Radicle’s New Mango Mint Brew Is The Beer Of The Summer
Mango, peach, beer… and mint?
Ewww, right?
Bear with me folks, bear with me.
If there’s one of several bars in the Quad-Cities that I really enjoy going to, it’s Radicle Effect, at 1340 31st Street, Rock Island. The bartenders can vouch for this. So can many of the regulars. So can Freddy Rumsen.
Radicle is a pretty radical joint. If you haven’t been there, I highly recommend you check it out. It’s got a lot of the veteran bartenders from one of my other faves, Blue Cat, now behind the post, as well as several other excellent mixologists. It’s a great place to get a perfect Old Fashioned (yeah, I’ve been on a Don Draper kick in the past) and a nice glass of wine, but hey, it’s a freakin’ brew pub, folks, so its bread and butter, if bread and butter were fermented, is beer. And Radicle does not disappoint, with an excellent array of brews. Some of them are more to my liking that others (I’m less of a dark beer guy than a light beer guy), but they’ve got something for every palate. And they take some unusual chances, many of which have paid off quite well.
But when I saw recently that they had debuted a brew called Mango In The Minty Mountains, I was both intrigued and kind of dubious. It was described as a sour ale that included mango (love it), peaches (cool with me) and… mint.
Mint???
There’s where you lost me.
Now, straight up, I’m not a huge mint fan. I do like mojitos, but there’s some strange alien Caribbean magic going on there to make mint and lime taste so delicious together. Otherwise, anything minty reminds me of toothpaste, which is great if I’m brushing my teeth, but not so great otherwise. Especially when I’m drinking a beer.
But, nevertheless, because I’m such an intrepid reporter and social scientist, I felt compelled to check out this new concoction. Not for me, of course, but for YOU, YOU the readers of this wonderful column.
Now, I know what you’re saying to yourself right now.
MINT???
REALLY????
SEAN, HAVE YOU BEEN DRINKING???
To which I can only answer:
Yes.
Yes.
Well, okay, yes.
But it’s not just the alcohol talking. Okay, maybe it’s miming a bit, and wearing a jaunty scarf, but it’s speaking words of wisdom, saying let it be, local beer drinkers, let it be, and wander your way over to Radicle Effect to get at least a sample of this misty mountain mashup for yourself.
You can thank me later.
And by thank me later, I mean if you see me there, you can buy me one of these beautiful bastards.
Mango In The Minty Mountains is a perfect summer brew. It feels like a shandy. It’s light, it’s smooth, it’s got the perfect combination of sour and sweet and that light beer feel of a shandy. Up to this point, it’s probably the beer of the summer for summer 2018. Of course, I’m open to be convinced otherwise. Especially if you’re buying, and you own or bartend at a local brew pub. But nevertheless, Mango In The Minty Mountains is fantastic.
And no, you can’t really taste the mint at all.
The first thing you notice is how smooth and light it is. It really does drink like a shandy. It’s got that same refreshing taste and feel. You don’t really get a lot of the mango, you get a little of the peach and not much if any of the mint. But what you do get is a taste that combines them all into something distinct and unique. It really is a wonderful combination that you have to try. It’s best enjoyed on a warm summery night as the afternoon is turning to dusk, out on the patio at Radicle up in College Hill in Rock Island. Great location, great atmosphere, great beer.
I highly recommend Mango In The Minty Mountains.
You can thank me later.
And by thank me, I mean you can buy me one if you run into me at Radicle.
Chances are good you will.
Sorry Freddy Rumsen.
