Lemon Shakes
Atrium Brewing

I wanted to hate this beer, but I didn't. Color was muted whitish yellow. White head against the yellow kind of pops out. Nose was citrusy lemon, but not overwhelmingly so. Taste also was citrusy lemon. but not sour. Nice smooth feel

 

Lemon? Yes. Shake? Not as much.

 

Maybe that's what milkshakes have been missing this whole time- hops! With enough of a balance to help the ale become palatable, Atrium's milkshake IPA has never forgotten how to be an IPA.

Pouring a pale and truly lemony yellow hue, Lemon Shakes captivates the nose with a lemon leading citrus scent along with creamy notions of grain, light herb and a mild spicy twinge upon the nose. Cereal sweetness then glosses the tongue as hints of vanilla and coconut bring a soothing creaminess to the heavy cream cereal grains and smooth bready texture.

As the hops pull from the grain, their growth slowly dominates the middle palate with white grapefruit, under ripened oranges, pineapple and passionfruit; all with that strong and expected overcast of lemons. The hops develop a firm but balancing bitterness to take an edge off of the creamy sweetness and to bring a spicy verbena, sassafras, lemon pepper and hemp-like character to the finish.

Full bodied but drying in the end for drinkability and balance, the IPA emerges to bring a sense of refreshment to clean the session up before closure. Shying away from any notion of furniture polish, the lemon hazy IPA didn't forget to be an IPA either.