450 North Oil Cup 4Pk

450 North Oil Cup 4Pk is a limited-release fruited kettle sour ale brewed at 5.3% ABV and sold as a 4-pack of cans. Part of 450 North Brewing's sought-after Collector Cup Series, Oil Cup is conditioned on a distinctive five-fruit blend of pineapple, double tangerine, passionfruit, clementine, and prickly pear — a combination that has earned it a 4.3 out of 5 rating on Untappd across nearly 900 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.3%  |  Origin: Columbus, Indiana, USA  |  Style: Fruited Kettle Sour  |  Brewery: 450 North Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

450 North Brewing Company operates out of Columbus, Indiana, where the brewery has built a national reputation around its aggressively fruited sour ales. Oil Cup is produced using a kettle souring method, then conditioned on massive quantities of whole fruit — pineapple, a double dose of tangerine, passionfruit, clementine, and prickly pear. The fruit load is so substantial that the cans can expand and burst if exposed to high temperatures during transit, a testament to the sheer volume of real fruit in each pour. As a Collector Cup Series release, Oil Cup represents a named, limited-edition variant designed to showcase a specific fruit combination rather than a year-round offering.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pineapple leads immediately and dominates the nose, followed by layers of ripe tangerine and tropical passionfruit. A subtle floral sweetness from the prickly pear rounds out the aromatic profile.

Taste: The entry is pineapple-forward and juicy, arriving with a thick, almost puree-like texture that coats the palate. Mid-palate, tart citrus notes from the double tangerine and clementine emerge, balanced by the softer sweetness of passionfruit. The overall impression is tropical and fruit-dense without veering into cloying sweetness.

Finish: A measured tartness lingers on the finish, punctuated by bright orange citrus. The mouthfeel stays thick and slushy through the close, leaving a clean, refreshing acidity.

How to Drink Oil Cup

Oil Cup is best enjoyed cold and fresh — pour it straight from the can into a tulip glass or wide-mouth tumbler to release the full fruit aroma. Drinking it young preserves the vibrancy of the fruit conditioning; this is not a beer built for cellaring. Given its slushy, juice-like character, it drinks well on its own and generally does not require cocktail applications, though it can stand in as a creative beer-tail base: use it in a Shandy paired with lemonade for an amplified citrus punch, as a float in a Michelada for a tropical twist on the classic, or blended into a Beer Slushie with crushed ice to lean into its already smoothie-like texture.

Best For

• Sharing with craft beer enthusiasts who chase limited sour releases
• Summer cookouts and outdoor gatherings where a refreshing, low-ABV option shines
• Gifting to collectors of 450 North's Collector Cup Series
• Introducing adventurous drinkers to the fruited sour style

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Oil Cup taste like? Oil Cup delivers a pineapple-dominant, tropically juicy profile with tart tangerine and clementine citrus and a thick, slushy mouthfeel. It finishes with balanced acidity rather than heavy sweetness.

How does Oil Cup compare to Great Notion's fruited sours? Both 450 North and Great Notion Brewing (Portland, OR) are recognized for heavily fruited kettle sours, but Oil Cup's specific five-fruit blend — especially the double tangerine and prickly pear — gives it a distinctive tropical-citrus lean. Great Notion's fruited sours tend to vary widely by release, though both breweries share a reputation for thick, puree-like textures and bold fruit intensity.

Is Oil Cup good for beginners? Yes — at 5.3% ABV with a juicy, fruit-forward flavor and minimal hop bitterness, Oil Cup is highly approachable for drinkers new to craft beer or the fruited sour style.

Where is Oil Cup made? Oil Cup is brewed by 450 North Brewing Company in Columbus, Indiana. The brewery is known nationally for its rotating lineup of limited-release fruited sour ales.

What foods pair well with Oil Cup? Grilled shrimp tacos complement the tropical fruit notes; fresh ceviche mirrors its citrus acidity; a charcuterie board with mild, creamy cheeses like burrata balances the tartness; coconut-based desserts echo the tropical profile; and spicy Thai dishes benefit from the beer's refreshing, cooling fruit character.

What sizes does Oil Cup come in? Oil Cup is sold as a 4-pack of cans, consistent with 450 North's standard limited-release packaging format.

Is Oil Cup worth the price? Oil Cup positions in the premium tier for craft sour ales, justified by its limited-release status, the high volume of real fruit used in conditioning, and the collectible nature of the Collector Cup Series. For fans of heavily fruited sours, the fruit intensity and quality deliver strong value within the style.

Why Oil Cup?

What separates Oil Cup from the crowded fruited sour field is its specific five-fruit formulation — particularly the use of double tangerine alongside prickly pear, an uncommon addition that brings a subtle floral dimension to an otherwise citrus-tropical beer. The Collector Cup Series format means each variant is a one-time or extremely limited release, giving Oil Cup a scarcity that most shelf-stable sours simply cannot match. With a 4.3 rating on Untappd from nearly 900 reviewers, it has earned genuine consumer enthusiasm rather than relying on hype alone. For drinkers who value fruit-forward intensity, thick texture, and a clean sour backbone at a sessionable 5.3% ABV, Oil Cup represents one of the more compelling entries in 450 North's already celebrated lineup.