Epic Tart 'n Juicy 6Pk

Epic Tart 'n Juicy 6Pk is a kettle-soured India Pale Ale from Epic Brewing Company, packaged as a 6-pack of 12 oz cans at 4.3% ABV. With an 85 score on BeerAdvocate and over 84,000 ratings on Untappd, this session-strength sour IPA has built a dedicated following among tart beer fans drawn to its citrus-forward character and drinkable body.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.3%  |  Origin: Salt Lake City, Utah  |  Style: Kettle-Soured IPA  |  Brewery: Epic Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Epic Brewing Company operates out of Salt Lake City, Utah, with additional brewing capacity in Denver, Colorado. Tart 'n Juicy is produced using a kettle souring technique in which lactobacillus bacteria acidify the wort before the boil, at which point the bacteria are killed off. This step is significant because it allows the brewers to layer generous hop additions on top of the sour base — something that would be impossible with traditional souring methods, since lactobacillus is highly sensitive to isomerized alpha acids. The result is a beer that genuinely bridges the sour and IPA categories rather than simply favoring one over the other.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet citrus leads immediately, with prominent grapefruit and orange peel giving way to softer notes of tangerine and tropical passion fruit. A faint malt sweetness lingers underneath without competing for attention.

Taste: The entry is bright and tart, recalling a fresh bite of citrus fruit — tangerine and grapefruit dominate the early palate. At mid-palate, juicy orange and lemon-lime notes develop alongside a whisper of agave-like sweetness. A subtle hop bitterness emerges toward the peak, grounding the acidity without overpowering it, while a light malt backbone keeps the profile balanced.

Finish: The finish is moderately short and clean, with lingering tart citrus and a slight astringent dryness that invites another sip. No harsh acidity or cloying sweetness carries over, making it remarkably easy to drink through the full six-pack.

How to Drink Tart 'n Juicy

Pour cold into a tulip glass or wide-mouthed pint to let the citrus aromatics open up; drinking straight from the can works fine for casual settings. Its low 4.3% ABV and tart-citrus profile make it an excellent cocktail-adjacent ingredient as well.

• Sour Shandy: Blend with fresh lemonade for a bright, sessionable warm-weather cooler that plays off the beer's natural grapefruit acidity.
• Michelada: The tart citrus backbone stands up well to hot sauce, lime, and Worcestershire, adding complexity that a standard lager cannot.
• Beer Margarita: Mix with silver tequila, triple sec, and fresh lime juice — the kettle-soured base replaces the usual sour mix with far more depth.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and afternoon patio sessions where low ABV matters
• Introducing hop-curious drinkers to sour IPAs without overwhelming bitterness
• Pairing alongside spicy or rich foods that benefit from bright acidity
• Building a craft beer tasting flight featuring sour styles across the spectrum

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tart 'n Juicy taste like? Tart 'n Juicy delivers a pronounced citrus tartness dominated by grapefruit, tangerine, and orange, balanced by subtle malt sweetness and a restrained hop bitterness. The overall impression is like biting into fresh citrus fruit with a smooth, lightly astringent finish.

How does Tart 'n Juicy compare to Dogfish Head SeaQuench Ale? Both are session-strength sour beers with strong citrus character, but SeaQuench Ale blends Kölsch, Gose, and Berliner Weiss traditions with sea salt and black limes, giving it a saline-mineral edge. Tart 'n Juicy leans more heavily into hop-forward IPA territory thanks to its kettle souring method, which allows for bigger hop additions than traditional souring permits.

Is Tart 'n Juicy good for beginners? Its 4.3% ABV and approachable citrus flavor make it one of the more accessible sour IPAs on the market, though drinkers unfamiliar with tart beers should expect genuine acidity rather than a mild tang.

Where is Tart 'n Juicy made? Tart 'n Juicy is brewed by Epic Brewing Company, which was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, and also operates a facility in Denver, Colorado. Distribution originates from these two locations.

What foods pair well with Tart 'n Juicy? Grilled fish tacos benefit from the beer's citrus acidity cutting through rich toppings. Thai green curry finds a refreshing counterpoint in the tart, fruity body. Fresh goat cheese salads echo the tangy profile. Ceviche mirrors the citrus notes for a complementary pairing. Spicy buffalo wings are tempered by the clean, tart finish.

What sizes does Tart 'n Juicy come in? The standard retail format is a 6-pack of 12 oz cans, which is the most widely available configuration.

Is Tart 'n Juicy worth the price? Tart 'n Juicy positions as a mid-range craft beer, priced competitively within the sour IPA category. Its kettle souring production method, consistent flavor execution, and strong community ratings on both BeerAdvocate (85) and Untappd (3.7 out of 5) suggest solid value relative to other specialty sour ales.

Why Tart 'n Juicy?

The kettle souring process is the real differentiator here. By killing off the souring bacteria before fermentation and hop additions, Epic Brewing achieves a hop-forward tartness that most traditionally soured beers simply cannot deliver. That technical advantage translates directly into the glass: bright, layered citrus character with enough hop presence to satisfy IPA drinkers and enough acidity to please sour beer enthusiasts. At 4.3% ABV, it occupies the increasingly competitive session sour space with genuine craft credibility — backed by tens of thousands of community reviews and an 85-point BeerAdvocate score that places it firmly in the "very good" tier for its style.