I tried 5 spring beers, and the best had a refreshing citrusy flavor that was infinitely enjoyable

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Max KalnitzMar 17, 2021, 20:04 IST
I tried 5 spring beers, and the best had a refreshing citrusy flavor that was infinitely enjoyable

The five spring beers I tried for my taste test.Max Kalnitz/Insider

  • I tried five spring beers to see which one was perfect to drink as we transition out of winter.
  • I looked for a beer that was refreshing and featured a flavor that excited me for warmer weather.
  • Harpoon's The Long Thaw won me over with its refreshing tartness from orange peel and coriander.
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My least favorite beer out of the five I tried was the Guayabera Citra Pale Ale from Cigar City Brewing. It was also tied for the second most expensive beer.

My least favorite beer out of the five I tried was the Guayabera Citra Pale Ale from Cigar City Brewing. It was also tied for the second most expensive beer.
The Guayabera Citra Pale Ale from Cigar City Brewing. Max Kalnitz/Insider

A six-pack of 12-fluid ounce cans was $10.99 at my local beer store in Buffalo, New York.

At 5.5%, the Guayabera Citra Pale Ale had the second lowest ABV of the beers I tried.

At 5.5%, the Guayabera Citra Pale Ale had the second lowest ABV of the beers I tried.
The Guayabera Citra Pale Ale from Cigar City Brewing. Max Kalnitz/Insider

The Guayabera Citra Pale Ale is made with the Citra hop, which features notes of tangerine, lime, and berries, according to Cigar City's website.

The beer itself is a bright yellowish orange color, has a thick layer of foam, and is highly carbonated.

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In my opinion, the Guayabera Citra Pale Ale was refreshing but lacked flavor.

In my opinion, the Guayabera Citra Pale Ale was refreshing but lacked flavor.
The Guayabera Citra Pale Ale from Cigar City Brewing. Max Kalnitz/Insider

While I found the beer's fizziness, crispness, and tropical aroma refreshing, I felt it lacked flavor and had too thin of a mouthfeel. It did feature a slightly bitter, citrusy aftertaste which grew on me as I drank more, but a stronger initial flavor would have helped it stand out compared to the other delicious beers sampled in this taste test.

In an email to Insider, Cigar City Brewing brand manager Neil Callaghan said the Guayabera is a good entry beer for people looking to explore Citra hops.

"Guayabera Citra Pale Ale is a balanced, lighter bodied American Pale Ale that showcases the tropical qualities of Citra, one of our favorite hops," Callaghan wrote. "If you're not familiar with Citra, Guayabera is the perfect way to get familiar with its distinctive passionfruit, pineapple and lime leaf qualities."

In fourth place: Sierra Nevada Brewing's Wanderland Nectarine Ale, which was tied for the cheapest beer I bought.

In fourth place: Sierra Nevada Brewing's Wanderland Nectarine Ale, which was tied for the cheapest beer I bought.
Sierra Nevada Brewing's Wanderland Nectarine Ale. Max Kalnitz/Insider

A six-pack of 12-fluid ounce bottles was $9.99 at my local beer store.

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The Wanderland had the second highest ABV at 7.5%

The Wanderland had the second highest ABV at 7.5%
Sierra Nevada Brewing's Wanderland Nectarine Ale. Max Kalnitz/Insider

Despite its higher ABV, the Wanderland is a refreshingly light beer with a wispy layer of foam and a clear golden hue. It's a brand new spring seasonal beer for 2021.

The Wanderland smells and tastes delicious, but I don't think I could drink more than one.

The Wanderland smells and tastes delicious, but I don't think I could drink more than one.
Sierra Nevada Brewing's Wanderland Nectarine Ale. Max Kalnitz/Insider

There isn't a whole lot I didn't like about this beer — it's only ranked No. 4 because of stiff competition from the remaining beers I sampled.

The Wanderland smells beautifully of fresh nectarines and has an equally delicious aftertaste. I'm a fan of German Kolshes, which is the foundation for this beer, and enjoyed this one's sweet body and mouthfeel.

But the sweetness was also where it fell short. While Wanderland is delicious, after a while it begins to feel a little too sugary. I think on a warmer spring day this would no doubt be refreshing, but I'd have a tough time drinking more than one.

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Boulevard Brewing Company's Chill Vibes Sour Ale with Cucumber was tied for the second most expensive beer I bought.

Boulevard Brewing Company's Chill Vibes Sour Ale with Cucumber was tied for the second most expensive beer I bought.
Boulevard Brewing Company's Chill Vibes Sour Ale with Cucumber. Max Kalnitz/Insider

A six-pack of 12-fluid ounce cans was $10.99 at my local beer store.

