Turbo Shandy - Hoppin' Frog Brewery

LeRose

Massachusetts

2.5/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5

22 ounce bottle, poured into pint glass. 2013 vintage, did not note the date.

Aroma was lemony but not overly fresh, some faint malt in the background. Nothing overly enticing here.

Appearance - slightly cloudy golden cooler, a few bubbles but no real head. Some small bubbles appeared throughout the consumption.

Taste - very sweet, some lemon up front, a little acidity, but mostly sweet. The malt character wasn't really present either.

Mouthfeel - cloying sweetness and definitely coating. Bordering on syrupy. To me, lacking in carbonation. A strange aftertaste that is not bitter or citrusy - almost an oily character.

For me, this was a weak offering from Hoppin' Frog. I look for this style to be refreshing and lively, but this one was overly sweet and dead heavy. It didn't have the lemonade brightness I was looking for and the brew behind the flavor lacked character.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 16:03:04 | More by LeRose

weonfire

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

Purchased from Hoppin' Frog brewery on the day they were bottling Turbo Shady. Poured about 2 hours later. Almost impossible to have any fresher.

A - Light golden, slightly hazy, zero head, zero lacing, constant carbonation rising.

S - Lemonade, sugar, lots of citrus, lightly barley, light malt

T - lemon, sweet red wine, wheat, lots of citrus, light malt

M - med body, froth level is low, descent amount of carbonation

O - Good summer drink. Yes, technically its a 'beer' but this is really sweet - almost too sweet. Frothiness isn't there. I wouldnt say its on the level of Mike's Hard Lemonade tho. If your not on a boat in the summer warmth- I might avoid this.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2013 23:04:01 | More by weonfire

iabeerbaron

Iowa

3.14/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

REVIEW

Style: Fruit beer, shandy

ABV: 7%

Purchased at: Woodman’s Market; Madison, WI.

Pour: Blonde pour with a medium white head.

Aroma: Lemon fruit scent, maybe some yeast notes as well.

Flavor: The sweet lemonade is there. I described it as very close to drinking a Squirt soda.

Ratebeer.com rating: 39/100

Beeradvocate.com rating: 79/100

Overall: C+

My recommendation: A hot day, this works well. The only drawback for me, not enough beer flavor and too sweet. A good 22 oz bottle to share with somebody.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 17:37:28 | More by iabeerbaron

BrownNut

Florida

2.86/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

This was not good. It's not that it tasted bad, it's that it tasted wrong for a beer. It didn't taste like beer. It tasted like an artificially flavored children's soda pop, and a really overdone one at that. It was cloying and fake tasting. I gave it a couple tries but just couldn't motivate to keep on sipping. One sip and sniff was enough to know things weren't looking good. Another couple was enough to not want any more of it.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 17:22:00 | More by BrownNut

RickS95

Indiana

2.25/5  rDev -34%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Looks pretty bad, even for a fruit beer. It's mostly straw gold with an ever so slight reddish orange mixed in. Think 5 parts gold to 1 part reddish orange. There is no head. Maybe a few bubbles early on, but they're gone in no time. It resembles a watered down orange Kook Aid.

The smell isn't much better. Has a slight lemon ginger scent, but that's it. Plus, it's almost an artificial smell.

Getting better, but still not good. Finally, at least I can taste some beer ingredients...a little malt. A lot of lemon citrus notes, some carbonation, a lot of sugar.

Believe it or not, it's got a heavy, thick syrupy feel to it. Some carbonation and sweetness, a lot of sweetness. Kind of a twang, but it's overpowered by the sweetness. Tartness in the finish.

Thank God it's a high ABV shandy or this would be worthless. It's simply not a good beer and it's difficult to drink. Too syrupy and lacks good flavors. Not something I'll ever have again.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 02:38:09 | More by RickS95

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

3.83/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle poured into pilsner glass. Served this well chilled.

A) Cloudy yellow with a massive white foamy head. The head settled quickly to a soapy looking collar. Not much lacing.

S) The positive about the nose on this brew, is that it doesn't have that lemony household cleaner thing going on. The negative is the sweetness, not so much that it's too sweet, but it's kind of an artificial sweetener. The scent is fresh enough, and good for a bottled shandy.

T) A fine beer lemonade combo. Follows the nose pretty closely, but I bumped the score up a notch, because the taste seemed more natural to me, like fresh lemon juice and table sugar. This one is super refreshing. The 7% ABV is completely unnoticed, which makes this one dangerous. At the same time, a 7% ABV shandy, is quite contrary to the invention of the shandy in the first place.

