Smoothie Beers

Smoothie Beers: Yay or Nay?

I accidentally tried a smoothie beer, was it worth it?

A few weeks ago I went to a brewery in Toronto and ordered a fruity beer. What I expected was some sort of hipster's wet-dream IPA. Instead, I got a thick, smoothie textured, pulpy beer. I was shocked, bamboozled, confused but I drank it nonetheless. A smoothie beer was something I'd never come across and the texture and flavour shocked me. It was fruity and pulpy (like a smoothie duh) but also bitter and fizzy like a beer? I felt really adventurous for trying it out and honestly, I enjoyed it! Sure, it won't replace my usual Friday night pint, but it might be a new addition to the craft beer rotation.

Here are a few smoothie beers if you're wanting to try some for yourself!

YoYo, Bandit Brewery

This is the beer I accidentally ordered. Fruity, pulpy and delicious, I thoroughly enjoyed. The brewery is located in Roncenvalles, a lovely neighbourhood in Toronto. This beer is actually only available in store so get yourself down there! The brewery itself is really lovely and has a comfortable vibe. Interestingly, the beer is made with real passionfruit and mango. You can taste how fresh it is! 

Smoothie Sour, Collective Arts Brewing

If breakfast had a rebellious phase, this would be it. The Smoothie Sour from Collective Arts Brewing basically took a wholesome smoothie bowl, added a splash of attitude, and canned it for your Friday night convenience. Packed with berry-forward fruit character and creamy sweetness, it’s the kind of beer that makes you feel like you’re doing something responsible… until you realise granola notes and bright acidity have somehow convinced you this counts as nutrition. It’s bold, juicy, and just tart enough to keep things interesting — like your friend who insists brunch should involve tequila.

After Midnight Fruit Smoothie Gose, Chronicle Brewing 

After Midnight by Chronicle Brewing sounds like a late-night decision and drinks like one too — but in the best possible way. This smoothie gose struts in with tropical fruit swagger, a cheeky salty twist, and a refreshing zing that practically demands patio seating and questionable life choices. One sip and suddenly you’re analysing “mouthfeel” like a seasoned beer judge while secretly just thinking it tastes like a melted popsicle from your childhood dreams. It’s playful, punchy, and dangerously easy to keep going back for “just one more tiny taste.”

Epoch (Staycation) Fruited Smoothie Sour, Third Moon Brewing

Epoch from Third Moon Brewing is not here for subtlety — it’s here to make an entrance. Thick, intensely fruited, and gloriously over-the-top, this smoothie sour feels less like a beer and more like an event you accidentally RSVP’d to. Expect waves of juicy tropical and berry flavours layered with creamy body and tangy sourness that hits like a dramatic plot twist. It’s the kind of drink that makes you pause mid-sip, reconsider your entire flavour scale, and then immediately text your friends something unhinged like, “This beer might be chewable.”

Final Sip (a.k.a. The Point Where Things Get Philosophical)

And there you have it — proof that somewhere along the timeline, beer looked at smoothies and said, “I could absolutely do that… but with more chaos.” Smoothie beers are not just drinks. They are experiences. They are conversations. They are the reason you suddenly find yourself using phrases like “viscous mouthfeel” in public without a hint of irony. One minute you’re cracking open a colourful can out of pure curiosity, and the next you’re passionately defending fruit purée ratios to friends who were simply trying to enjoy a normal lager.

Of course, part of the magic is the unpredictability. Will it pour like a juice cleanse or like a dessert that forgot its spoon? Will it be refreshingly tart or aggressively fruity to the point you briefly question if you’ve wandered into a smoothie bar with very relaxed licensing laws? Nobody truly knows — and honestly, that’s half the fun. Smoothie beers thrive in that beautiful grey area between “this is ridiculous” and “this is actually incredible.” They are the plot twist of the craft beer world. The glitter cannon. The unexpected main character.

So go forth bravely, armed with curiosity, an open mind, and possibly a napkin because things may get… pulpy. Try the berry bombs. Embrace the tropical tang. Respect the thickness. Share them with friends, or hoard them in the fridge like colourful little treasures — we’re not here to judge your life choices. Just remember to give the can a gentle roll (if the brewery suggests it), savour the absurdity, and above all, enjoy the fact that beer has officially entered its smoothie era. What a time to be alive. Cheers to questionable textures, joyful experimentation, and the deliciously weird adventures waiting in your next can.