It has been nearly six months since Sideswipe Brewing debuted on the Columbus brew scene with their kick ass trio of Fisticuffs IPA, Coop Looter Saison, and Elegant Hoodlum Smoked Stout. In that time, myself (and I’m assuming at least half of Columbus) has been awaiting the day of arrival for their newest libation. With the release of Pixelated Sun – a wheat ale loaded with enough citra hops to force the sun out even on the cloudiest day – that wait is finally over. (Author’s Note: I’ve also begun to call this Epic in a Bottle).
Pixelated Sun kicks off the party with a massive cloud of tropical citrus aroma. Passion fruit and grapefruit lead the charge, while hints of peach and mango fill in behind. Fruity sweet notes caress your nose like the gentle touch of an island breeze, before a heavy hop funk picks you up and tosses you into the jungle, complete with damp notes of wet vegetation (don’t worry, there’s plenty of room in the jungle for the party to continue). Beneath the hops, an underlying wheat base creates a softness against the nose, as well as faint vibes of traditional wheat amigos, orange and lemon. The aroma has a prickly sweet quality courtesy of the grapefruit and passion fruit, just like that juicy burst of zest that fills the air when you cut into fresh fruit. The entire bouquet is finished off with a mellow caramel sweetness that ushers the fruits out from under the nose and draws a gentle malt curtain across the first act of this brew performance.
The second act (aptly named The Drink of Champions) starts with even more explosive wonderfulness. Beginning with a huge citra bloom, prickly and mildly sweet notes of passion fruit, mango and peaches hold fast to the palate like a flavorful hug. A touch of grapefruit rind adds a bitter hint alongside the sweetness, but this bitterness is more of a byproduct of the flavors themselves, not just straight hop (you won’t find the keening edge of alpha oils that you would in a pure IPA). The wheat base supports the bright fruits with perfection, pillared by a smoothness that glides over your tongue and allows the flavors to last despite the crispness of the fruits. Gentle touches of lemon and orange once again join up with the tropical hop flavors, creating a rockin’ island party across the mouth. And, as each tastes fades, a faint vibe of caramel ensures that you keep the wheat malts in mind while amongst such bright and fruity revelry.
What is the easiest way to describe Sideswipe’s Pixelated Sun? Epically delicious and perfect for summer. With a Goldilocks level of hoppage and superb blending of wheat and tropical flavors, this brew is as refreshing as finding a bottle of water in the middle of a desert. And, at 6% ABV, it drinks as easy as lounging on the beach. For the perfect experience, I suggest the following steps: Hollow out a pineapple, Pour in Pixelated Sun, Drink like a boss. Tasting like an IPA while drinking like a wheat ale, this brew is one of the tastiest heralds of summer you’ll find, and soon to be the new favorite beer of more than a few people around town.
