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COOLSHIP CHAOS 2018

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

Coolship Chaos 2018 from Beachwood Brewing in Long Beach, California is a rare testament to the Southern Californian craft scene's adventurous spirit. This spontaneously fermented Belgian-style sour pours a hazy golden-amber with a thin, wispy white head. The aroma is immediately captivating — wild funk, green apple, lemon zest, and a dusty barnyard earthiness drift from the glass. On the palate, bright acidity leads the way, layered with stone fruit, tart cherry, and a subtle oak-like dryness. The 2018 vintage brings a pleasing complexity that only time and open-air fermentation can achieve. The finish is long, refreshingly dry, and gently funky, with lingering citrus and a whisper of brett character that invites another sip.

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
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
mineral
oak
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#6 of 50The Best American Sours

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for COOLSHIP CHAOS 2018

Appearance

Coolship Chaos 2018 presents a hazy golden-amber pour with a delicate, wispy white head that settles into a thin collar. The cloudiness throughout the glass speaks to the natural fermentation process—yeast particles remain suspended, lending visual warmth and texture. Carbonation is gentle, with a soft mousse rather than vigorous bubbling, befitting a spontaneously fermented ale.

hazy golden-amberthin white headnaturally cloudygentle carbonation

Aroma

The nose opens with a striking wild funk—earthy, dusty notes reminiscent of an aged cellar floor blend seamlessly with green apple and bright lemon zest. Beneath these fruit-forward top notes sits a subtle farmyard character, the hallmark of Brett yeast activity, alongside a whisper of oxidative complexity that speaks to time spent in the coolship. These layered aromatics invite repeated nosing, each return revealing new nuances in the fermentation's expression.

wild funkgreen apple, lemon zestdusty farmyardBrett character

Taste

The palate entry is dominated by bright, refreshing acidity that frames stone fruit and tart cherry notes. Mid-palate reveals an underlying mineral dryness and subtle oak character, with the acid continuing to define structure throughout. The 2018 vintage demonstrates impressive balance—tartness does not overwhelm, but rather opens up layers of complexity that evolve across the tongue without harsh edges.

bright aciditystone fruit, tart cherrydry mineraloak-like dryness

Finish

The finish is notably long and dry, with citrus lingering alongside gentle funky undertones that persistently invite the next sip. A whisper of Brett character persists in the aftertaste, keeping the palate engaged and refreshed rather than fatigued.

long dry finishlingering citrusfunky aftertaste
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
91
Taste
87
Appearance
85
Finish
86
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of COOLSHIP CHAOS 2018

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 2018

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 2018 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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