Crooked Stave Spon Raspberry Sour Ale 750ML

Crooked Stave Spon Raspberry Sour Ale 750ML is a spontaneously fermented American sour ale brewed with raspberries, bottled at approximately 6% ABV in a 750ml format. As part of Crooked Stave's acclaimed Spon series — produced using traditional Lambic-style methods and one of the largest coolships in the United States — this expression represents a serious commitment to Old World brewing tradition executed in the American craft context.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~6%  |  Origin: Denver, Colorado, USA  |  Style: Spontaneously Fermented Raspberry Sour Ale  |  Brewery: Crooked Stave Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Crooked Stave Brewing Company, based in Denver, Colorado, has built its reputation around wild and sour fermentation. The Spon series follows a rigorous Lambic-inspired process: a double decoction turbid mash feeds into a three-hour boil using four-year-old aged whole cone hops, followed by overnight cooling in a 25-hectoliter coolship — possibly the largest in the United States. Fermentation is 100% spontaneous, carried out in 500-liter oak puncheons, where wild yeast and bacteria native to the Colorado environment drive flavor development. The addition of whole raspberries introduces fruit character that integrates with the base beer's tart, funky complexity over months of maturation.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sour raspberry leads immediately, layered with bright citrus and a subtle wild yeast funk. Beneath the fruit, faint oak and mineral notes emerge as the beer warms in the glass.

Taste: The entry is brightly acidic, almost lemony, before authentic raspberry tartness takes hold at the mid-palate. The raspberry reads as true fruit rather than candy-like, supported by a touch of wild yeast complexity and a delicate sweetness that provides balance without masking the sour core. Light mineral and oak tones surface toward the finish.

Finish: Medium in length, dry, and bracingly tart with lingering raspberry and citrus peel. The acidity is assertive but clean, encouraging another sip rather than overwhelming the palate.

How to Drink Spon Raspberry

This beer is best served chilled at 45–50°F in a tulip glass or wine glass to capture the aromatic complexity. It drinks beautifully on its own as an aperitif. For cocktail-adjacent serves, try a Berliner Spritz — topping the beer with a splash of sparkling water and a lemon twist for a lighter session drink. A Sour Shandy combining equal parts Spon Raspberry with fresh lemonade makes a refreshing warm-weather option. It also works in a Beer Mimosa, replacing champagne with this sour ale alongside fresh orange juice for a brunch serve that highlights the raspberry tartness.

Best For

• Sharing with fellow sour beer enthusiasts who appreciate Lambic-style brewing
• Pairing with a cheese course at a dinner party
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who values spontaneous fermentation
• Celebrating a special occasion with a bottle-conditioned, cork-finished format

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Spon Raspberry taste like? Spon Raspberry delivers bright, lemony acidity upfront followed by authentic raspberry tartness, light wild yeast funk, and subtle oak and mineral notes on the finish. It is decisively sour, refreshing, and dry rather than sweet.

How does Spon Raspberry compare to Allagash Coolship Red? Both use coolship-driven spontaneous fermentation with fruit additions, but Crooked Stave operates what may be the largest coolship in the U.S. and ferments exclusively in 500-liter oak puncheons, while Allagash employs a mix of barrel types at their Portland, Maine facility. The Colorado terroir and Crooked Stave's turbid mash protocol create a distinct flavor profile from Allagash's New England-influenced wild ales.

Is Spon Raspberry good for sipping on its own? Yes — it is designed as a contemplative sour ale best enjoyed slowly from a tulip or wine glass, where its layered acidity, fruit character, and oak complexity can fully develop.

Where is Spon Raspberry made? Spon Raspberry is brewed at Crooked Stave Brewing Company in Denver, Colorado, using a coolship to capture wild microflora native to the Front Range environment for spontaneous fermentation.

What foods pair well with Spon Raspberry? Aged goat cheese complements the tart acidity. Charcuterie with fatty salami balances the beer's dryness. Fresh fruit tarts echo the raspberry notes. Pan-seared duck breast with a berry reduction mirrors the fruit-forward sourness. Grilled seafood like shrimp or scallops pairs well with the bright citrus character.

What sizes does Spon Raspberry come in? The standard format for the Spon series is a 750ml cork-finished bottle, consistent with traditional Lambic-style presentation.

Is Spon Raspberry worth the price? Spon Raspberry positions as a premium craft sour ale, and its price reflects the labor-intensive spontaneous fermentation process, extended aging in oak puncheons, and use of whole fruit. Within the American spontaneous ale category, it represents strong value compared to imported Belgian Lambics of similar complexity.

Why Spon Raspberry?

What separates this beer from the crowded American sour market is the uncompromising production method. Crooked Stave's turbid mash, aged-hop boil, and overnight coolship cooldown replicate the centuries-old Belgian Lambic process with remarkable fidelity — but the wild yeast and bacteria come from the Colorado high plains, giving the beer a terroir entirely its own. The raspberry addition reads as genuine fruit rather than extract, integrating with the oak-aged base over months of conditioning. For drinkers who value process-driven brewing and true spontaneous fermentation, Spon Raspberry stands among the most serious American interpretations of the tradition.