Citra Dreams

Citra Dreams is a 19.2-ounce single can from Esplanda, brewed in Massachusetts. The name points to Citra hops, the variety known for grapefruit, tangerine, lime and tropical fruit aromatics, so expect a hop-forward beer built around those notes rather than a malt-driven one. The listing doesn't specify the style, ABV or IBU, so treat anything beyond the hop focus as typical of the category, not as a measured profile. Citra-led New England beers usually pair that citrus and stone-fruit character with a soft body and restrained bitterness, and the finish tends to be juicy more than sharp. The 19.2-ounce can works out to 568 mL, the size of an imperial pint, so it pours generously into one large glass or splits into two smaller servings. Hop-forward beers show best fresh, so keep the can cold and drink it soon after buying. Serve it well chilled but not ice-cold, roughly 42 to 48°F. Colder temperatures mute the citrus aroma that the hops are there to deliver. Pour it into a tulip, a shaped IPA glass, or a wide-mouthed tumbler, since a tapered rim concentrates the hop aromatics. Pour it out of the can instead of drinking from it, because much of the flavor of a Citra beer arrives through the nose. For food, beers like this suit dishes that echo or cut through bright citrus: fish tacos with lime, grilled shrimp, chicken wings with a moderate spice, carnitas, Thai or Vietnamese noodle dishes, and fresh goat cheese or young cheddar. The hop fruitiness also sits well beside a sharp slaw or a lightly dressed citrus salad.