Boulevard's Chill Vibes had the lowest ABV at 4.2%.

Boulevard's Chill Vibes had the lowest ABV at 4.2%.
Boulevard Brewing Company's Chill Vibes Sour Ale with Cucumber. Max Kalnitz/Insider

Though Boulevard Brewing's website lists the beer at 4.5% ABV, the cans I bought advertised a 4.2% ABV.

Nonetheless, this beer isn't intent on getting you super buzzed. This is perfect for cooling down after mowing the lawn or a bike ride on a warm spring day.

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The Sour Ale with Cucumber is going to become a summer staple for me but still isn't my first choice when picking a beer.

The Sour Ale with Cucumber is going to become a summer staple for me but still isn't my first choice when picking a beer.
Boulevard Brewing Company's Chill Vibes Sour Ale with Cucumber. Max Kalnitz/Insider

If you like sour beers, you're going to enjoy the Chill Vibes Sour Ale. It has a light body with grassy and citrusy notes, and a tart finish that isn't too overpowering. The ale has an attractive golden hue, a nice amount of fizz, and a small layer of foam.

With that being said, the ale's aroma didn't exactly bring fresh cucumbers to mind and before I took a sip I was a little bit discouraged by the smell.

The Chill Vibes is super refreshing but is it going to be my go-to beer? No, mainly because it didn't really taste like a beer, which is to say it reminded me more of a cucumber gin cocktail than a beer.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing. I think this is perfect to pair with a summer meal on the patio or if you're looking for a low-ABV beer for a day outside.

The Sip of Sunshine IPA from Lawson's Finest Liquids was by far the most expensive of the beers I purchased.

The Sip of Sunshine IPA from Lawson's Finest Liquids was by far the most expensive of the beers I purchased.
The Sip of Sunshine IPA from Lawson's Finest Liquids. Max Kalnitz/Insider

A four-pack of 16-fluid ounce cans was $16.99 at my local beer store.

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Sip of Sunshine also took the crown for the highest ABV at 8%.

Sip of Sunshine also took the crown for the highest ABV at 8%.
The Sip of Sunshine IPA from Lawson's Finest Liquids. Max Kalnitz/Insider

The beer has a rich amber color, a vibrant tropical aroma, and a nice bit of foam. As an 8% pint, this beer is perfect if you want a one-and-done beer.

The name doesn't lie: As I was drinking this I genuinely got excited for warmer weather.

The name doesn't lie: As I was drinking this I genuinely got excited for warmer weather.
The Sip of Sunshine IPA from Lawson's Finest Liquids. Max Kalnitz/Insider

This IPA has a nice hoppiness to it. To me, the mouthfeel is balanced and enjoyable — there's enough carbonation that it's noticeable but I focused more on the initial taste of tropical fruit and the semi-hoppy finish.

The floral aroma and body are delectable and, overall, the beer goes down a bit too easy.

This is a delicious treat that has rightfully earned its price tag, but I just don't see myself buying this every time I go to the store. There are beers just as tasty that are $7 or $8 cheaper and for that reason I can't justify giving it the top spot.

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My favorite beer was Harpoon's The Long Thaw Hazy IPA with Orange Peel and Coriander, which was tied for the second cheapest beet I bought.

My favorite beer was Harpoon's The Long Thaw Hazy IPA with Orange Peel and Coriander, which was tied for the second cheapest beet I bought.
Harpoon's The Long Thaw Hazy IPA with Orange Peel and Coriander. Max Kalnitz/Insider

A six-pack of 12-fluid ounce bottles cost $9.99 at my local beer store.

The Long thaw had the third highest ABV at 6.2%.

The Long thaw had the third highest ABV at 6.2%.
Harpoon's The Long Thaw Hazy IPA with Orange Peel and Coriander. Max Kalnitz/Insider

The beer has a hazy orange appearance with a thin layer of foam. There wasn't a lot of carbonation but the aromatics from the orange peel and coriander hit the nostrils immediately.

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The beer has a subtle hint of spice and a slightly bitter finish that I found infinitely enjoyable.

The beer has a subtle hint of spice and a slightly bitter finish that I found infinitely enjoyable.
Harpoon's The Long Thaw Hazy IPA with Orange Peel and Coriander. Max Kalnitz/Insider

Harpoon set out to make a beer for the transitional time between winter and spring where you don't know if it's too early to put away the skis or if you should break out the bike, and I think they nailed it.

The beer has the subtlest hint of spice, like winter hanging on for dear life, and a refreshing citrus flavor promising warm weather ahead. It has a thicker mouthfeel with a slightly bitter finish that I found infinitely enjoyable.

I could for sure see myself drinking a few of these while enjoying the spring sunshine on my front porch.

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