Island Lager
4 By 4 Brewing Company

In a highly unusual year, those island vacations may have been put on hold, but fortunately we have 4 By 4 Brewing. At least we can take our tastebuds on that vacation after all. Light, crisp and refreshing, and with a hint of key lime and a sense of island life is close at hand.

Pale straw and with a keller-like haze, Island Lager builds a foam of part-froth, part-fizz. As the lager subsides, its scent is a grainy-sweet aroma with light germ must and a brightness of peppery key lime. The beer's cereal grain influence decorates its wafer-sweet beginnings and plays the part of crackers, light bread and dough.

As the flavors roll along the middle palate, a rapid lift of malt sweetness leaves behind the cereal character as the hops turn from a modestly floral upstart and into a grassy, peppery middle palate. Lemongrass, apple, parsley and mint play a supporting roll to the citrusy limes that race in to refresh the finish. A lightly bitter late palate is delicately spicy with lemon balm and fresh grass clippings.

Medium light in body, the lager's lightness is easily misread as thin and watery. But when on the islands, this is just the taste and texture to beat the heat. A short and somewhat tacky aftertaste is once again a reminder of the beer's cereal grain influence and its lime-like herbal hop balance.