M) A medium body, and not overly carbonated. It is a little bit syrupy. It could have actually been just a little lighter, but even so it delivered a refreshing lemon pick me up.

O) Really quite an enjoyable fruit/vegetable beer here. If you are looking to try a bottled shandy, I'd highly recommend this one. It went down great on a 100 degree summer day.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 13:16:04 | More by RoamingGnome

ncketchum

Wisconsin

3.63/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served chilled in a Duvel tulip

A - pours a hazy straw yellow with two fingers of pure white head. Good amount of lacing, a rim of retention

S - loads of lemonade up front, almost too sweet, followed by a bit of malt. no alcohol on the nose

T - mostly lemonade as in the nose, a fair malt backbone, bordering on the edge of too sweet

M - not too thin, good amount of carbonation, no alcohol to speak of, even at 7%abv

O - if the sweetness was toned down just a touch, this would be a phenomenal shandy. As it is, it is still a very refreshing drink for a hot summer afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 03:51:35 | More by ncketchum

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Fruit and beer has a commingling history although many staunch beer aficionados frown upon the combinations today. Lemonade infused beers have fallen in and out of favor in Germany in radlers or the tropics as shandy, but they rarely exhibit the fortified strength of seven percent alcohol.

Hazy golden in color, the "dirty" yellow hue sheads its early carbonation and goes quickly still. Terse head character, carbonation, and no real lacing gives the beer a slightly dull appearance throughout.

Where it's kind of an ugly duckling to the eye, the nose is very perfumy with lemons, wheat, cookie dough, and powdered sugar. Light fruity-spicy interplay lies squarely on the lemons but is also timidly supported with orange zest, corriander, and peppery alcohol.

Sweet lemons are again the dominant flavor, and by a long shot. The sugar and fruit juice thwart the flimsy wheat malt, doughy yeast, or herbal hop character. The simplified palate that's all-about-lemon offers little complexity, balance, or interest to celebrate otherwise- but boy is it still tasty!

The sugary-sweet mouth feel coats the palate with soda-pop residually sweet tact and mild lemon acidity. The sweetness gives the blend an extended finish with zesty fruit closure with nary a suggestion of alcohol anywhere.

Comparisons to actual non-blended beers aren't quite fair as the fruit doesn't participate in the brewing or fermentation processes. Rather, as a blend of two beverages it's more of a cocktail of ale and lemonade. Although I find the blend very refreshing, absolutely tasty, and delightful, I like it for very different reasons than I like beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 17:05:35 | More by BEERchitect

jjanega08

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

No freshness dating.

A= Pours a hazy bright yellow color with a half finger of fizzy soda like head that falls at a decent rate to a ring around the glass. Not too much lacing.

S= The smell lemony like a shandy. I'm not sure if shandys are allowed on beeradvocate but for a shandy this doesn't smell bad. Big bright in your face lemonade aroma with a secondary wheat smell you can pick up pretty easily.

T= The taste is just like the smell lemonade and a wheat beer mixed together. The lemon character may be a little too sweet for my liking but not too over the top. The wheat flavor comes through in the end and finishes nicely. Nice bit of tartness to the lemonade but again just a little too sweet for me.

M= Nice bubbly carbonation keeps the tongue happy.

O= A decent shandy. It's a little overly sweet but the wheat character and the lemon are well done. Nice carbonation and a good sipper on a hot day like today. I'm happy a craft brewer decided to make a shandy and make it pretty well. Tone the sweetness down a bit and this would be a most excellent beverage.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 02:59:26 | More by jjanega08

wvsabbath

West Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +29.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Serving Type - 22oz bottle

Appearance - Light golden yellow, much like a wheat ale. Light white fizzy head and minor lacing.

Smell - Citric lemon and orange soon as bottle is open. Some wheat and maybe a little wheat/malt mix with some added sugars and spices.

Taste - Very cirtic carbinated sweet sting of orange and lemon. Some added sugars really send this over the top. Mix of spices and a little yeastly feel. As with all hoppin frog brews, flavor heavy and strong. Theres a malt backbone thats hidden behind the fruits. Alcohol is none present, no way id think this was more then 4% until a mild warmth comes in at the end.

Mouthfeel - Very light and easy to drink. Tounge and palate get the orange and lemon with sugars and malts. Aftertaste is dry, sweet and spicy.

