Urbanaut Brewing Co. is the brainchild of three university mates from New Zealand who, after globetrotting and cutting their teeth on the vibrant craft beer scenes of the UK, US, Canada, and Japan, decided found their own craft brewery in 2017 to unleash their own brand of innovative brews on the world.

While their do rock out some classics, Urbanaut also takes a gleeful swing at offbeat flavour profiles –think Prosecco Pilsner, Springfield Jam Donut Hazy IPA, Honey Jasmine Tumeric Hazy Sour or the Triple Shot Espresso Scotch Ale. After all, the brewery’s slogan is "Party Forever," so they very much resemble the craft beer equivalent of the electronic dance music group LMFAO – high energy, a tad wacky, and always good for a surprise.

This brings us to one of their more controversial and eyebrow-raising concoctions - the Salted Lime Sour x Spicy Pilsner Beer Blender. What looks like a tallboy is in fact two cans of different beers bundled together. First, you have a Salted Lime Sour – bracingly tart with a limey punch and, true to its name, a touch of salinity. On the other side, there's the Spicy Pilsner – a pilsner that has been steeped in habanero chilis to give it an almost intimidating level of spiciness.

Urbanaut isn't asking you to choose. They want you to try each individually, letting the lime sour cleanse your palate before the chili-infused pilsner sets it alight. Then, the grand experiment: blending the two for what they promise would be a “perfect fruity beer with floral and citrus and an invigorating hint of spice.” It's the kind of outlandish idea that perfectly embodies the Urbanaut spirit.

So let’s give this outlandish brew a taste.

Urbanaut Salted Lime Sour, 5.5% ABV – Review

Nose: The first whiff strikes me as reminiscent of a lemon-flavoured energy drink. Also very grassy and tart, like a hopped-up Mountain Dew. It's clean, but underscored by a burst of salted lime that reminds me of the way a gin and tonic hits.

Palate: Mouth-puckering tartness takes centre stage, but it’s fresh with a bright citrus twist – think salted lemon, pomelo, maybe a hint of calamansi. There's a slight sweetness too, something like a St Pellegrino bitter lemon in a bracing quality.

Finish: The citrusy, lemony notes transition smoothly into a clean barley-like ending. It all fades away quickly, leaving a lingering tartness on the palate.

My Thoughts:

This is a straightforward and refreshing take on a sour. However, the body leaves much more to be desired; a touch more fullness would have been welcome. Also, wouldn't mind a bit more saltiness and bitterness to cut through that intense tartness.

My Rating: 4.5/10

Urbanaut Spicy Pilsner, 5.5% ABV – Review

Nose: Surprisingly sweet and confectionary at first, with a vibrant grapefruit aroma. Hints of something spicier lurk beneath, but the sweetness initially dominates.

Palate: Opens with an upfront wave of bold, red chili heat. It's not just a subtle tingle – this evokes fresh chilies and brings to mind the spiciness of Mexican salsa. Some sweetness; grapefruit notes and light hoppiness linger in the background.

Finish: Clean and surprisingly long. Some barley notes in the finish initially, but the persistent, lingering spice clings to the palate and breaks away from the other flavours.

My Thoughts:

This barely tastes like a beer. I enjoy the juxtaposition of sweet and spicy, but the overwhelming chili heat makes this unbalanced. It would also be better if there’s a bit more zestiness in this to cut through the oiliness of hearty foods.

Again, it’s intriguing but feels incomplete.

My Rating: 4/10

Urbanaut Combination of Salted Lime Sour and Spicy Pilsner, 5.5% ABV – Review

Nose: Layered citric notes - lime zest and hints of lime leaf mingle with grapefruit, along with interesting hints of guava and green mango. It's playfully reminiscent of a margarita, with the lime taking a more prominent role.

Palate: Much more complex than the earlier two beers. Leads with the fresh sourness of green mangoes and bitter lemon notes, coupled with the heat of fresh chili padi that gives it a resemblance to the classic Thai green mango salad with its spicy kick. A touch of barley notes in the background.

Finish: Lighter notes of salted lemon appear on the finish, while the chili heat lingers more prominently. A touch of minerality and light, refreshing hoppiness add depth in the final moments.

My Thoughts:

Much more enjoyable! Adding the Spicy Pilsner to the Salted Lime Sour definitely adds much more dimension and makes this experience so much more balanced and approachable. It tones down the spiciness and elevates the sweetness. There's much, much more cohesion and roundness in the blend - the fresh, briny tartness of the lime sour and lively habanero kick of the pilsner providing balance and to each other. It’s really very much like a spicy Thai mango salad in a can.

However, it is still a rather overwhelming whirlwind of flavours with a lot going on. It’s better but I struggle to make sense of it all.

My Rating: 6.5/10

@CharsiuCharlie