hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Carnie Blood

Tap to rate

Juicy, sweet-tart and fruity with a slightly spicy kick: a margarita-inspired golden sour made with red prickly pear, calamansi lime and jalapeños, 5.0% ABV. The idea came from the beer team at the Fort Collins Liquid Center in 2024, and the beer became the marquee release of Tour de Fat, the brewery's annual costumed bike festival. A limited release.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Mild
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruityjuicytart
fruity
juicy
tart
spicy
citrusy
sour
Aroma
The nose opens with vibrant red prickly pear and calamansi lime, creating a distinctly fruity and citrusy top note reminiscent of a fresh margarita preparation.
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Carnie Blood

◎ Appearance

Carnie Blood presents a luminous golden-yellow hue, bright and transparent with excellent clarity. The head is delicate and white, showing fine Schaumhaftung that gradually recedes into a thin collar. Fine carbonation streams rise steadily, giving the beer a lively, effervescent presence in the glass.

golden-yellowcrystal clearfine carbonationdelicate head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with vibrant red prickly pear and calamansi lime, creating a distinctly fruity and citrusy top note reminiscent of a fresh margarita preparation. A subtle jalapeño warmth emerges in the mid-range, adding a gentle spicy character without overpowering the fruit. The base shows a clean, neutral Malz character that allows the adjuncts and acidity to take center stage.

red prickly pearcalamansi limejalapeño warmthfruity citrus

◐ Taste

Entry is juicy and fruit-forward, with the prickly pear and lime providing immediate sweet-tart complexity. The mid-palate balances a gentle tartness against subtle sweetness, with the jalapeño adding a mild spice that builds gradually. Bitterness is restrained at 10 IBU, allowing the sour character and fruit adjuncts to define the flavor arc, finishing with a crisp, dry lift.

sweet-tart balancejuicy fruitmild spicecrisp acidity

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and refreshing, with the lime acidity lingering pleasantly on the palate. A gentle warmth from the jalapeño fades gradually, leaving behind a dry, fruit-tinged aftertaste that invites another sip.

dry finishlingering citrusrefreshing
81
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
85
Finish
78
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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Carnie Blood

More from New Belgium Brewing Company

1554
1554
Brown Ale
6%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Dominga Grapefruit Paloma
Dominga Grapefruit Paloma
Pale Ale
8%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Honey Orange Tripel
Honey Orange Tripel
Belgian Tripel
10%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Le Terroir
Le Terroir
Dry-Hopped Sour
6.5%·Mild
Find matches →
Mountain Time
Mountain Time
Light Lager
4.4%·Mild
Find matches →
New Belgium 1554 Black Lager
New Belgium 1554 Black Lager
Schwarzbier
5.6%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
New Belgium Fat Tire
New Belgium Fat Tire
American Amber Ale
5.2%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
New Belgium Festbier
New Belgium Festbier
Märzen
5.7%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →

About Fruited Sour

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Fruited Sour?

Fruited 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 Fruited Sour

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same fruity, juicy, tart character as Carnie Blood will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

FEATURED IN

Compare with another beer →