Off Color Yuzu Fierce 4Pk

Off Color Yuzu Fierce 4Pk is a 3.8% ABV Berliner Weisse brewed with yuzu and calamansi, sold as a four-pack of cans. Scoring a 92 on BeerAdvocate across 227 ratings, this fruited sour wheat beer has earned a strong reputation among sour beer enthusiasts for its layered citrus character and clean lactic tartness.

Quick Facts: ABV: 3.8%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Berliner Weisse  |  Brewery: Off Color Brewing

Production & Heritage

Off Color Brewing operates out of the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, and has built a following around unconventional styles that draw from European brewing traditions. Yuzu Fierce begins as a wheat beer that is entirely batch soured using the brewery's house Lactobacillus strain, then pasteurized and fermented with a farmhouse ale yeast — a deliberate two-stage process that separates the souring and fermentation phases for greater control. After primary fermentation, yuzu and calamansi puree is added directly to the fermenter, triggering a quick refermentation that integrates the citrus character deeply into the beer rather than treating it as a simple flavoring addition.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright yuzu zest leads into softer notes of lemon peel and orange flesh. A faint cracker-like wheat quality sits beneath the citrus, grounding the aromatics with subtle grain character.

Taste: The entry is immediately tart, driven by clean lactic acidity and a burst of yuzu that reads somewhere between lime and grapefruit. At mid-palate, calamansi adds a juicy, almost tropical citrus sweetness that balances the sourness without masking it. Faint farmhouse yeast esters contribute a dry, fruity complexity that prevents the beer from becoming one-dimensional.

Finish: Short to medium in length, with lingering tart citrus and a dry, refreshing close. A whisper of earthy tea-like character emerges as the acidity fades, leaving the palate clean and ready for another sip.

How to Drink Yuzu Fierce

Serve cold, ideally between 38–45°F, straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to concentrate the citrus aromatics. At 3.8% ABV, this is a sessionable beer meant for leisurely drinking. It also works well in beer cocktails: try it in a Berliner Shandy topped with a splash of sparkling lemonade for amplified citrus; in a Radler mixed half-and-half with grapefruit juice for a brunch-ready serve; or as a base for a Beer Mimosa, where its tartness stands in for champagne alongside fresh orange juice.

Best For

• Warm-weather sessions on a patio or rooftop
• Introducing sour beer newcomers to the Berliner Weisse style
• Pairing with light summer meals like ceviche or grilled seafood
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who gravitates toward tart, fruit-forward styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Yuzu Fierce taste like? Yuzu Fierce delivers a bright, tart citrus profile anchored by clean lactic acidity, with dominant yuzu and calamansi flavors that range from lime to grapefruit, balanced by subtle wheat cracker and dry farmhouse yeast character.

How does Yuzu Fierce compare to Creature Comforts Athena Paradiso? Both are fruited Berliner Weisse ales available in four-pack cans, but Yuzu Fierce sits lower at 3.8% ABV versus Athena Paradiso's 4.5%, making it more sessionable. Yuzu Fierce also relies on a specific two-citrus combination of yuzu and calamansi, while Athena Paradiso rotates through various fruit additions across its different releases.

Is Yuzu Fierce good for sour beer beginners? Yes — the low ABV, approachable citrus flavors, and balanced tartness make it an accessible entry point into sour beer without the aggressive funk or vinegar edge found in wilder styles like lambics or Flanders reds.

Where is Yuzu Fierce made? Yuzu Fierce is brewed by Off Color Brewing in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The brewery produces all of its beers in Chicago using its own house yeast and bacteria cultures.

What foods pair well with Yuzu Fierce? Fresh ceviche or poke bowls complement its citrus tartness. Light seafood dishes like grilled shrimp or oysters echo its briny, clean acidity. Soft goat cheese or fresh chèvre mirrors the lactic character. Thai or Vietnamese salads with lime dressing harmonize with the yuzu and calamansi. Lemon tarts or citrus sorbets make a natural dessert pairing.

What sizes does Yuzu Fierce come in? Yuzu Fierce is commonly available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this release.

Is Yuzu Fierce worth the price? Yuzu Fierce positions as a craft sour beer at a reasonable price point for the category, and its 92 BeerAdvocate score and distinctive two-citrus refermentation process justify its standing among well-regarded fruited Berliner Weisse ales.

Why Yuzu Fierce?

What separates Yuzu Fierce from the crowded field of fruited sours is its deliberate two-stage production process — batch souring with a proprietary Lactobacillus strain followed by farmhouse yeast fermentation — which delivers a cleaner, more controlled tartness than kettle-soured shortcuts. The post-fermentation addition of both yuzu and calamansi puree creates a layered citrus complexity that goes beyond the single-fruit approach common in the style. A 92 score on BeerAdvocate across hundreds of ratings confirms that this is not a novelty but a well-executed interpretation of Berliner Weisse. At 3.8% ABV, it manages to pack serious flavor into a sessionable, highly drinkable package.