Hairless Dog Brewing comes to us out of the Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota. What they lack in heat and beaches, they make up for in non-alcoholic beer selection. Hairless Dog Brewing was founded by a couple of beer lovers who quit drinking, which seems like a pretty relatable topic. One such beer, their Citra Lager, is described by Hairless Dog as an all-season, any-occasion NA brew for those seeking a lighter-bodied drink that’s crisp and flavorful.
How Does it Pour?
First of all, the Citra Lager from Hairless Dog Brewing pours a golden yellow color, cloudy and a bit more reminiscent of a wheat ale instead of a lager. Then, the quickly dissipating white head brings aromas of citrus peels into the air, which again is slightly more reminiscent of a wheat ale or an IPA. I have to imagine the “Citra” in the name refers to Citra hops and not citrus, but citrus is all that comes off the top of the beer.
How Does it Taste?
As we dive in, on first taste it does not disappoint expectations. That citrus peel hits you right away. Unfortunately, the sweetness of the citrus is overpowered by the bitterness of the peel. It seems to linger on the sides of your tongue. There is definitely a distinct malt taste, but then there is the mysterious flavor I have gotten from all of Hairless Dog Brewing’s brews. I have not been able to pinpoint this flavor, though the label identifies their use of citrus to be the calamansi plant. It reminds me of many Belgian ales. It’s a tinge in the back of your throat. There is a strong indication across multiple reviews that what I’m tasting is the wort “a component of brewing”, and that due to its lack of alcohol, that can be expected, but we all know by now how untrue that is.
Party Like There’s a Tomorrow
Overall, I have mixed feelings about this beer. If I’m hanging out on the couch and want a great beer and I reach for this, I am very disappointed. I am just not a fan of the flavor. However, if I am working in the yard all day and craving something cold and refreshing, I have learned that this does the trick. Untappd users have given this beer a rating of 2.7/5 which I guess seems pretty accurate. It’s higher than the O’Douls of the world, but it lacks in body and flavor when compared to some of the higher-rated non-alcoholic craft beers. In the end, don’t take my word for it, go try it for yourself!
#ADDTOCART HAIRLESS DOG BREWING
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