Cascade Strawberry 750ML

Cascade Strawberry 750ML is a 7.5% ABV American Wild Ale from Cascade Brewing in Portland, Oregon, blending wheat and blonde ales aged in oak wine barrels with strawberries. This now-discontinued expression earned an 89 on BeerAdvocate across more than 500 ratings, solidifying its reputation as one of the Pacific Northwest's benchmark fruit sours.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Portland, Oregon, USA  |  Style: American Wild Ale / NW Sour Ale  |  Brewery: Cascade Brewing

Production & Heritage

Cascade Brewing has operated as a pioneer of the American sour beer movement since 2006 and is widely credited as the innovator of the Northwest Sour Ale style. For Cascade Strawberry, the brewery blended wheat and blonde ales that were first aged in oak wine barrels for approximately seven months, then conditioned on whole strawberries and vanilla beans for an additional eight months — bringing total barrel contact to roughly fifteen months. The use of wine barrels rather than spirit casks gives the base beer a vinous acidity that integrates naturally with the fruit, while the vanilla beans provide a subtle counterpoint to the tartness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright, sweet strawberry dominates on the nose, joined by light candy-like berry notes and a soft vanilla undercurrent. A faint oak presence and mild funk round out the bouquet.

Taste: The entry is crisp and tart, led by ripe strawberry that quickly moves into a moderately funky mid-palate balanced by gentle wheat softness. At peak, fruit-preserve sweetness and tangy acidity vie for attention, with a whisper of oak and vanilla beans adding depth without heaviness.

Finish: The finish is sparkling and refreshingly tart, with lingering fresh berry notes that fade cleanly. A subtle oak dryness emerges in the final seconds, encouraging another sip.

How to Drink Cascade Strawberry

Serve chilled at 45–50°F in a tulip glass or wine goblet to concentrate the aromatics. This sour ale is best enjoyed on its own to appreciate the layered fruit-and-oak character, though it also works in beer-forward mixed drinks. A Berliner Shandy — combining the sour ale with fresh lemonade — amplifies the tartness for warm-weather drinking. A Sour Mimosa, replacing champagne with Cascade Strawberry alongside a splash of orange juice, takes advantage of the beer's natural effervescence and fruit profile. A Berry Radler, blending it with sparkling water and a dash of elderflower liqueur, creates a low-proof, aromatic spritz.

Best For

• Gifting a sour beer enthusiast who collects discontinued releases
• Pairing at a cheese-and-charcuterie gathering
• Celebrating warm-weather milestones with a sessionable yet complex pour
• Adding a rare bottle to a curated sour ale cellar

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cascade Strawberry taste like? Cascade Strawberry delivers bright, tart strawberry flavor balanced by gentle vanilla sweetness, moderate funk, and a light oak backbone from extended wine-barrel aging.

How does Cascade Strawberry compare to Almanac Farmer's Reserve Strawberry? Both are barrel-aged sour ales featuring strawberries, but Cascade Strawberry uses a wheat-and-blonde-ale base aged in wine barrels with vanilla beans, while Almanac Farmer's Reserve Strawberry leans on a sour blonde base aged in wine barrels without vanilla, resulting in a leaner, more purely acidic profile.

Is Cascade Strawberry good for sipping on its own? Yes — its layered complexity of fruit, oak, and vanilla makes it an excellent standalone sipper, especially when served in a tulip glass at cellar temperature to let the aromatics open fully.

Where is Cascade Strawberry made? Cascade Strawberry is produced by Cascade Brewing in Portland, Oregon, a brewery recognized as one of the founding houses of the American sour beer renaissance since 2006.

What foods pair well with Cascade Strawberry? Creamy goat cheese complements the tartness; prosciutto and melon echo its fruity sweetness; dark chocolate balances the acidity with richness; a fresh arugula-and-strawberry salad mirrors the berry notes; and grilled pork with a berry glaze creates a savory-tart bridge.

What sizes does Cascade Strawberry come in? Cascade Strawberry was released in the standard 750ml bottle format commonly used for Cascade Brewing's sour ale program.

Is Cascade Strawberry worth the price? As a discontinued, oak-aged sour ale from a pioneering Northwest brewery, Cascade Strawberry positions in the premium craft tier and holds collectible value for fans of the style, making remaining bottles increasingly sought after.

Why Cascade Strawberry?

Cascade Brewing essentially defined the Northwest Sour Ale category, and Cascade Strawberry stands as one of its most approachable yet layered expressions. The dual-aging process — first in oak wine barrels, then on whole strawberries and vanilla beans — creates a depth uncommon in fruit sours, moving well beyond simple berry tartness into wine-like complexity. An 89 on BeerAdvocate and nearly 13,000 Untappd check-ins speak to its broad appeal and critical respect. With production now ceased, each remaining 750ml bottle represents both a piece of American sour brewing history and a genuinely rewarding drinking experience.