Phase Three Double Nectar: Fruit Punch 4Pk

Phase Three Double Nectar: Fruit Punch 4Pk is a 7.8% ABV imperial fruited sour ale from Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois, sold as a four-pack. This release amplifies the brewery's popular Nectar series with a six-fruit combination of passion fruit, pink guava, mango, sweet cherry, tangerine, and key lime, delivering a smoothie-like body and intensified tartness that has made the Double Nectar line a sought-after pickup among fruited sour enthusiasts.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.8%  |  Origin: Lake Zurich, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Imperial Fruited Sour Ale  |  Brewery: Phase Three Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Phase Three Brewing Company operates out of Lake Zurich, a suburb northwest of Chicago, and has built a reputation for aggressively fruited sour ales and hazy IPAs. The Double Nectar series represents the imperial-strength tier of their core Nectar lineup, brewed with a heavier fruit charge and a higher ABV than the standard editions. Fruit Punch specifically uses real passion fruit, pink guava, mango, sweet cherry, tangerine, and key lime added during production, resulting in the thick, smoothie-style mouthfeel that defines the Double Nectar family.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe tropical fruit leads immediately — pink guava and mango dominate the nose, followed by a citrus lift of tangerine and key lime. Beneath the fruit sits a subtle lactic tartness that signals the sour base without overpowering the fruit-forward character.

Taste: The entry is thick and pulpy, with mango and passion fruit flooding the palate. Mid-palate, pink guava and tangerine introduce a tangy brightness that prevents the sweetness from becoming cloying. Sweet cherry emerges toward the peak, adding a layer of stone-fruit depth that rounds out the tropical punch.

Finish: Medium in length with a tart, citrus-driven fade anchored by lingering key lime and guava. The mouthfeel remains creamy and smoothie-like through the close, leaving a clean acidity that invites another sip.

How to Drink Double Nectar: Fruit Punch

Pour cold into a tulip glass or wide-mouth goblet to release the full tropical aromatics; drinking directly from the can mutes the nose considerably. This beer is best enjoyed fresh and on its own, but it also works well in beer-based mixed drinks. Try it in a Berliner Weisse-style shandy topped with a splash of sparkling water for a lighter serve, in a beer float over vanilla ice cream where the tartness cuts through the richness, or blended into a beer smoothie with frozen mango and banana for a brunch-worthy treat.

Best For

• Sharing with friends who gravitate toward fruit-forward, smoothie-style sours
• Summer cookouts and outdoor gatherings where refreshing acidity is welcome
• Introducing craft beer newcomers to the fruited sour category
• Trading or gifting among collectors of limited-run Illinois craft beer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Double Nectar: Fruit Punch taste like? It drinks like a tangy-sweet tropical fruit smoothie built on a tart sour ale base, with dominant mango, guava, and passion fruit flavors balanced by citrus acidity from tangerine and key lime.

How does Double Nectar: Fruit Punch compare to Frequentem Brewing's fruited sours? Both breweries produce heavily fruited sour ales with smoothie-like textures, but Phase Three's Fruit Punch uses a six-fruit combination and sits at 7.8% ABV as an imperial-strength release, while many Frequentem offerings use fewer fruits and tend toward lower ABVs. The broader fruit bill in Fruit Punch gives it a more layered, punch-bowl complexity.

Is Double Nectar: Fruit Punch good for sipping on its own? Yes — the thick, smoothie-style body and balanced tartness make it highly drinkable as a standalone pour, though its 7.8% ABV warrants pacing over a session.

Where is Double Nectar: Fruit Punch made? It is brewed by Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois, a suburb located approximately 40 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.

What foods pair well with Double Nectar: Fruit Punch? Grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa mirror the tropical fruit profile; a sharp aged cheddar contrasts the tartness nicely; coconut rice pudding complements the guava and passion fruit; spicy Thai papaya salad plays off the citrus acidity; and a charcuterie board with soft goat cheese and dried apricots bridges sweet and tart elements.

What sizes does Double Nectar: Fruit Punch come in? This release is available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard format for Phase Three's fruited sour releases.

Is Double Nectar: Fruit Punch worth the price? It positions as a premium craft sour ale within a competitive Illinois brewing scene; the imperial-strength base, six-fruit combination, and smoothie-style body place it in the upper tier of fruited sours, and drinkers who value heavy fruit character and thick mouthfeel will find strong justification in the quality of the liquid.

Why Double Nectar: Fruit Punch?

Phase Three has earned a dedicated following among fruited sour collectors, and the Double Nectar series represents the most intensified expression of that specialty. Fruit Punch stands apart within the lineup by layering six distinct fruits — passion fruit, pink guava, mango, sweet cherry, tangerine, and key lime — into a single imperial-strength base, creating a complexity that single- or dual-fruit sours rarely achieve. The smoothie-like viscosity and balanced tartness demonstrate a controlled hand with fruit additions, avoiding the one-note sweetness that plagues lesser entries in the style. For anyone serious about heavily fruited sour ales, this is one of the more ambitious and well-executed releases coming out of the Chicago-area craft scene.