Back in March 2019 I brought you a peek at a new beer coming from Island Brands. The beer was called Island Coastal Lager and as the label says, it was “created as a craft alternative to those mass-marketed brands.”
Since that time, Island Brands of Charleston, SC has created four different beers and as they put it, “Island Brands produces clean, better for you, super premium beer, set at a competitive price point to fill the gap between factory beer corporations and craft breweries.”
Their beers are currently available at over 17 retailers like Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Costco, Food City. Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Winn Dixie and even Whole Foods. If that’s not enough, you can click on their Beer Finder and track some down for yourself.
Their beers currently include Island Coastal Lager, Island Active, Island Lemonada, & Island Southern Peach and their descriptions are below:
ISLAND COASTAL LAGER®
Island Coastal Lager (ICL for those in the know) was created as a premium alternative to those mass-market brands. Only the finest ingredients are used to brew this crisp and clean lager. Perfectly balanced with a smooth finish, it's made for easy drinking.
ISLAND ACTIVE®
Island Active is a crisp and clean premium light lager. Only 88 calories and made without fillers or preservatives, it’s the perfect fit for your active lifestyle. Born on the coast, enjoyed wherever your next adventure takes you.
ISLAND LEMONADA™
Inspired by the coastal lemon groves along the Mediterranean, Island Lemonada is both thirst quenching and delicious. Kick back and soak up the sunshine with this shandy that perfectly balances the finest premium beer and fresh squeezed lemonade. Crisp and clean, this beer is made for easy drinking.
ISLAND SOUTHERN PEACH™
Juicy sun ripened peaches, fresh brewed Southern tea and premium beer are combined to create Island Southern Peach. Get some South in your mouth with this twist on a Southern classic. Crisp and clean with a hint of fresh peach tea, this beer is made for easy drinking.
I’m excited to get my hands on these beers and sample them for myself, so off we go…
Island Coastal Lager
ABV: 4.5%
IBU: 10
Style: Light Lager
Packaging: 12oz cans
Appearance: Light golden
Aroma: Citrus & mild biscuit
Mouthfeel: Light
Taste: Fresh citrus and slightly sweet malt.
Overall: Island Coastal Lager is a really crushable beer with a bit of citrus up front and some mild bitterness at the end. I’d call it a bit malt-forward with some mildly grassy hops to balance it all out. Overall the beer is refreshing, crushable, satisfying and really drinkable (a good combination).
Island Active
ABV: 4.2%
IBU: 5
Style: Light Lager
Packaging: 12oz cans
Appearance: Light straw
Aroma: Mild malt and citrus
Mouthfeel: Light
Taste: Malt-forward with refreshing but mild lemon notes.
Overall: Island Active is a crisp and clean drinking lager that just happens to only have 88 calories and 2.6g carbs per serving. This sessionable beach beer is perfect for summer and overall I thought it was refreshing, crisp and very drinkable for a lower-calorie beer (what I call a win-win).
Island Lemonada
ABV: 4.5%
Style: Shandy
Packaging: 12oz cans
Appearance: Golden straw
Aroma: Fresh lemons
Mouthfeel: Light
Taste: Citrus and bright lemon.
Overall: Island Lemonada feels and drinks like a classic shandy. The prominent lemon nicely balances out the Island Coastal Lager base beer and really makes for a nice combination. This beer is refreshing and thirst quenching, and at 4.5%-AbV you’ll be able to drink more than one.
Island Southern Peach
ABV: 4.5%
Style: Shandy
Packaging: 12oz cans
Appearance: Golden orange
Aroma: Peaches & mild tea
Mouthfeel: Light
Taste: Peach and earthy tea flavors.
Overall: Island Sothern Peach reminds me of a peach-flavored iced tea combined with a light lager (I can’t imagine why). The stone fruit and sweet tea flavors combine nicely and I found myself at the bottom of the 12oz can pretty quickly. Overall this beer is really refreshing, really drinkable and I suspect it will be a really good beer to find in my cooler on the beach this summer. This has to be my favorite of the bunch.
Be sure to get out there and try all of these Island Brands beers for yourself. Whether you’re out enjoying dinner or sitting on the beach, I think you’ll find Island Coastal Lager, Island Active, Island Lemonada, & Island Southern Peach to be really enjoyable and really drinkable. And when you do try them, be sure to let us know what YOU think.As a bonus, I bring you a peek at the new Pomelo Grapefruit flavor (4.5%-AbV, 12oz cans) & Active Lime flavor (4.2%-AbV, 88 calories, 2.6g carbs, 12oz cans)
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