leinenkugel’s summer shandy
June 25th, 2007 by don
Right now I’m sitting on our patio while the kids splash around in our 10′ EZ-set pool. It’s sunny and about 86 degrees out. The lovely wife is sitting next to me trying to read one of her a novel in between interruptions from the kids. I’m sipping a Leinie’s Summer Shandy, an interesting combination of wheat beer and lemonade.
When I first saw this, my initial reaction was “Ewww.” If you had asked me a couple weeks ago what I thought about it, I wouldn’t have given it a good review. But today, in this setting, it gets a two thumbs up. It’s a cloudy, straw-colored brew, and like most wheat beers, it’s light on the hops. I’m not sure how much lemonade they put in, but it’s enough to give you that little bit of a pucker as it rolls over the tongue. Then you taste the malt, and then the lemonade again in the aftertaste.
This is a prime example of why beer reviews suck. Often, your (or my) opinion of a beer can vary depending on the context in which it’s served. If the temperature is wrong, or it’s not in season, or any other number of things, it can make a big difference. Try a Leinie’s Summer Shandy now, and save one for next January, and you’ll see what I mean.
