Mike's Hard Cranberry Lemonade (69.5cl, 5%)

Mike's Hard Cranberry Lemonade is a flavoured malt beverage from Chicago, Illinois, combining tart cranberry and lemonade at 5% ABV. It is produced by Mike's Hard Lemonade Co., which introduced its original hard lemonade to the American market in 1999. The drink uses a fermented malt base made from grains that contain gluten, though the company states the product is crafted to remove gluten. The aroma leads with bright, candied cranberry, followed by citrus lemonade sweetness and a light, clean grain-like undertone. On the palate the entry is noticeably sweet with ripe lemonade character, pivoting to a tart cranberry bite at mid-palate. The balance between sweet and sour is the defining trait, with the malt base staying well in the background. The finish is short and crisp, with lingering cranberry tartness and a light citrus tang, leaving little residual sweetness.