Establishment Jam Rock Blackberry Sour 473 ml - 24 Cans

Jam Rock is a legendary seasonal release (and frequent fan-favorite) from Calgary’s Eighty-Eight Brewing Co. While many sours can be sharp or aggressive, Jam Rock is designed to be a "smoothie-style" Blackberry Sour that leans heavily into nostalgic flavors, specifically reminiscent of blackberry jam or a fresh berry crumble. It’s part of the brewery's "playlist" of bold, colorful beers that prioritize high-impact fruit additions and a playful, approachable acidity.

Beer Description

Jam Rock pours a stunning, vibrant deep purple-to-magenta with a fizzy, pink-tinted head that settles quickly, characteristic of high-fruit-content sours.

Aroma: The nose is an absolute explosion of fresh blackberries. It smells remarkably like a jar of high-end jam or a berry-filled pastry. You’ll find secondary notes of lemon zest and a subtle, creamy sweetness that suggests vanilla or marshmallow.

Palate: On the tongue, it is medium-bodied with a "jammy," slightly viscous texture. It leads with a massive burst of sweet-and-tart blackberry juice. The acidity is present but "soft" it’s a mouth-watering tartness rather than a sharp, puckering sourness. The finish is clean and fruity, with a lingering berry-skin dryness that keeps it from being cloying.

Profile: It typically sits around 5.2% ABV with near-zero bitterness, as the focus is entirely on the interplay between the fruit and the lactic acidity.

Technical Notes: This is a Kettle Sour, meaning the wort is soured with Lactobacillus in the brewhouse before being boiled and fermented. Eighty-Eight adds a massive amount of blackberry purée during fermentation to ensure the color and flavor remain as "true-to-fruit" as possible. Some iterations also include a touch of lactose (milk sugar) to provide that signature "Jam Rock" creamy mouthfeel and to balance the natural tartness of the berries.