Phase Three Full Slice 4PK is a key lime pie inspired sour ale from Phase Three Brewing, packaged in a 4-pack of 16 oz cans. This pastry-style sour draws directly from the dessert it references, built around tart citrus and creamy confectionery character from one of the most sought-after small-batch breweries in the Midwest.Quick Facts: Style: Key Lime Pie Inspired Sour Ale | Origin: Lake Zurich, Illinois | Format: 4 × 16 oz Cans | Brewery: Phase Three Brewing (est. 2020)Production & HeritagePhase Three Brewing launched in Lake Zurich, Illinois in 2020 and quickly earned a national reputation for intensely flavored, small-batch releases spanning hazy IPAs, imperial stouts, and fruit-forward sour ales. The brewery's approach prioritizes limited runs with high ingredient loads, a philosophy that carries through to Full Slice. As a key lime pie inspired sour, the beer is designed to evoke the layered profile of the classic dessert — tart lime acidity balanced against a rich, pastry-like body — following the brewery's pattern of pushing flavor density in their sour ale program.Tasting NotesAroma: Fresh key lime zest leads immediately, followed by a sweet, biscuit-like quality reminiscent of graham cracker crust. A subtle lactic tang sits underneath, signaling the sour ale base.Taste: The palate opens with pronounced key lime tartness that quickly meets a creamy, almost custard-like sweetness at mid-palate. The interplay between citrus acidity and rich, dessert-forward sweetness mirrors the layered construction of an actual key lime pie, with the sour ale backbone keeping the finish from becoming cloying.Finish: Medium in length with lingering lime zest and a soft, smooth texture. The tartness recedes gradually, leaving behind a gentle graham cracker sweetness.How to Drink Full SliceFull Slice is best served cold, poured from the can into a tulip glass or snifter to concentrate the aromatic lime and pastry notes. Drinking temperature matters here — pulling the can from the refrigerator five minutes before pouring allows the dessert-like complexity to open up slightly beyond the initial chill. This is a standalone sipper rather than a cocktail component; the layered flavors are built to be experienced as the brewer intended.Best For Sharing with craft beer enthusiasts who appreciate pastry-style sours Dessert course substitution at a dinner gathering Introducing someone to the fruited sour ale category with an approachable, flavor-forward example Adding to a curated tasting flight alongside other pastry or fruit-forward sour ales Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Full Slice taste like? Full Slice delivers a pronounced key lime tartness balanced by creamy, graham cracker–like sweetness, closely tracking the flavor profile of an actual key lime pie in sour ale form.How does Full Slice compare to 450 North's fruited sours? Both Phase Three and 450 North are Midwest breweries recognized for intensely flavored fruited sours, but Phase Three generally produces in smaller batches with more limited distribution, which can make releases like Full Slice harder to find. Flavor-wise, Full Slice leans into a specific dessert concept rather than a broad fruit smoothie profile.Is Full Slice good for sipping on its own? Full Slice is designed as a standalone drinking experience, with enough complexity in its lime-to-pastry balance to hold attention through the full pour without needing any additions or food pairing.Where is Full Slice made? Full Slice is brewed at Phase Three Brewing in Lake Zurich, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago. The brewery has operated from this location since its founding in 2020.What foods pair well with Full Slice? Vanilla bean cheesecake works well alongside the lime tartness. Fresh ceviche mirrors the citrus brightness. Shortbread cookies echo the graham cracker quality in the beer. Coconut-based desserts like haupia complement the creamy body. Light, tangy goat cheese on crackers bridges the sour and sweet elements.What sizes does Full Slice come in? Full Slice is available in 4-packs of 16 oz cans, the standard format for Phase Three's sour ale releases.Is Full Slice worth the price? Full Slice positions in the premium tier for craft sour ales, consistent with Phase Three's reputation for limited, high-ingredient-load releases that command higher price points than mass-produced sours. For drinkers who value dessert-inspired sour ales with concentrated flavor, it represents a strong entry in the category.Why Full Slice?Phase Three Brewing built its reputation on intensity and precision across every style it touches, and Full Slice applies that discipline to the pastry sour format. The key lime pie concept is executed with clear intent — the tart, creamy, and biscuit layers arrive in sequence rather than muddling together. As a small-batch release from a brewery that launched in 2020 and rapidly earned national attention, Full Slice carries both the flavor credibility and the limited availability that define Phase Three's approach. For anyone drawn to dessert-inspired sours that deliver genuine complexity rather than one-dimensional sweetness, this is a release worth seeking out.
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