Beer

APRIL BEER REVIEWS

This month’s beers are available depending on supply & demand at all 10 Liquor Locker locations. Visit our website at www.Liquor-Locker.com.

RGBEVS ZANGO CRUSH GOOSE ISLAND 312 LEMONADE SHANDY

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4

Clear, pink-ish pour, with no head and a distinct effervescence. Mango and orange on the nose, this is more of a hard seltzer than a beer. The blood orange and mango are powerful on the palate, with a sweet finish and no bitterness. Perfect for the fruity seltzer drinker.

PAUL BRAGIN - 3

A thick white head forms and stays for a long time. The scent contains a good amount of mango, followed by orange notes. The fruit flavors continue with the first sip. This could see a rise in popularity during hot summer months when drinkers want something light and refreshing to quench their thirst. Pair it with fruity dishes or use it as an ingredient in your favorite fruity desserts like pineapple upside-down cake.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5

This is a nice golden/straw beer with decent carbonation. It smells a little fruity. I can taste the mango and some of the orange but those flavors are not overbearing. I thought it was going to be some sort of dreamsicle beer but it's not. Still, it's pretty sweet and more of a dessert beer. This is not a session beer but I like it.

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 3

Light ale meets Lemonade. This shandy pours a slightly hazy yellow. The lemonade carries a strong presence on the nose and dominates on the palate as well. At 4.2% ABV, I would have expected a stronger ale presence but lemonade will not be denied. Not too sweet, with just a slight bitterness on the finish. If you love lemonade and beer, give this a try.

PAUL BRAGIN - 3.5

A thick white head crowns this beer and remains for a considerable amount of time. The scent profile contains a good amount of lemon. The initial taste contains a balance of lemon and sugar with minimal carbonation. This beer could see a rise in popularity during the brutal heat of the summer months, and the low alcohol content lends itself to having several. Pair it with your favorite lemon desserts like lemon squares or lemon meringue pie.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4

This beer has a hazy yellow color and looks very inviting. I consider this a summer beer to drink outside when you need a refreshment after mowing. Shandys never pack the punch of a regular beer and I guess they don’t intend to. This one has a nice, light lemon flavor with an ABV of 4.2%. As shandys go, it's pretty good and I'll have to get some in the summer.

SWEETWATER H.A.Z.Y. 710

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 3.5

This IPA pours a beautiful hazy orange. Brewed with a special type of Citra hops, meant to bring out the hop flavors, this one delivers. Mango and other tropical notes dominate the nose. The palate adds distinct and unique piney flavors. It is much dryer than your typical hazy IPA and has a dry finish.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4

A thick white head rests on this hazy pale ale and never totally evaporates. Citrus and pine notes from the hops fill the nose. More citrus hits the tongue with the initial tasting and holds up during the extended finish. People who enjoy hoppy beers need to try this. Pair it with a variety of foods like Cheddar cheese, pizza with spicy toppings or spicy cuisines like Mexican dishes with avocado and sour cream.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.25

This is a hazy pale ale with decent carbonation. I have had a few other Sweet Water beers and this one is pretty good. It has a tropical fruit flavor with some pine. I like the complexity of this beer. I also like the bitterness which is not over the top. With an ABV of 5.4%, this would be a good session beer.

FIRESTONE MIND HAZE DOUBLE IPA

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4.5

This New England IPA has the expected hazy yellow-orange hue. Loads of fruit on the nose, owed to the enormous and diverse hop bill in this brew. Grapefruit, mango, and pineapple dominate the nose. A slight sweetness on the palate where an orange citrus flavor comes through. This is very easy drinking, belying the 8.2% ABV. If you like NEIPAs, this one will not disappoint.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.25

A thick white head crowns this IPA and never completely dissipates. Fruity hop scents dominate the scent profile. The first sip of the beer feels heavy in the mouth as more citrus coats the tongue and remains in the very long finish. People who like IPAs need to drink this. Pair it with pork dishes like carnitas, citrus-glazed pork chops or the brewery’s special burger topped with goat cheese and pickled habanero peppers.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5

This is a hazy, light brown-colored beer with a heavy tropical hops flavor yet it's very smooth. It has a nice sweetness to it and finishes with a little bitterness but I think that just gives it some character. Overall, it's a little bit heavy with an amped up 8.2% ABV. Definitely going to keep an eye out for this double IPA.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.