Prairie Artisan Rainbow Sherbet Sour 4Pk

Prairie Artisan Rainbow Sherbet Sour 4Pk is a fruited sour ale brewed with raspberry, pineapple, and orange at 5.2% ABV, sold in a four-pack of cans. It earned an 89 score on BeerAdvocate and holds a 3.9 out of 5 rating on Untappd across nearly 80,000 reviews — a testament to its broad, enthusiastic following. This is Prairie Artisan Ales' single best-selling beer, outselling every other release in their portfolio including their acclaimed Bomb! imperial stout.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.2%  |  Origin: Krebs, Oklahoma, USA  |  Style: Fruited Sour Ale  |  Brewery: Krebs Brewing Co. / Prairie Artisan Ales

Production & Heritage

Prairie Artisan Ales operates out of Krebs, Oklahoma, where brewing is handled at Krebs Brewing Co. The brand built its reputation on bold, experimental releases — most notably the Bomb! imperial stout — but Rainbow Sherbet Sour has since eclipsed every other beer in the lineup by sales volume. The recipe adds raspberry, pineapple, and orange to the sour base, aiming to replicate the flavor profile of a melted rainbow sherbet ice cream cone. The result is a light-bodied, fizzy, tart ale that bridges the gap between nostalgic dessert flavors and genuine sour-beer tartness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Candied orange leads the nose, followed by a rush of tropical fruit and mixed berry that recalls a bag of hard fruit candies. Pineapple and tangerine round out the bouquet with bright, citrus-forward sweetness.

Taste: The entry is an immediate burst of lemon, lime, and orange — distinctly tart and juicy. Mid-palate, candied raspberry and pineapple emerge alongside subtle tangerine and peach notes. A very light creaminess and hint of vanilla appear late, tempering the acidity without making the beer heavy.

Finish: The finish is crisp, short, and refreshingly tart, with lingering citrus peel and faint berry sweetness. Light body and fizzy carbonation keep it clean and drinkable through the entire pour.

How to Drink Rainbow Sherbet Sour

Serve it cold — around 38–42°F — straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to concentrate the fruit aromatics. It drinks exceptionally well on its own given its low 5.2% ABV and built-in balance of sweet and tart. For cocktail-adjacent serves, try a Beer-mosa by replacing the sparkling wine with this sour for a fruitier, lower-ABV brunch drink. A Sour Shandy works well too — mix half Rainbow Sherbet Sour with fresh lemonade for a summer cooler. It also stands in beautifully as the beer component in a Fruited Radler, paired with grapefruit juice, where its existing citrus notes amplify the mix naturally.

Best For

• Introducing craft-curious friends to sour ales with a familiar, approachable flavor
• Warm-weather patio sessions where low ABV and high refreshment matter
• Pairing with dessert courses at casual dinner parties
• Gifting to someone who loves fruited sours or nostalgic flavor profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rainbow Sherbet Sour taste like? It tastes like a tart, fizzy version of melted rainbow sherbet — bright lemon, lime, orange, and raspberry up front with a subtle vanilla creaminess on the back end. The tartness is moderate and the body stays light, making it highly drinkable.

How does Rainbow Sherbet Sour compare to Prairie Slush? Both are fruited sours from Prairie Artisan Ales, but Rainbow Sherbet Sour leans more heavily into citrus and berry with a sherbet-like sweetness, while Slush tends toward a frozen-drink-inspired fruit profile. Rainbow Sherbet Sour has a broader following, with nearly 80,000 ratings on Untappd compared to Slush's more limited reach.

Is Rainbow Sherbet Sour good for beginners? Yes — its fruit-forward character, moderate tartness, and low 5.2% ABV make it one of the most accessible entry points into the fruited sour category. Drinkers who enjoy fruit juice or citrus-flavored seltzers will find familiar ground here.

Where is Rainbow Sherbet Sour made? It is brewed at Krebs Brewing Co. in Krebs, Oklahoma, which serves as the production facility for Prairie Artisan Ales. The beer is now distributed and sold internationally.

What foods pair well with Rainbow Sherbet Sour? Key lime pie complements the citrus tartness naturally. Grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa echo the tropical fruit notes. Fresh goat cheese or a mild chèvre balances the acidity with creamy richness. Lemon bars mirror the bright citrus character. Coconut panna cotta provides a smooth, sweet contrast to the beer's tartness.

What sizes does Rainbow Sherbet Sour come in? The standard retail format is a four-pack of cans, which is the most widely available size across distribution.

Is Rainbow Sherbet Sour worth the price? It positions comfortably in the mid-range craft sour tier and delivers strong value given its complexity and drinkability. As Prairie's best-selling beer with strong critical ratings — 89 on BeerAdvocate and 86 from Craft Beer & Brewing — it justifies its price point relative to comparable fruited sours on the market.

Why Rainbow Sherbet Sour?

This is not just another fruit-dumped sour riding a trend — it is the single highest-volume beer from a brewery that made its name on an imperial stout. That kind of crossover success speaks to genuine quality and broad appeal. An 89 on BeerAdvocate and nearly 80,000 Untappd ratings confirm that the enthusiasm extends well beyond casual drinkers. The combination of real fruit additions — raspberry, pineapple, and orange — layered over a tart, light-bodied sour base creates something that genuinely evokes its namesake dessert without relying on artificial sweetness or heavy lactose. In a crowded fruited sour market, Rainbow Sherbet Sour remains one of the most recognized and consistently well-reviewed options available.