Beer Molly Rose & Blackhearts' 2021 Festive Sours

They play nicely at all times do Molly Rose and Blackhearts & Sparrows, but seem to get on especially well when it comes to Christmas. And 2021 is no different as two more collabs appear with season's celebrations in mind.

Tingle Bells is a "Festive Breakfast Sour", albeit not a repeat of the delicious Mimosa-mimicker of a couple of years back. [Note to self: don't forget to order a large bag of oranges and grab some bubbles before the 25th...] The label tells you it's brewed with pineapple and coconut-bringing hops, and it's the former that lead the tropical vibes. A lean, lemony acidity and a tight, drying, semi-bitter finish giving you a palate-cleanser of a beer – one offering a simple start to the day, at least by Molly Rose standards.

The latest Local Horizons is one that unveils its gifts slowly, like a game of pass the parcel played by patient kids. It's a "Festive Farmhouse Sour" barrel-fermented on rosellas (presumably from brewery founder Nic Sandery's parents' Humpty Doo farm) and spiced with pepperberry. If you make a quick pass after pouring you might believe you've got a flighty, chocolaty dark ale in hand. But there are deep herbal and seasonally-appropriate spicy elements awaiting a little warmth, building over time before a funkier top note pipes in too, as a soft acidity works with the gentle carbonation to ensure any footprints it leaves in the snow are faint.

James Smith