Brewery Name: Odell Brewing Co.
Beer Style: Fruited Sour
ABV: 4.5%
Brewed In: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Tasting Notes

Let’s dive into today’s beer — a bright, juicy fruited sour packed with blackberry character.

• Appearance: Deep reddish-purple with a light haze and a pink-tinged head.
• Aroma: Ripe blackberry leads, with hints of raspberry, tart cherry and a touch of citrus. Fresh, juicy and bright.
• Flavour: Blackberry upfront with a gentle sweetness that quickly gives way to a refreshing tartness. Notes of mixed berries and a little lemony lift. The acidity is lively but not harsh, keeping it very drinkable.
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied, smooth and refreshing. Lively carbonation, crisp, fruity and slightly tart on the finish.

This is a fruity, refreshing crowd-pleaser — bright enough for sour fans and soft enough for anyone who prefers gentle acidity over puckering sourness.

About the Brewery: Odell Brewing Co.

Odell Brewing Co. was founded in 1989 by Doug, Wynne and Corkie Odell, making it one of the oldest independent craft breweries in Colorado. What began as a small family operation in a converted grain elevator has grown into a major name in U.S. craft beer, but it has kept its community feel and hands-on approach throughout.

Based in Fort Collins, a city now famous for its brewery culture, Odell built its reputation on balanced, flavour-driven beers — bright pale ales, clean IPAs and expressive seasonal releases. Their philosophy has always been about brewing beer that’s interesting but still incredibly drinkable, with a focus on quality, consistency and thoughtful innovation.

Over the years they’ve expanded with a second taproom in Denver and a pilot brewhouse dedicated to experimentation, but they remain proudly independent and employee-owned. Their taprooms are known for being relaxed, welcoming spaces — patios full of dogs, bikes leaning against picnic tables, live music and a steady flow of small-batch pours.

Their fruited sour series, including Sippin’ Blackberry, shows off the playful side of the brewery. These beers combine real fruit, gentle tartness and clean fermentation to create refreshing, modern sours without harsh acidity. It’s the sort of beer that feels just as at home on a sunny Colorado afternoon as it does in an Irish Advent Calendar.

If you enjoy this one, you’ll find more fruity and refreshing styles in our Sour & Lambic collection and plenty more international favourites throughout our wider craft beer range.

Style Spotlight: Fruited Sour

Fruited sours focus on fresh fruit flavour balanced by gentle tartness — clean, refreshing and extremely drinkable.

Origins: Modern fruited sours take inspiration from Berliner Weisse and kettle-soured styles, where controlled acidity meets bright, natural fruit additions.

Key Characteristics: Expect juicy fruit notes (berries, citrus, tropical fruit), moderate tartness, low bitterness and a light, refreshing body. Colour often reflects the fruit used — in this case, a deep berry hue.

Modern Takes: Brewers now experiment with everything from berry blends to tropical fruit to stone fruit, adjusting acidity to make the beers more approachable. Sippin’ Blackberry sits firmly in that modern, fruit-forward lane — big berry flavour, gentle tartness, no harsh edges.

If You Like This Beer, You Might Also Enjoy…

If Sippin’ Blackberry hits the spot, here are a few fruit-forward and tart options from across TheCru.ie that you might enjoy next:

• Wicklow Wolf Solstice Tropical Sour – bright tropical fruit, soft tartness and a lovely refreshing finish.
• Timmermans Framboise Hibiscus Lambic – fruity, floral and beautifully vibrant with natural raspberry flavour.
• Oso Brew Co Summer Breeze Berliner Weisse – light, zingy and packed with summery berries.
• 3 Fonteinen Platinum Blend – a world-class lambic with layered acidity and elegant fruit character.

These all share the same bright, fruity, refreshing profile that makes Sippin’ Blackberry such a lovely choice for Day 5.

Share Your Experience

Enjoying Day 5?

Snap a photo of your Sippin’ Blackberry pour 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!