🌺 Alvarado Street Brewing - Howzit Punch | Tropical POG Fruited Sour Ale
Short Little History
A staple of Alvarado Street Brewing since 2015, Howzit Punch is their celebrated take on the classic Hawaiian "POG" (Passion fruit, Orange, Guava) juice combination. This iconic kettle sour ale is famous across the country for striking the perfect balance between vibrant, sweet tropical fruit and a clean, refreshing acidity. It has racked up serious hardware over the years, including a Silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival and a Gold medal at the World Beer Cup.
Key Features: Award-Winning Tropical Magic
This isn't an overly thick smoothie sour; it is a bright, effervescent, and highly sessionable fruit ale.
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The Legendary POG Combo: Conditioned on massive amounts of real passion fruit, orange, and guava purees.
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Style: Fruited Kettle Sour Ale (categorized as a Contemporary Gose at GABF due to its bright drinkability).
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Award-Winning Pedigree: Silver Medal winner at the 2020 GABF and a Gold Medal winner at the 2025 World Beer Cup.
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ABV: 5.5% Alc. by Vol.—light enough to enjoy a couple on a warm afternoon.
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Consistency: Alvarado Street prides itself on using the exact same beloved recipe and POG ratio since its debut over a decade ago!
Tasting & Experience Notes
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The Nose: A massive, inviting bouquet of fresh tropical fruit. Pulpy guava and passion fruit hit the nose first, backed up by bright citrus zest.
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The Palate: Mimosa meets tropical punch. There is an immediate burst of juicy, sweet fruit flavor on the tongue that feels rich but never cloying or heavy.
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The Finish: A gentle, sharp acidic snap that cuts through the sweetness and leaves the palate clean, dry, and thoroughly refreshed.
Food Pairing Notes
Because it acts like a sparkling tropical punch with a touch of lime-like tartness, it is highly versatile with food:
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Spicy Eats: Absolute perfection with spicy grilled chicken thighs, jerk pork, or buffalo wings.
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Island Fare: Pairs naturally with Hawaiian poke bowls, spam musubi, or fish tacos.
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Brunch: Makes for an exceptional, outside-the-box alternative to a classic mimosa.
Overall Expression
Howzit Punch is a brilliant, highly accessible sour. It is complex enough to thrill dedicated sour lovers but approachable enough for someone trying the style for the very first time. If you are looking for a beach day or a pool party in a can, this is it.