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COOLSHIP CHAOS 2017

Beachwood Brewing
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🌍 United States · Belgian Sour · One of 5 Belgian Sours in hopIQ

Coolship Chaos 2017 is a spontaneously fermented sour ale from Beachwood Brewing, the celebrated Long Beach, California craft institution. This Southern Californian take on old-world lambic tradition pours a hazy golden amber with a wispy, evanescent head. The aroma is immediately captivating — layers of tart citrus peel, barnyard funk, wild yeast, and a whisper of oak drift from the glass. On the palate, bright acidity drives waves of green apple, lemon zest, and earthy brett character, balanced by a subtle vinous depth that speaks to patient coolship fermentation. The finish is dry, long, and pleasantly astringent, with lingering funk and fruit. A genuine expression of spontaneous fermentation rooted firmly in California sunshine.

ABV
6.7%
Bitterness
Mild
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Crisp and dry.

A direct pour that closes clean — trim and sharp, working together to keep things moving.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Belgian Sour.
Hop character
citrusy
earthy
Fermentation & yeast
funky
sour
tart
yeasty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
mineral
oak
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#7 of 50The Best American Sours

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for COOLSHIP CHAOS 2017

Appearance

A hazy golden amber that catches light with a soft, translucent glow. The wispy head forms delicately and recedes quickly, leaving minimal lacing on the glass. Suspended particles create an intentional cloudiness characteristic of spontaneously fermented ales.

hazy golden amberevanescent headbright clarity

Aroma

The nose opens with layered complexity: tart citrus peel and lemon zest sit atop earthy barnyard funk and wild yeast character. A subtle oak presence weaves through, grounding the bright acidity with the patience of coolship fermentation. The overall impression is inviting rather than aggressive—a countryside orchard meets cellar stone.

citrus peelwild yeast funksubtle oakearthy brett

Taste

Bright acidity drives the palate from the first sip, delivering green apple and lemon zest with an earthy, bretting undertone. A vinous depth emerges mid-palate, suggesting extended fermentation and wild culture maturation. The beer balances tartness with subtle dryness, avoiding one-dimensional sourness.

green appletart and drybright acidityearthy depth

Finish

The finish extends long and pleasantly astringent, with lingering funk and fruit notes fading gradually. A mineral dryness persists in the aftertaste, inviting another sip.

dry and astringentlingering funkmineral aftertaste
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
90
Taste
87
Appearance
85
Finish
86
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of COOLSHIP CHAOS 2017

Serve at 6–9°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 6–9°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Goblet
Recommended for this style

The wide mouth and heavy base promote head formation and channel rich aromatics toward the nose. Traditional for Belgian strong ales.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with COOLSHIP CHAOS 2017

About Belgian Sour

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Sour?

Belgian Sour is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Belgian Sour

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same funky, sour, earthy character as COOLSHIP CHAOS 2017 will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Belgian Sours in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

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