Drekker Chonk + Hydra 4Pk

Drekker Chonk + Hydra 4Pk is a fruited kettle sour ale brewed at 6.8% ABV, sold as a four-pack of cans from Drekker Brewing Company. A collaboration between two of the most acclaimed smoothie sour producers in the American craft scene — Drekker and Mortalis Brewing — this release carries a 4.0 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 2,000 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.8%  |  Origin: Fargo, North Dakota, USA  |  Style: Fruited Kettle Sour  |  Brewery: Drekker Brewing Company (collab with Mortalis Brewing)

Production & Heritage

Drekker Brewing Company, based in Fargo, North Dakota, has built a national reputation for boundary-pushing fruited sours and hazy IPAs. Chonk + Hydra merges Drekker's "Chonk" series with Mortalis Brewing's celebrated "Hydra" line — two flagship smoothie sour programs that share a commitment to intense fruit character. The beer is kettle soured and loaded with raspberry, mango, dragonfruit, toasted coconut, and cream of coconut, yet notably contains no lactose — a deliberate departure from the majority of smoothie-style sours that rely on lactose for body and sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Tropical fruit dominates immediately, with ripe mango and sweet raspberry hitting first. Underneath, toasted coconut adds a warm, almost dessert-like quality, while dragonfruit contributes a subtle melon-like floral note.

Taste: The entry is thick, smooth, and unmistakably fruit-forward — golden mango and kiwi-like dragonfruit arrive early and build toward a peak of vibrant raspberry bramble. Mid-palate, cream of coconut sweeps through with a cool, colada-like richness. Despite the smoothie consistency, a light tartness keeps the sweetness from overwhelming, though this leans decidedly more fruity than sour.

Finish: Medium in length, with lingering coconut cream and tropical fruit sweetness that slowly fades. The mouthfeel stays plush and full-bodied to the last sip, remarkable given the absence of lactose.

How to Drink Chonk + Hydra

Serve cold, straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to appreciate the color and aroma. This is best enjoyed fresh — smoothie sours are not built for cellaring. As a cocktail mixer, the Chonk + Hydra can stand in as the sour component in a Beer Margarita, replacing part of the citrus with its tropical tartness. It pairs naturally with a Shandy-style build alongside lemonade to stretch the fruit flavor on a hot afternoon. For something more experimental, try blending it into a Beer Float with coconut ice cream, which amplifies the existing coconut notes into dessert territory.

Best For

• Sharing with fellow craft beer enthusiasts who track limited-release sours
• Summer cookouts or backyard gatherings where a fruit-forward beer replaces heavier styles
• Gifting to a collector who follows Drekker and Mortalis releases
• Introducing adventurous drinkers to the smoothie sour category without lactose concerns

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Chonk + Hydra taste like? It drinks like a tropical fruit smoothie with prominent mango, raspberry, and dragonfruit flavors layered over creamy coconut richness. The sour character is mild — this is more fruity and sweet than tart.

How does Chonk + Hydra compare to Mortalis Hydra? Both are smoothie-style sours, but Chonk + Hydra is lactose-free, while many standard Hydra variants include lactose for added body and sweetness. The collaboration merges Drekker's Chonk fruit profile with the Hydra blueprint, resulting in a tropical-coconut direction that differs from single-series Hydra releases.

Is Chonk + Hydra good for smoothie sour beginners? Yes — at 6.8% ABV it is approachable in strength, and the fruit-forward sweetness with only mild tartness makes it an accessible entry point into the style, particularly for drinkers who enjoy tropical flavors.

Where is Chonk + Hydra made? It is brewed by Drekker Brewing Company in Fargo, North Dakota, in collaboration with Mortalis Brewing Company out of Avon, New York.

What foods pair well with Chonk + Hydra? Coconut shrimp mirrors the toasted coconut in the beer. Thai mango sticky rice echoes the tropical sweetness. Grilled jerk chicken provides spicy contrast to the fruit. A raspberry cheesecake plays off the berry tartness. Fresh ceviche complements the bright acidity and tropical notes.

What sizes does Chonk + Hydra come in? This release is packaged as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard format for Drekker's fruited sour releases.

Is Chonk + Hydra worth the price? It positions in the premium craft tier, consistent with limited-collaboration smoothie sours from specialty breweries. The lactose-free formulation, high-quality fruit bill, and the pairing of two respected brewing programs justify its standing among top-shelf sour ales.

Why Chonk + Hydra?

The lactose-free construction is the clearest differentiator here. Most smoothie sours lean on lactose to achieve their trademark thick, creamy body — Drekker and Mortalis accomplish the same mouthfeel using cream of coconut and toasted coconut instead, opening this beer to drinkers who avoid lactose by preference or necessity. The collaboration itself carries weight: both breweries are widely considered among the top producers in the American smoothie sour space, and their combined reputation has driven a 4.0 Untappd rating across over 2,000 check-ins. For anyone tracking the evolution of fruited sours, this release represents a technically impressive and genuinely flavorful benchmark.