Mikes Hard Lemonade

Mikes Hard Lemonade is a ready-to-drink malt-based lemonade, sold as a single-serve drink that needs no mixing. Expect a bright, sweet-tart lemon flavor in the style of a classic stand-style lemonade: sugar up front, a sharp citrus finish, and little of the bitterness or grain character of beer. The carbonation is usually light, and the alcohol tends to be much less noticeable than in a spirit-based drink. Check the label for the exact strength and serving size. Serve it well chilled, straight from the fridge or over plenty of ice. Ice matters more here than with most drinks. It keeps the sweetness in check as the drink warms, and a few cubes of ice in the glass will also mellow the initial sugar. A tall glass such as a highball or Collins glass suits it, and a standard pint glass works too. Drinking from the bottle is fine, but a glass lets the lemon aroma come through. A lemon wedge or wheel on the rim adds fresh zest that offsets the sweetness. Because it is already sweetened and flavored, it can stand in for lemonade or sour mix in simple long drinks. Topping it up with soda water or a splash of club soda stretches it and cuts the sweetness. Mixed with iced tea, it gives a hard-lemonade take on an Arnold Palmer. Fresh berries or mint muddled in the glass pair well with the lemon base. For food, choose salty, fried, or grilled dishes, which suit sweet-tart drinks like this: chicken wings, fish tacos, grilled sausages, salted pretzels, or a sharp cheese plate. The acidity and sugar balance salt and fat, and spicy dishes get a cooling counterpoint.