Music for Relaxation - Snowy Owl

A New England IPA meets wild fermentation – and relaxation quickly turns into an extraordinary sour beer.

With Musik zur Entspannung, the Berlin brewery Schneeeule does exactly what it's known for: it takes a modern beer style and gives it a hefty dose of Berlin wildness.

The starting point is a New England IPA, which then gets a powerful sour kick with the help of yeast and lactic acid cultures. The result lies somewhere between a juicy NEIPA, a Sour IPA, and a wild sour beer – hoppy, funky, fruity, and quite uncompromising.

With 7.5% ABV, Musik zur Entspannung brings plenty of substance. In the glass, the beer appears lemon-gold with a rather subdued head. On the nose and palate, intense acidity and floral notes meet a subtle fruitiness. There are also hints of sourdough bread, wild yeast, and zesty yuzu.

It is precisely the interplay of modern hop aromatics and wild fermentation that makes this beer exciting. The acidity is clearly in the foreground but is accompanied by fruity and yeasty aromas, giving it surprising depth.

Definitely not an ordinary IPA – and equally not a classic sour beer.

Tasting Notes

The first impression is distinctly sour, fresh, and lively. Citrus aromas are reminiscent of yuzu and lemon, while a subtle fruitiness and floral notes emerge in the background.

As the temperature increases, the wilder sides come more to the fore: funky yeast, sourdough, and a slightly rustic fermentation note meet the fruity hop aromatics of the original NEIPA.

The result is intense and unusual, yet surprisingly harmonious. Those expecting classic NEIPAs may be surprised – those who like Sour IPAs, Wild Ales, and characterful sour beers will be much better served here.

Pairs with

The pronounced acidity makes Musik zur Entspannung an exciting companion for light salads, feta, and other stronger cheeses, as well as for spicy wraps and savory dishes. For dessert, the combination with vanilla and fresh fruits works surprisingly well.

Or you can skip the food and take the name seriously: open the bottle, turn on some music, and slowly discover how the beer changes as the temperature rises.

Our Conclusion

Musik zur Entspannung is Schneeeule in its purest form: idiosyncratic, wild, and guaranteed not boring.

The combination of NEIPA, lactic acid cultures, and wild yeast unites modern craft beer hoppiness with the sour beer DNA of the Berlin brewery. Intense acidity, citrus, funky yeast, and sourdough notes make this a beer for adventurous drinkers.

If you're looking for an uncomplicated IPA, you're in the wrong place. However, if you want to know what happens when NEIPA and wild sour beer culture meet, you should take a closer look at this beer.

Product Details

Product: Musik zur Entspannung
Brewery: Schneeeule
Origin: Berlin, Germany
Beer Style: Sour NEIPA / Sour IPA
Alcohol Content: 7.5% vol.
Bottle Volume: 0.75 l
Flavor Profile: sour, citrusy, floral, fruity, funky, yeasty
Aromas: Yuzu, Citrus, Sourdough, Wild Yeast
Ingredients: Water, Barley Malt, Wheat Malt, Hops, Yeast, Lactic Acid Bacteria, and Sugar