It doesn’t feel at all like a beer. More like a carbonated version of the cranberries I make but not as good. I make extremely incredible cranB’s.
I get the nutmeg in the smell but the taste is very much cranberries and cinnamon with carbonation. Honestly not reminds me of a cranberry spritzer you might drink with champagne on New Year’s Eve. When people saw other people.
Rest In Peace, Dick Clark.
I wouldn’t order this anywhere but half a beer’s worth not so terrible.
Alex: You’re a mean one… Mr. Grinch. Seasick Crocodile has a fantastic name and a super fun can. I think I like this beer. It tastes like cinnamon cranberries that you would have at a holiday dinner. It’s definitely another non-traditional holiday beer. I probably wouldn’t actively seek it out in the future, but wouldn’t turn one down if offered.
Scott: What a crazy holiday beer and one of the best names with seasick crocodile. I read the description, assumed it would be terrible and totally loved it. It’s sour, spiced, sorta sweet and pink! It’s definitely a unique one that you need to try. Two thumbs up!
Christa: I didn’t like this beer but to be fair to this beer, I am not a sour person. I want to be because I feel such fomo whenever I hear about sours from people who love them. I appreciate the name, the aesthetic, the spices… but it’s just not my cup of sour.
Tony: This one is new and very unique! It’s a sour ale which you don’t see a lot in a holiday beer lineup and it has a light pinkish hue when you pour it. Nothing so far would indicate holiday beer but give it a chance because once you take a sip its a really interesting flavor. I’m going to go out a limb here but my first reaction was it tastes like apple pie. I dont think theres even apples in it but the combination of sour, cranberries, and the cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg spices create this apple pie affect. So if you’re looking for a very non-traditional holiday beer, something outside of the box and fun to try, I would recommend this one.
Megan: Seasick Crocodile definitely gets points for being creative! I can’t remember ever having a Christmas beer with cranberries so that was a fun twist. It says it has notes of cranberry, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. You definitely get the nutmeg and cinnamon but when I smell and taste it, I get cinnamon apple sauce so I’m not sure where that comes from. It’s got a fun and subtle pink hue and isn’t too sour for a sour beer. I like it!
Brad: I’d like to know the backstory of how an Oklahoma brewery decided on the name Seasick Crocodile put on a Christmas sweater backdrop. (After I typed this, Heather explained to me that this is a verse in the Grinch). I haven’t ventured much into sour beers but right when I opened this, I could smell every flavor they mention on the can. It’s a tasty beverage and I can understand why people like sours, it’s just not for me. I’m not saying it’s bad, it’s actually pretty good, just not for me to drink more than one.
Heather: Cranberries, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, indeed. The second your nose gets close, the Seasick Crocodile smells like a Christmas cookie bomb, which isn’t altogether unpleasant. Yet the accost on my tongue is unforgivable. If I drink it in small sips, I can do it. I’m just not into sours, and this one is REALLY sour. Potentially why they reference the Grinch in the name? Cuz he’s so sour? I dunno. But I wouldn’t touch it again with a 39 1/2-foot pole.