Lemonade Stand By Me
DuClaw Brewing Co.

 

 

First, let's fill a clear glass Imperial pint mug with the contents of one and approximately half of two twelve ounce cans. The color within the vessel is golden amber. There's no glass lacing, nor will there be. it's opaque, but not murky. The aroma has citrus, malt and slight hops. The taste is a pleasant tart malty and mildly citrus one. This is no where near as puckering, nor bittersweet, as a good lemonade. Of course, it brings a 7.1 percent ABV. absent in lemonade and it does so stealthily. This is an easy drinking brew and although there's only a moderate taste of lemon tartness, there's enough. For purists, this is another in the sour category that's only mildly tart, at best. Still, a refreshing offering that hides its ABV well. Overall, it's very drinkable.

First fruity, then bitter, then sour and then to do it all over again, DuClaw's lemony hoppy sour ale takes the tastebuds on quite the roller coaster ride.

With a pour of deep golden peach, Lemonade Stand By Me builds a tall and foamy cap before releasing a citrusy, herbal and bready perfume. A simple malt sweetness first graces the tongue with shortcake, sourdough and a hint of caramel.

As the seemingly polarizing flavors of bitter and sour unfold on the middle palate, its the sourness that springs up first with those racy, zesty and radiant flavors of meyer lemons. With the sweetness of malt lingering around, the beer takes on lemonade and tea flavors before turning the show over to the bitterness of sassafras, fresh grassiness, hemp, spruce and gin late in taste.

Medium light in body, the beer's persistent malts have the beer siding with IPA while the tartness suggests something drier and more refreshing. Its yin and yang of flavors keep the palate guessing right down to the bitter and sour end.