Maplewood Goby 4Pk is a fruited kettle sour beer sold in a 4-pack of 16oz cans at 4% ABV, brewed with pineapple, orange, and guava on a wheated malt base. Produced by Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, Goby holds an 84 ("Good") rating on BeerAdvocate and stands apart from the crowded fruited sour category by deliberately avoiding the thick, smoothie-style approach that dominates the modern market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Fruited Kettle Sour  |  Brewery: Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

Production & Heritage

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery operates both a brewery and a distillery under one roof in Chicago's Logan Square, giving the production team an unusually deep command of fermentation science. Goby is built on a wheated malt base in the tradition of a Berliner Weisse, using a kettle sour process in which lactic acid bacteria create controlled tartness before the boil. Pineapple, orange, and guava are added to the beer, but the approach is restrained — the fruit enhances a clean sour foundation rather than burying it, resulting in a lighter, more sessionable beer than many of its fruit-heavy peers.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh orange and pineapple lead the nose, followed by subtler guava and a faint wheaty backdrop. The fruit aromatics are bright and natural rather than candy-like.

Taste: Orange and pineapple arrive first on the palate, carrying a juicy tropical sweetness that quickly gives way to guava, which plays a more prominent role in the flavor than it does on the nose. A moderate lactic sourness threads through the mid-palate, grounded by the soft, bready character of the wheated malt base. The balance tilts toward tart without becoming puckering.

Finish: Bright carbonation lifts the beer into a semi-dry finish that clears the palate quickly. There is no lingering sweetness or sticky residue — just a clean, refreshing close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Goby

Goby is best served cold, straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to open up the tropical aromatics. At 4% ABV, it is a natural session beer built for warm-weather drinking. It works well in a Berliner Shandy, topped with a splash of lemonade to amplify the citrus notes. Try it alongside sparkling water and a squeeze of lime as a low-ABV Beer Spritz for a patio-friendly serve. It also makes an excellent base for a Radler, mixed with grapefruit soda to double down on the tart, fruity character.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and warm-weather sessions where low ABV is a priority
• Introducing someone to sour beer without overwhelming acidity or heavy fruit pulp
• Pairing with grilled seafood or light tacos at a summer gathering
• Stocking a mixed craft beer cooler with a distinctive tropical option

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Goby taste like? Goby delivers bright pineapple and orange flavors up front, with guava becoming more prominent on the mid-palate, all layered over a moderate lactic tartness and a soft wheated malt base. The finish is semi-dry and refreshing, with none of the thick, smoothie-like texture found in many modern fruited sours.

How does Goby compare to Off Color Troublesome? Both are Chicago-brewed sour ales, but Troublesome is a gose with added coriander and salt, giving it a distinctly saline edge. Goby takes a different path as a kettle sour without gose seasoning, relying on straightforward lactic tartness and tropical fruit for its character.

Is Goby good for sour beer beginners? Yes — the 4% ABV and restrained acidity make it one of the more approachable fruited sours available. The tropical fruit additions provide familiar flavors that ease newcomers into the style without the sharp pucker of more aggressive sour ales.

Where is Goby made? Goby is brewed at Maplewood Brewery & Distillery, located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The facility uniquely houses both a brewery and a distillery under one roof.

What foods pair well with Goby? Grilled shrimp tacos complement the tropical fruit notes, while fresh ceviche mirrors the beer's bright acidity. A Thai green papaya salad matches well with the guava and citrus character. Light goat cheese or a fresh mozzarella salad benefit from the beer's tartness cutting through the creaminess. Fish and chips gain a refreshing contrast from the carbonation and sour finish.

What sizes does Goby come in? Goby is sold as a 4-pack of 16oz cans, a standard format for craft beer releases.

Is Goby worth the price? Goby positions as a craft-priced fruited sour that delivers on drinkability rather than spectacle. Its clean construction, sessionable ABV, and genuine tropical fruit character represent solid value within the competitive Chicago craft beer market.

Why Goby?

In a fruited sour landscape crowded with heavy, smoothie-style beers loaded with lactose, puree, and adjuncts, Goby takes the opposite approach. The Berliner Weisse-inspired base and kettle sour technique produce a controlled, clean tartness that lets the pineapple, orange, and guava speak clearly without artificial sweetness or cloying body. Maplewood's dual identity as both a brewery and distillery gives the team a fermentation expertise that shows in the precision of this beer's balance. At 4% ABV, Goby is one of the most genuinely sessionable fruited sours on the market — a beer that rewards multiple cans without fatigue.