Brewery Name: DOT Brew
Beer Style: Sour – Fruited
ABV: 4.2%
Brewed In: Dublin 8, Co. Dublin, Ireland

Today’s beer is a bright, expressive Fruited Sour brewed in collaboration with Skellig Six18 Distillery. Built on a base of birch sap and infused with gin botanicals such as juniper and bilberry, Pole Star delivers juicy fruit character with a crisp, refreshing finish — a perfect lift in the middle of Advent.

Appearance: A vibrant pink pour with a gentle haze and lively carbonation. Eye-catching, playful and instantly refreshing to look at.
Aroma: Fresh berry notes, citrus zest and a soft botanical lift. Expect bilberry, hints of juniper and bright red fruit aromas with a clean, tart freshness.
Flavour: Juicy berry flavours upfront, followed by zesty citrus and a subtle herbal depth from the Skellig Six18 botanicals. The birch sap adds a delicate natural sweetness that softens the sour edge without muting it.
Mouthfeel: Light-bodied, crisp and effervescent. The acidity is bright and balanced, finishing clean and fruity with a refreshing snap.

A beautifully vibrant mid-Advent beer — fruity, refreshing and packed with character, offering a welcome twist in the countdown.

About the Brewery: DOT Brew

DOT Brew is one of Dublin’s most innovative breweries, known for its creative approach to blending, maturation and flavour layering. Based in Dublin 8, the brewery takes inspiration from both brewing and distilling traditions, often working with a wide range of barrels and experimental ingredients.

Pole Star is part of DOT Brew’s collaboration series with Skellig Six18 Distillery in Co. Kerry. This partnership brings together gin botanicals and a fruited sour base to create a beer that feels modern, expressive and distinctly Irish. Birch sap, bilberry and juniper all contribute to its unique character, while DOT Brew’s precision ensures that fruit, acidity and botanicals remain in perfect balance.

If you’d like to explore more independent Irish breweries, browse our Irish Craft Beer collection.

Style Spotlight: Fruited Sour

Fruited Sours are designed to be bright, juicy and refreshing, combining natural fruit flavours with lively acidity. They’re ideal for drinkers who enjoy crisp, flavour-packed beers without bitterness or sweetness dominating.

Key Characteristics:

• Light, refreshing tartness
• Expressive berry and citrus notes
• Low to moderate ABV
• Clean, spritzy finish
• Often visually striking, with pink or red hues

If this sounds like your kind of thing, you’ll find more options in our Sour & Lambic section, ranging from softly tart to more intense and complex examples.

Pole Star is a textbook example of the approachable end of the style, offering a vibrant colour, playful fruit character and a refreshing acidity that makes it incredibly drinkable.

If You Like This Beer, You Might Also Enjoy…

For more tart and refreshing styles, explore our Sour & Lambic beers.

To support more independent Irish producers, have a look through our Irish Craft Beer collection.

If you like crisp and bright but prefer less acidity, you might enjoy browsing our Lager, Pilsner & Helles beers.

These make great choices if you enjoy beers with lively fruit character and a refreshing finish.

Share Your Experience

Enjoying Day 11?

Snap a photo of your DOT Brew Pole Star and share it with us — tag @TheCru.ie and use #TheCruIE on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube.
We love seeing where everyone is enjoying their Advent beers throughout December!