450 North Oil Cup 4Pk

450 North Oil Cup Sour Ale 4-Pack 16oz Cans is a sour ale from Indiana, USA, packaged in four 16oz cans and weighing in at a substantial 10.6% ABV. Brewed by 450 North Brewing Company, Oil Cup stands out within the crowded sour ale category by delivering a high-gravity profile uncommon for the style, signaling an intentionally bold, layered drinking experience.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.6%  |  Origin: Indiana, USA  |  Style: Sour Ale  |  Brewery: 450 North Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

450 North Brewing Company is based in Columbus, Indiana, and has built a regional reputation for fruit-forward and adjunct-heavy sour ales that push past conventional boundaries of the style. Oil Cup is brewed as a sour ale, a category that typically relies on acidulated malt, kettle souring techniques, or mixed fermentation to achieve its characteristic tartness. At 10.6% ABV, this expression sits firmly in the high-gravity tier of the sour ale category, distinguishing it from the lighter, sessionable sours that dominate the market.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Expect the nose to open with the characteristic sharp, lactic acidity of a well-made sour ale, likely layered with fruit-forward sweetness and a yeasty, slightly funky undercurrent. The elevated ABV contributes a warmth that is detectable even before the first sip.

Taste: Entry delivers the bright tartness central to the sour ale style, balanced against a fuller, almost syrupy body that the high gravity brings to the mid-palate. The peak reveals the interplay between acidity and residual sweetness, a hallmark of 450 North's approach to the style.

Finish: The finish is longer and warmer than a standard-strength sour ale, with the 10.6% ABV leaving a gentle heat alongside lingering tart and fruity notes. The close is substantial rather than crisp, rewarding slower drinking.

How to Drink Oil Cup

Oil Cup is best served cold, straight from the can or poured into a tulip or stemmed glass to concentrate the aroma — the high ABV means this is a sipper rather than a session pour. Three cocktail applications worth considering: a Sour Ale Shandy Riff, where the tartness plays well with a squeeze of fresh citrus and a splash of sparkling water to temper the strength; a Beer Margarita, using Oil Cup in place of a sour mix alongside tequila blanco for a fruit-forward twist; and a Sour Float, pairing it with a scoop of vanilla or fruit sorbet to amplify the dessert-like qualities of the high-gravity base.

Best For

• Sharing at a craft beer tasting focused on high-gravity sour styles
• Gifting a fan of Indiana craft brewing or adventurous sour ale drinkers
• Pairing with a weekend cookout where bold, acidic beers complement grilled and smoked foods
• Stocking a home fridge for an after-dinner beer that doubles as a dessert-weight pour

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Oil Cup taste like? Oil Cup is a high-gravity sour ale defined by bright lactic tartness, a fuller body than most sours due to its 10.6% ABV, and a warming finish with lingering fruit and acidic notes.

How does Oil Cup compare to a standard kettle sour like Dogfish Head SeaQuench? Oil Cup's 10.6% ABV places it significantly above the typical kettle sour range — SeaQuench, for example, clocks in around 4.9% — making Oil Cup a heavier, more complex and warming experience by comparison.

Is Oil Cup good for sipping neat? Yes — its high ABV and layered flavor profile make it best suited to slow, deliberate sipping straight from a glass rather than casual session drinking.

Where is Oil Cup made? Oil Cup is brewed by 450 North Brewing Company in Columbus, Indiana, USA, a brewery known regionally for its fruit-forward and adjunct sour ales.

What foods pair well with Oil Cup? Aged cheddar or gouda works well because the acidity cuts through the richness of the cheese; grilled pork or smoked ribs benefit from the tartness acting as a palate cleanser; fresh strawberry or peach desserts echo fruit notes in the beer; and soft-ripened brie pairs naturally with the funky, lactic character of the sour ale style.

What sizes does Oil Cup come in? Oil Cup is available as a 4-pack of 16oz cans; other formats have not been confirmed and may vary by market and release.

Is Oil Cup worth the price? At 10.6% ABV in 16oz cans, Oil Cup positions as a premium craft sour ale — the high-gravity format means each can delivers more than a standard-strength beer, making it a strong value proposition for drinkers specifically seeking bold, full-bodied sours from an established Indiana craft brewery.

Why Oil Cup?

The defining characteristic of Oil Cup is its 10.6% ABV in a style — sour ale — where most competitors land between 4% and 6%, making this one of the more genuinely high-gravity expressions in the category. 450 North Brewing Company has established a clear identity around pushing sour ale conventions, and Oil Cup reflects that ethos directly. The 16oz can format in a 4-pack is well suited to sharing or to the kind of measured, occasion-specific drinking that a beer of this strength warrants. For drinkers who find standard sours too light or fleeting, Oil Cup offers a structurally different proposition: tartness with real weight behind it.