red hot summer

For some, the alien part would be the attention grabber.  For me it was the blackcurrants.  I love those things!  Juiced, anyway.  So, Alien Juice "DDH Blackcurrant Milkshake Session IPA" made it's way to my refrigerator.  That familiar name Yria was right on top, but this is a collaboration, and not with Brits or Americans, but the Romanian Hop Hooligans.  I'm slightly suspicious of the milkshake part, but that might just be the oats in the ingredients.  They do tend to keep things smooth and milkshake smooshy.

It's a ruddy berry beer, although the cloudiness makes it look more like a dark grapefruit juice than most fruit beers.  The aroma is hoppy and crisp, with a snap that tells you it's an IPA for sure, but none of the citrus of regular IPAs.  It's a little bit musky, I'd say.  It teases with a hint of sweetness at the very beginning of the sip, but smooths out into a mildly fruity bitter immediately after.  The currants make it a wee bit acidic and even dry, although more refreshing than other beverages that revel in that sort of flavor.  The taste overall is mild and subtle, if you're looking for strong fruit or hops you'll be a little disappointed, but as a summer drink it doesn't demand much from the palate.  There's a good medium weight about it that lets you feel like you're having a good drink, while the understated flavors allow you to sit back and hope you don't get sunburned.  I wondered about sourness from the "milkshake", but it's not sour at all really, not in a tangy or fruity milk way.  The can warns that it's "dangerously safe", given the light flavor and low percentage (3.8% - it's a session IPA, remember).  While the oxymoron is chuckleworthy, you could knock back several cans of these without thinking much about it, until it's too late.  And then the flying saucer will come...

Supplier: Más Que Cervezas
Price: €4.50