Humble Forager Hiking with Pulpit Rock 4Pk

Humble Forager Hiking with Pulpit Rock 4Pk is a pastry hard seltzer brewed at 6.0% ABV, sold as a four-pack of cans, blending Asian citrus fruits with marshmallow and vanilla. This collaboration between Humble Forager Brewery and Pulpit Rock Brewing Company holds a strong 4.2 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 2,300 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.0%  |  Origin: Wisconsin / Iowa, USA  |  Style: Pastry Hard Seltzer  |  Brewery: Humble Forager Brewery x Pulpit Rock Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Humble Forager Brewery operates out of Octopi Brewing in Waunakee, Wisconsin, and was recognized by RateBeer as "Best New Brewer" in Wisconsin in 2020. For this release, they partnered with Pulpit Rock Brewing Company based in Decorah, Iowa. The production process fuses kumquat, calamansi, and yuzu with marshmallows and whole Madagascar vanilla beans — a combination designed to balance tart citrus character with a plush, creamy body that distinguishes it from conventional hard seltzers.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Juicy kumquat and bright calamansi open the nose, followed by herbal, floral yuzu and a soft vanilla sweetness. The overall impression is tropical and inviting without excessive sugar-forward intensity.

Taste: The entry delivers mandarin-orange-like yuzu that washes across the palate, quickly joined by the tart complexity of calamansi. Kumquat adds a tangy depth in the mid-palate, while marshmallow and Madagascar vanilla beans smooth everything into a creamy, balanced sweetness. The balance lands between tart and sweet without tilting too far in either direction.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering vanilla cream and a gentle citrus tang. The mouthfeel remains plush and soft through the close, leaving a clean but flavorful impression.

How to Drink Hiking with Pulpit Rock

Serve cold directly from the can or poured into a tulip glass to appreciate the aroma. This seltzer drinks well on its own but also adapts to light mixing. A Seltzer Spritz — topped with a splash of prosecco and a kumquat garnish — amplifies the citrus aromatics. A Yuzu Paloma riff using this seltzer in place of grapefruit soda plays off its natural herbal-citrus character. A simple Vanilla Citrus Highball built over ice with a squeeze of fresh lime lets the marshmallow and vanilla notes shine alongside the tartness.

Best For

• Warm-weather cookouts and outdoor gatherings where sessionable ABV matters
• Introducing craft seltzer drinkers to the pastry seltzer category
• Pairing alongside brunch dishes that benefit from citrus contrast
• Sharing with friends who enjoy boundary-pushing seltzer and beer hybrids

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hiking with Pulpit Rock taste like? It leads with bright, tangy Asian citrus — kumquat, calamansi, and yuzu — balanced by the creamy sweetness of marshmallow and whole Madagascar vanilla beans. The overall profile is a well-balanced interplay of tart and sweet with an unusually plush mouthfeel for a hard seltzer.

How does Hiking with Pulpit Rock compare to White Claw? White Claw is a straightforward, lightly flavored hard seltzer at 5% ABV, while Hiking with Pulpit Rock is a pastry-style seltzer at 6% ABV that uses exotic citrus fruits and vanilla beans for significantly more body and flavor complexity. The two occupy very different positions within the broader hard seltzer category.

Is Hiking with Pulpit Rock good for sipping on its own? Yes — its balanced tartness, creamy texture, and moderate 6% ABV make it highly approachable straight from the can, especially when served cold.

Where is Hiking with Pulpit Rock made? It is brewed at Octopi Brewing in Waunakee, Wisconsin, under the Humble Forager Brewery label in collaboration with Pulpit Rock Brewing Company of Decorah, Iowa.

What foods pair well with Hiking with Pulpit Rock? Grilled shrimp tacos complement the citrus tang; coconut-based desserts like haupia echo the creamy vanilla notes; fresh poke bowls with citrus ponzu mirror the yuzu and calamansi; light charcuterie boards with soft cheeses balance the seltzer's tartness; and lemon bars create a harmonious citrus-on-citrus pairing.

What sizes does Hiking with Pulpit Rock come in? It is available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this release.

Is Hiking with Pulpit Rock worth the price? It positions as a premium pastry hard seltzer, priced above mainstream seltzers but justified by the use of whole Madagascar vanilla beans, marshmallow, and three distinct Asian citrus varieties — ingredients uncommon at any price point in the category.

Why Hiking with Pulpit Rock?

The collaboration between Humble Forager and Pulpit Rock Brewing brings together two Midwest breweries with distinct strengths — Humble Forager's proven track record in inventive pastry-style beverages (earning RateBeer's 2020 "Best New Brewer" for Wisconsin) and Pulpit Rock's Iowa brewing heritage. The use of kumquat, calamansi, and yuzu alongside marshmallow and whole Madagascar vanilla beans produces a seltzer with genuine layered complexity rather than single-note sweetness. With a 4.2 out of 5 Untappd rating across thousands of reviews, it has earned consistent approval from a broad range of drinkers. For anyone exploring pastry seltzers beyond mainstream options, this release represents the category's creative potential.