Shortfuse Very Bad Kids 4Pk

Short Fuse Very Bad Kids 4-Pack is a fruited sour ale brewed with watermelon Sour Patch Kids candy and watermelon puree, coming in at 5.5% ABV. Produced by Short Fuse Brewing Company out of Schiller Park, Illinois, this release has earned a solid 3.8 out of 5 rating across more than 1,260 reviews on Untappd, establishing it as one of the brewery's standout limited offerings in the candy-inspired sour category.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.5%  |  Origin: Schiller Park, Illinois  |  Style: Fruited Sour Ale  |  Brewery: Short Fuse Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Short Fuse Brewing Company operates out of Schiller Park, a suburb just west of Chicago, and has built a following around bold, experimental beer styles that push past convention. Very Bad Kids belongs to the brewery's lineup of adjunct-driven sour ales, a category that has become a signature for the brand. The brewing process incorporates actual watermelon-flavored Sour Patch Kids candy directly into the kettle alongside watermelon puree, creating a layered sweetness-to-tartness profile that distinguishes it from standard fruit sours relying solely on juice or natural fruit additions.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright, candied watermelon hits first, followed by a gentle lactic tang and a faint suggestion of sugar dust reminiscent of the candy itself. The nose is unmistakably sweet but carries enough acidic edge to signal that this is a proper sour ale, not a flavored malt beverage.

Taste: The entry is juicy and pronounced with ripe watermelon sweetness that quickly transitions into a tart, puckering mid-palate. As the sourness builds, there is a distinct candy-like quality—an almost powdery sweetness that mirrors biting into a Sour Patch Kid. The balance between the fruit puree's natural character and the candy's artificial watermelon keeps the palate engaged without becoming cloying.

Finish: Medium in length with a clean, tart snap that dries out the residual sweetness. A lingering watermelon note persists alongside a gentle sour tang that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Very Bad Kids

Serve cold, ideally around 38–42°F, poured into a tulip glass or wide-mouth stemless glass to let the watermelon aromatics open up. Drinking straight from the can works equally well for casual sessions. A Beer-Rita variation blends well here—combine with a splash of lime juice and a salted rim for a tart, refreshing hybrid. A Shandy format with fresh lemonade stretches the sourness into a crushable summer drink. For something unexpected, use it as the sour component in a Berliner Weisse-style float with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, where the candy-like watermelon plays off the cream beautifully.

Best For

• Sharing at backyard cookouts and warm-weather gatherings where easy-drinking sours shine
• Gifting to craft beer fans who chase limited, candy-inspired adjunct releases
• Introducing sour ale skeptics to the style through a familiar, approachable flavor
• Building a tasting flight of fruited sours alongside other adjunct-heavy ales

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Very Bad Kids taste like? Very Bad Kids delivers a pronounced, juicy watermelon sweetness up front that gives way to a tart, sour-candy finish reminiscent of the Sour Patch Kids it's brewed with. The overall profile is fruity, tangy, and playful without being overwhelmingly sweet.

How does Very Bad Kids compare to other fruited sour ales? Unlike many fruited sours that rely on natural fruit additions alone, Very Bad Kids incorporates actual Sour Patch Kids candy alongside watermelon puree, giving it a distinctive candy-like character on top of the fruit tartness. This dual approach results in a more layered sweetness than a straightforward kettle sour with juice.

Is Very Bad Kids good for sour ale beginners? Yes—its candy-forward watermelon flavor and moderate 5.5% ABV make it highly approachable for drinkers who are new to sour styles. The familiar Sour Patch Kids reference point helps bridge the gap between conventional beers and more aggressively tart sour ales.

Where is Very Bad Kids made? Very Bad Kids is brewed by Short Fuse Brewing Company in Schiller Park, Illinois, a village in the western suburbs of Chicago. The brewery produces its full lineup at this Illinois facility.

What foods pair well with Very Bad Kids? Grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa complement the watermelon tartness without competing for attention. A fresh arugula and goat cheese salad mirrors the beer's tangy profile. Spicy Nashville hot chicken creates a sweet-heat contrast that works especially well. Light vanilla desserts like panna cotta or cheesecake let the sour-candy character stand on its own as a counterpoint to the cream.

What sizes does Very Bad Kids come in? Very Bad Kids is available as a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this release from Short Fuse Brewing Company.

Is Very Bad Kids worth the price? Very Bad Kids positions within the mid-range tier for specialty adjunct sour ales, a category where candy-infused and pastry-style releases often command a premium. Its consistent Untappd rating of 3.8 across more than 1,260 reviews suggests strong consumer satisfaction relative to its price point in the craft sour market.

Why Very Bad Kids?

What separates Very Bad Kids from the crowded field of fruited sours is the literal use of Sour Patch Kids candy as a brewing ingredient alongside real watermelon puree—a production choice that goes beyond simple flavoring and gives the beer a texture and sweetness profile difficult to replicate with fruit alone. Short Fuse Brewing has leaned into this approach with conviction, and the Untappd community has responded accordingly, rating it 3.8 out of 5 with well over a thousand reviews. At 5.5% ABV, it sits in a sessionable range that makes it practical for extended drinking occasions without sacrificing the bold, candy-driven intensity that defines the release. For drinkers drawn to experimental sour ales that deliver a specific, recognizable flavor with real brewing craft behind it, this is a four-pack that delivers on its promise.