Destihl Wild Sour Series 6Pk

Destihl Wild Sour Series 6Pk is a mixed six-pack of kettle-soured ales from DESTIHL Brewery in Normal, Illinois, ranging from 4.2% to 6.0% ABV. DESTIHL ranks among the nation's Top-20 Favorite Sour or Wild Ale Brewers, climbing to #10, and the series has earned Great American Beer Festival medals along with a Top-5 Sour Beer Available designation from Beer Connoisseur Magazine for its Flanders Red expression.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.2–6.0% (varies by style)  |  Origin: Normal, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Kettle Sour Ales  |  Brewery: DESTIHL Brewery

Production & Heritage

DESTIHL Brewery, based in Normal, Illinois, has built its reputation largely on the strength of the Wild Sour Series. The lineup is kettle soured using the brewery's own culture of wild microflora originally harvested from the air in Central Illinois — a technique that ties each batch directly to its terroir in a way few American sour programs can claim. This indigenous mixed culture produces sour, tart, fruity, and floral characteristics that distinguish the series from sours relying on commercially sourced cultures or simple acid additions. Rotating expressions like Synchopathic Apricot, Lemon Tart, and Apple Pie each showcase different fruit-forward profiles while sharing the same wild foundation.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright citrus leads — lemon, lime, and tangerine — layered with tropical notes of pineapple and passionfruit. Depending on the specific expression, expect floral undertones and light funky, barnyard-like complexity from the wild culture.

Taste: The entry is immediately tart and citric, with acidic sour malt providing the backbone. Mid-palate brings fruit-forward intensity that shifts across expressions: grapefruit and orange in some, stone fruit or baking spice in others. A lightly bitter red grapefruit quality balances the acidity and prevents one-note sourness.

Finish: Dry, clean, and refreshingly sharp, with lingering fruit and a faint hint of coriander-like spice. The finish is short to medium, encouraging the next sip rather than lingering heavily on the palate.

How to Drink the Wild Sour Series

These beers drink best well-chilled, poured into a tulip glass or stemmed goblet to concentrate the aromatics. Each expression stands on its own without garnish or embellishment. The Lemon Tart and similar lower-ABV entries work as sessionable warm-weather pours, while the Synchopathic Apricot at 6.0% ABV rewards slower, more contemplative drinking. For those who enjoy beer cocktails, the Wild Sour Series makes an excellent base for a Berliner Weisse-style shandy with elderflower syrup, a radler blended with fresh lemonade to amplify the citrus backbone, or a sour beer mimosa where the tartness replaces traditional orange juice alongside sparkling wine.

Best For

• Introducing craft beer drinkers to the sour and wild ale category
• Summer cookouts and outdoor gatherings where refreshing acidity is welcome
• Gifting to a sour beer enthusiast exploring American wild ale programs
• Pairing dinners where bright acidity can stand up to rich or fatty dishes

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Wild Sour Series taste like? The dominant profile across the lineup is tart, citric acidity balanced by ripe fruit flavors — ranging from lemon-lime and grapefruit to tropical pineapple and passionfruit, depending on the specific expression. A subtle funky, wild character from the indigenous culture adds depth beneath the fruit.

How does the Wild Sour Series compare to Russian River sours? Russian River's sour program focuses on long-aged, barrel-fermented wild ales like Supplication and Consecration, which tend toward deeper complexity and vinous character. DESTIHL's Wild Sour Series uses kettle souring with its own wild microflora for a more fruit-forward, immediately accessible tartness at a generally lower price point.

Is the Wild Sour Series good for beginners? Yes — the kettle-souring method produces a clean, approachable tartness that is less funky and more fruit-driven than many traditional wild ales, making it an excellent entry point into sour beer.

Where is the Wild Sour Series made? The Wild Sour Series is brewed at DESTIHL Brewery in Normal, Illinois, a college town in the central part of the state. The wild microflora culture used in production was originally harvested from the local Central Illinois air.

What foods pair well with the Wild Sour Series? Goat cheese and fresh fruit salads benefit from the beer's matching acidity. Fried chicken or fish tacos are cut through cleanly by the tartness. Lemon-dressed seafood crudo echoes the citric profile. Thai green papaya salad mirrors the sour-fruity balance. Rich pork belly or duck confit finds a bright, palate-cleansing counterpoint.

What sizes does the Wild Sour Series come in? The Wild Sour Series is commonly available as a mixed six-pack of 12 oz cans, with individual expressions also released in single cans or draft depending on market availability.

Is the Wild Sour Series worth the price? The Wild Sour Series positions as a mid-range craft sour that punches above its tier — GABF medals, a Top-5 designation from Beer Connoisseur Magazine, and an 86-rated Synchopathic on BeerAdvocate all suggest strong value relative to other American sour programs that charge significantly more per bottle.

Why the Wild Sour Series?

What separates this lineup from the growing crowd of American kettle sours is the indigenous wild culture. Most kettle sour programs use commercially available Lactobacillus strains for predictable results; DESTIHL harvested its own microflora from Central Illinois air and has cultivated it as the backbone of the entire series. That decision gives the beers a sense of place and a layer of funky complexity that pure kettle sours typically lack. Recognition from the Great American Beer Festival and Beer Connoisseur Magazine confirms this isn't just a marketing story — the liquid delivers a level of character that has earned DESTIHL a top-ten ranking among America's favorite sour and wild ale brewers.