malt beverage

Crabbie’s Cloudy Alcoholic Lemonade (not cider, I know)

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Review of Crabbie’s Cloudy Alcoholic Lemonade, part of their new Crabbie’s Fruits line, branching out from the alcoholic ginger beer they are known for.  This definitely isn’t cider, but instead a sweetened malt beverage with natural lemon flavor, and could likely be classified as an “alcopop”.  It however looked really interesting, so I gave it a try.

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Beverage:  Cloudy Alcoholic Lemonade
Maker:  Crabbie’s (Halewood International Ltd)
Location:   Huyton, United Kingdom
ABV:  4.8%
How Supplied:  four pack of green 11.2oz bottles

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Availability:  appears to be wide release

Description:  Crabbie’s continues to pioneer refreshment with the addition of a Cloudy Alcoholic Lemonade to their world famous range. Only premium ingredients and selected squeezed natural lemons are used to give the Cloudy Alcoholic Lemon it’s delicious flavor – with added zest. Best enjoyed chilled from the bottle or over ice for a refreshing summer drink.

Price:  ~$9 for a four pack (I bought a single bottle for ~$2.50)
Where Bought:  Special Brews in Lynnwood WA (I’ve also seen it at Total Wine and Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA)
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  browsing.  They do a very smart thing at Special Brews, in that they sell you alcohol while you are already drinking alcohol (it’s a combination beer/cider bar & bottle shop); I end up buying much more this way!

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First Impression:  Looks and smells like lightly carbonated lemonade.

Opinion:  Semi-sweet.  Tastes like real fresh squeezed lemonade with a bit of fizz and an alcoholic kick.  Only mild tartness.  Quite flavorful and awesome!  I really wasn’t expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised.  The alcohol is well hidden.  I’ve never tried Mike’s Hard Lemonade, but I’m guessing this is less sweet and of a higher quality.  Definitely an easy drinking beverage for a hot summer day.  Its also not so sweet that I’d limit myself to one.

Closing Notes:   Very tasty!  I’d recommend this if you enjoy lemonade and want to try something different.  I’ll have to pick up a full four pack of it.

Have you tried Crabbie’s Cloudy Alcoholic Lemonade?  What did you think?

Not Your Father’s Root Beer – and not a cider (or beer) review!

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This is more of a Public Service Announcement, not a cider review.  I was fooled into buying Not Your Father’s Rootbeer for my husband.  I thought it was “Ale brewed with spices” as the label advertised, but it is an artificially flavored alcoholic (5.9% ABV) root beer like beverage.  Some would call this “Alcopop“, a flavored malt beverage.

I guess I won’t buy beverages like this again without looking it up online, but I was in a hurry and it was interesting.  Plus it was at Trader Joe’s, and I didn’t think they would sell such a fake product!  The beverage started off tasting like a normal non-alcoholic root beer (just as sweet as soda), then finished a bit bitter and slightly beer-like.  I could see how this would be appealing to a 21 year old.

It didn’t however much resemble beer as it was relatively drinkable to me, and I don’t like beer at all.  I attempted to finish off the bottle as my husband rejected it, but about halfway through I was done with it, as it was overly filling and kinda made my stomach hurt.  Apparently this is popular though?  Some others have seen through the craft beer disguise, such as Top Fermented and Philly.  I’m fine with folks drinking what they like, but I think there is some mis-representation going on here.

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