Uppercut Summer
Refined Fool Brewing Co.

473 mL can from the brewery; dated Apr 1 2025 and served slightly chilled.

Pours a hazy golden-yellow colour, its complexion marred with countless flecks of sediment; situated atop is an inch of foamy white suds that lasts for a couple of minutes. A modest smattering of lace is tossed about in its wake, with a thin collar and filmy cap lingering on the surface. I am mostly getting authentic lemon on the nose - juice, zest and sweet lemonade, too - with hints of grainy malts and oranges.

The flavour profile is less one-sided, but it's still the Sicilian lemons dictating the pace. Orange peel, lemondrop candy, stone fruit and wheaty malts early on, with lemon peel/zest gaining prominence later in the sip. Hints of pithy bitterness and floral hops at the end; zesty aftertaste with some lemon/citrus oil persisting on the taste buds. Medium in body, with low-ish carbonation that softly agitates the surface of the tongue, resulting in a smooth, slightly juicy mouthfeel. Ridiculously easy to drink and shockingly refreshing for 6.5%.

Final Grade: 3.95, a B+. As a lemon beer, I think Uppercut Summer is absolutely superb - but as an IPA? Ehh, not so much. That's a double-edged sword, of course: if this had been a hoppier, more bitter pale ale, then it likely would not be nearly as crushable and refreshing, which has a lot to do with why I like it so much. The Fools should make this an annual summer seasonal - I could easily see myself buying & drinking this all summer, presumably on the porch or patio after a long workday.