Time for round two in 3 Ravens' summer collab series with the syrup and cordial-makers at Comet. A month on from the arrival of Comet Acid Raspberry and Lemon Myrtle comes the Lemon, Lime & Makrut Lime version. I'm not sure if I should fire myself for going with this, but it's pretty much a contemporary version of the lemonade and lime I'd always have when McGrandad was on his bitter lemons, albeit less sweet and with a hint of the lactic acid charged with boosting refreshment.
While that beer very much has sessions in mind, its accompanying release, Helles Rad – their summer Nevermore release in 440ml cans – drops the ABV even further: this radler brewed with passionfruit juice that registers a mere 2.5 percent.
Now, when I make a shandy / radler, I tend to just mix a malty lager with some form of citrusy soft drink, usually half-and-half, and that's an approach taken by some Aussie radlerers. Not 3 Ravens, however. Instead, they challenged themselves to make a very light lager before imbuing it with the fruit. It pours darker than I'd expected – a deep copper that's presumably courtesy of the Vienna and roasted wheat malts – with a low carbonation that serves up a little tickle on the palate.
The passionfruit comes across less like a puréed or cordial-laced beer hybrid, more like a fruity perfume, then swishes its way through the crisp malts and gentle bitterness reminding you of its beeriness.
James Smith
Published November 24, 2023 2023-11-24 00:00:00
