450 North SLUSHY XL Sour Diesel 4Pk

450 North SLUSHY XL Sour Diesel 4Pk is a limited-release fruited smoothie sour ale from 450 North Brewing Company, packaged as a 4-pack of 16 oz cans at 8% ABV. Released as part of the brewery's exclusive 420 drop — a nod to cannabis culture reflected in its strain-inspired name — this Berliner Weisse earned a 90 on BeerAdvocate and carries a 4.2 out of 5 rating on Untappd from nearly 4,000 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8%  |  Origin: Columbus, Indiana, USA  |  Style: Fruited Berliner Weisse / Smoothie Sour  |  Brewery: 450 North Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

450 North Brewing Company operates out of Columbus, Indiana, where it has built a cult following for its SLUSHY series — a rotating lineup of heavily fruited smoothie-style sour ales that sell out rapidly upon release. Sour Diesel belongs to the XL tier, which typically features higher ABV and more aggressive fruit loading than the standard SLUSHY cans. This particular batch is built on a Berliner Weisse base and conditioned on a dense blend of blackberry, black currant, boysenberry, and plum, producing a thick, nearly opaque pour that drinks closer to a fruit smoothie than a conventional sour ale.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark berry jam hits first — ripe blackberry and boysenberry dominate — followed by a subtle undercurrent of plum skin and a faint creamy sweetness. There is no discernible hop or grain character on the nose; this is pure fruit from start to finish.

Taste: The entry is immediately thick and juicy, coating the palate with concentrated blackberry and black currant. Mid-palate, the boysenberry and plum converge into a rich, sorbet-like sweetness, layered with hints of vanilla, cream, and fruit roll-up candy. Underneath, a tart backbone of gooseberry and green apple keeps the sweetness in check, though this skews decidedly toward the sweeter end of the smoothie sour spectrum. At 8% ABV, the alcohol is remarkably well-hidden beneath the fruit intensity.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering dark berry sweetness and a gentle lactic tartness that rises at the very end. The mouthfeel stays thick and pulpy through the close, with a sorbet-like texture that fades cleanly.

How to Drink Sour Diesel

Pour directly from the can into a tulip glass or wide-mouth goblet to appreciate the dense color and thick body; drink it fresh, as smoothie sours are not designed for aging. Sour Diesel works best on its own as a standalone sipper, but it can also function in creative beer cocktail applications: try it in a Berry Shandy blended with lemonade for a lighter summer drink; use it as the sour component in a Beer Margarita shaken with tequila and lime for a tart, fruit-forward twist; or float it into a Dark Berry Michelada with tomato juice, hot sauce, and lime for an unexpectedly savory pairing.

Best For

• Collectors of limited-release craft beer seeking exclusive 420 drops
• Sharing with friends who claim they don't like beer but enjoy fruit smoothies
• Summer cookouts and outdoor gatherings where a thick, refreshing sour stands out
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who follows the SLUSHY release calendar

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sour Diesel taste like? Sour Diesel delivers an intensely juicy, smoothie-like burst of blackberry, boysenberry, black currant, and plum, with a thick, pulpy texture and creamy vanilla undertones. A gentle lactic tartness balances the pronounced dark berry sweetness, making it taste more like an alcoholic fruit smoothie than a traditional beer.

How does Sour Diesel compare to other SLUSHY XL variants? Within the 450 North SLUSHY XL lineup, Sour Diesel leans heavily into dark berry territory rather than tropical or citrus fruit profiles found in other variants. Its exclusive 420 release status and cannabis-culture-inspired branding also make it a more collectible bottle compared to the brewery's more frequent rotating drops.

Is Sour Diesel good for beginners? Absolutely — its fruit-forward, smoothie-like character and well-hidden 8% ABV make it extremely approachable for drinkers who are new to craft beer or sour ales. Just be mindful that the alcohol content is higher than it tastes.

Where is Sour Diesel made? Sour Diesel is brewed by 450 North Brewing Company in Columbus, Indiana. The brewery is known nationally for its SLUSHY series of smoothie-style sour ales, which are released in limited batches and distributed primarily in the Midwest.

What foods pair well with Sour Diesel? Dark berry cheesecake complements the matching fruit profile; smoked pork ribs with a tangy barbecue glaze play off the tartness; sharp aged cheddar contrasts the sweetness; fresh goat cheese with honey echoes the creamy, fruity character; and dark chocolate truffles amplify the boysenberry and black currant notes.

What sizes does Sour Diesel come in? Sour Diesel is available in a 4-pack of 16 oz cans, which is the standard format for the SLUSHY XL series from 450 North Brewing.

Is Sour Diesel worth the price? Sour Diesel sits in the premium tier for craft smoothie sours, justified by its limited 420 release scarcity, high fruit content, and strong critical reception including a BeerAdvocate score of 90. For collectors and fans of the SLUSHY series, it represents solid value within the niche of heavily fruited sour ales.

Why Sour Diesel?

What separates Sour Diesel from the dozens of other SLUSHY XL variants 450 North releases each year is its limited 420-themed availability — once it sells out, it does not return in the same form. The blend of blackberry, black currant, boysenberry, and plum produces one of the darker, richer fruit profiles in the XL lineup, landing it a BeerAdvocate score of 90. At 8% ABV with virtually no perceptible alcohol burn, it exemplifies what has made the SLUSHY series a phenomenon in the American craft beer scene: a beer that challenges the very definition of beer, delivering a thick, drinkable experience that converts skeptics and rewards enthusiasts alike.