Recently, I found myself traversing a familiar canal towpath in my hometown of Birmingham, heading towards my local pretentious craft beer “joints.” I joke, but I am the friend that encourages my vodka-lemonade-drinking peers to choke down a matcha-flavoured IPA that doesn’t get them buzzed and tastes like something a dog vomited up. (Their words, not mine.) 

Occasionally though, we find a winner, which this month came in the form of a can of Vault City’s Cloudy Lemonade. Edinburgh-based Vault City Brewery is the UK’s current patron saint of sours. This vegan-friendly beer is made with a zesty combination of Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops, from North America and New Zealand respectively, and packs a lip-pursing sour punch. However, the classically sweet, refreshing aftertaste of lemonade kept my friends and I thirsty for more.  

I’d recommend Cloudy Lemonade to anyone on the craft beer hate train, who sits nursing their watery Lemon Drop Martini, feeling dissatisfied with how much alcohol they were given. Do you dread the next time that you’ll have to pay another thirteen quid for a drink that takes three sips to finish? Try Vault City’s Cloudy Lemonade for that same citrus kick and a 4.2% ABV, perfect for session drinking.   

And to the pop girls who want to diversify their music tastes as well as their tastes in alcohol, I’d recommend pairing this beer with Kelsea Ballerini’s 2022 pop-country album SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  If you’re partial to Taylor Swift’s Fearless era, tracks on the album like “I CAN’T HELP MYSELF” and “MUSCLE MEMORY” are for you. The twang of country music instruments is a wonderful addition to Ballerini’s punchy pop melodies, harmonising with Vault City’s hoppy, sharp spin on a classic soft drink. 

Spring is finally upon us, so if you feel the urge to crack open a cold one and party like you’re tailgating in Tennessee, this pairing is great for days where the skies are so blue that the only clouds are in your drink.