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Coolship No.1

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Coolship No.1 is a spontaneous sour ale from Burning Sky Brewery, based in the picturesque East Sussex village of Firle in southern England. Their first release of its kind, it is brewed in the traditional Belgian lambic spirit — wort cooled overnight in an open coolship, drawing wild yeast and bacteria from the Sussex air itself before extended ageing in oak deepens the complexity. It pours a hazy golden straw, with a delicate, dissipating head. The aroma offers green apple, lemon zest, and a rustic barnyard earthiness. On the palate, bright acidity drives flavours of tart stone fruit, hay, and a characteristic lactic funk refined through patient cellaring. The finish is dry, refreshing, and complex — a genuine expression of place and time.

ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Mild
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusysourpeach
citrusy
sour
peach
earthy
oak
tart
Aroma
The nose opens with vibrant green apple and bright lemon zest, typical markers of wild fermentation and extended oak ageing.
also:funky,mineral,herbal
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Coolship No.1

◎ Appearance

Coolship No.1 presents a hazy golden straw colour, characteristic of spontaneously fermented worts that retain suspended yeast and bacteria throughout maturation. The head is delicate and short-lived, dissipating quickly to leave minimal lacing on the glass. Fine carbonation lends a soft, approachable visual quality befitting its rustic farmhouse origins.

hazy golden strawdelicate headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with vibrant green apple and bright lemon zest, typical markers of wild fermentation and extended oak ageing. Beneath these citrus notes lies a pronounced rustic barnyard earthiness—the signature terroir of spontaneous inoculation—grounded and austere rather than offensive. There is a mineral undertone that suggests the cooling process and Sussex air itself have left their mark.

green apple, lemon zestbarnyard funkmineral earthiness

◐ Taste

Bright acidity dominates the palate from the first sip, driving tart stone fruit and peach notes forward with refreshing clarity. The mid-palate reveals hay and herbal notes alongside a characteristic lactic funk refined by patient cellaring in oak, adding textural complexity without harshness. Bitterness remains minimal (5 IBU), allowing the wild fermentation character and subtle fruitiness to define the flavour journey.

tart stone fruit, peachlactic funkhay and herbsbright acidity

◑ Finish

The finish is notably dry and clean, with the acidity lingering pleasantly without becoming sharp or fatiguing. Mineral and herbal echoes fade gradually, leaving a crisp, refreshing aftertaste that invites another sip.

dry, clean finishlingering acidityrefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
83
Appearance
78
Finish
80
Serve at 6–9°C

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

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Coolship No.1

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About Spontaneous Sour

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Spontaneous Sour?

Spontaneous 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 Spontaneous Sour

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same citrusy, sour, peach character as Coolship No.1 will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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