We finally got some warmer weather here in Western Maryland. And, with all the rain we’ve been getting, the hill that is my backyard was starting to get overgrown. Sadly, the manual mower that I’ve been using for the last two years just isn’t up to the job, so I broke down and bought an electric mower.

So, after work this evening I took on the lawn, and the lawn won. Well, not really. But after I was done it seemed like the perfect time for a “lawnmower beer” and a comfy chair on my deck.

As a beverage, I chose Leinenkugel’s summer seasonal: Summer Shandy. The label proclaims it to be “beer with natural lemonade flavor”. I’m not sure what “natural lemonade flavor” is supposed to be; isn’t that lemon flavor? Besides sugar, what could anyone possibly be putting in their lemonade? The label also says it is “Weiss beer with lemonade”.

They say:

Get a taste of the freshest flavor under the sun - Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy. A shandy is a lemonade flavored beer, a European favorite during the warmer months. And the light, crisp flavor makes it a great summer refresher. Each batch is carefully brewed using the finest wheat, malted barley and just a hint of real Wisconsin honey. Then, our brewmasters mix in fresh lemonade and citrus flavors to create an adventurous taste that’s perfect for those lazy days of summer.

Well, anyway, it pours a very light color and very cloudy. Plenty of head, which quickly settles down and an aroma vaguely reminiscent of lemon dish soap.

Mouthfeel is light, and the underlying beer is very unobtrusive. I was expecting some tartness and even some sweetness from the lemon, and I didn’t get it. The flavor seems to be more like lemon zest than lemon juice.

My wife also tried it. Her impression: “It tastes like someone tried to make Crystal Light® using beer.”

I’m disappointed with this one.

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