Sour beer specialist Vault City Brewing launched a new low-ABV brew to celebrate International Sour Beer Day on Thursday.
It has created the 2.5% ABV Tahiti Treat beer in response to a shift in consumer perception of sour beer. Many are turning to the style as an ‘easy drinking’ option.
The mango, pineapple, lime, and rum flavoured sour was brewed in collaboration with Mash Gang, one of the UK’s premier low- and no-alcohol beer specialists.
It’s one of four new flavours released to mark the international celebration of the growing category, which also includes Dark Fruits Cookie Dough Dreamcake (8.5% ABV), Pineapple Habanero (7.5% ABV), and Lychee and Ginger Session Sour with Lemongrass and Coconut (4.7%).
The Edinburgh-based brewer has already produced more than 45 new beers in 2022 alone, including Triple Fruited Mango and Blueberry Maple, which are the first and third best-selling lines in Tesco’s 440ml craft beer category.
Vault City also recently collaborated with comedian and broadcaster Ed Gamble to launch Canned Laughter, an apple and guava session sour, with 20% of sales donated to the Campaign Against Living Miserably.
The full line-up of International Sour Beer Day releases
The brewery, which recently doubled capacity at its Portobello base to meet surging demand, is also enjoying booming sales in overseas markets. This year it linked up with Amundsden Brewery, in Norway, for its first international collaboration. Export opportunities have also continued to grow following Covid, with Vault City sold widely in the US, Nordic countries, Singapore, and Taiwan, among others.
Steven Smith Hay, co-founder of Vault City, said: “International Sour Beer Day is like Christmas at Vault City, and it’s even more exciting this year as we continue to grow in overseas markets with fans all over the world.
“Our first-ever international collaboration, with Amundsden in Oslo, is one of the highlights of the year for me, and we also won a year-long tender via Cask Norway, with Strawberry Sundae in 440ml cans. It’s one of many international markets that is performing very well for us, and we’ve visited several times to see it for ourselves. It’s special.”
Vault City founder Steven Smith-Hay
He added: “2022 is the year sour beer has truly hit the mainstream in the UK and overseas, and demand from consumers has never been higher from all sections of the market…
“We have more international collaborations in the pipeline, and will also be looking at growing our taproom arm, which has been very successful this year following the launch of the Porty Vault. It’s a great time to be in sour beer and I can’t wait to see the message spread further.”
Vault City turned over £2.4million in the last financial year, and has grown to a team of 25 across its brewery, office, bar, and taproom divisions.