Overall - Once you get over the fact that this doesnt taste like a beer then you can enjoy it. Its what its says it is, a citrus ale. Its super easy to drink and really citric sweet. Nice beer for a change up, or perfect for a wine cooler or none beer female drinker. This is spot on for the style and worth a drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 20:39:16 | More by wvsabbath

ONUMello

Ohio

3.18/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Pours a pale hazy yellow with a one-finger head that settles very quickly. Quite a bit of carbonation.
S: Lots of lemon, a bit Sprite-like with sweet malt underneath.
T: Pretty much tastes like Sprite that's going flat. Sweet lemon-lime.
M: Light-bodied, lots of nice carbonation, just not much depth.
O: All things considered this does taste good and goes down way too easy, but I can buy a can of Sprite and drop in a shot of vodka for far less than $7/bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 23:46:27 | More by ONUMello

spitInTheOcean

Michigan

2.78/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

yellow. hazy. not much head retention. white head. very effervescent.

aroma is all lemon. no hops, unless if there are any they're very citrusy. no malt aroma. thin alcohol aroma.

initially sweet, but i dont think its malt sweet. then in the middle when the initial sweetness meets the citrus sourness it is a strange dissonant pairing. huge lemon flavor. sour finish. no hop flavor. there may be some hop bitterness which is what is clashing with the sourness. no malt flavor. cant really taste the alcohol, but you can feel its heat.

thin mouth feel. very effervescent. crisp. light. refreshing.

aroma is pretty one-dimensional. i picked this up because i love boris, and i have not like other shandies(leninkugels) but i was excited to see what they could do with this style. bitterness and sourness are notorious clashers. i think there is too much hop bitterness here. this beer is to the tongue what nails on chalkboard is the the ears.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 03:29:30 | More by spitInTheOcean

drabmuh

Maryland

2.23/5  rDev -34.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Bottle poured into a snifter, I like this brewery so I got it without looking at the reviews, oops. beer is yellow with a mild haze, lots of carbonation but no head, no lacing, no retention...odd.

Smell like Pledge, the furniture cleaning / polish pledge. This makes me read the label "Natural flavors added" and the sun is a lemon on the label. Oh god no.

This a Radler...so now my ignorance is showing. After a little bit (very little) internet research I realize that "Shandy" is the Italian term for the German term "Radler" which is a beer mixed with a soda, citrus soda. Ugh....this light, way super sweet, dominating lemon...what's that sink? You're thirsty? Here you go.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 02:39:59 | More by drabmuh

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

pale golden amber.A good two inch plus head formed at the top almost immediately and had a decent, but not long retention to it. After the head faded it left behind about a quarter of an inch of fizzy, fuzzy lace

Very strong, almost pungent smell coming off of this one from the very beginning. The first whiff was ridiculously sweet with the smell of, what would you expect, citrus. yeasty smell and a touch of wheat or bread. unfiltered wheat defiantly came through as well, but I would consider this to be way more a fruit brew then a Hefe, it was just overpowering in its approach. There was some yeast and wheat flavors, way way out on the backend of it. Also the finish had somewhat of a lemon like touch to it, something a bit different to be sure and separate from the rest of the main flavor profile. Overall a very strong, pungent but yet light flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 23:47:41 | More by mikesgroove

Siggy125

California

3.8/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 22 oz bottle to pint glass. Traluscent yellow in color with tinges of lime green. Just a couple of bubbles of carbonation upon pour, then zero head, lacing, etc..

Smells of sour candy citrus and not much else. Maybe some light notes of yeasts.

The taste was a bit surprising. Lemon and lime citrus in flavor. A bit of sweetness on the palate, then sourness on the back end. I'm having trouble finding any "beer" in here. The 7% abv is very well hidden.

If you're looking for thirst quenching beer to pound on a hot day, look no further. This drinks like refreshing lemonade blended with 7up. Not really my style, but I think HF hit the intended target when creating this brew. Very unique.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 14:34:25 | More by Siggy125

superspak

Michigan

3.73/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle, bottled in May, picked it up at the brewery. Pours slightly hazy bright golden amber color with a small foamy white head that reduces to nothing pretty quickly. A good amount of carbonation nucleation from the bottom of the glass as well. Huge aromas of lemon zest, orange zest, lime, and a bit of yeast breadiness. Interesting aromas to say the least, smells like fresca or something. Taste of huge lemon, lime, orange zest, and a bit of spiciness. Some tartness from the lemon and lime on the finish, with lingering citrus notes for a brief period of time. No bitterness noticed at all. Medium body and medium carbonation. No alcohol noticed other than a slight warming after the finish. Very easy to drink for 7% ABV. Overall, this is actually pretty damn good. I don’t think I have actually had a shandy before, but this is tasty stuff!

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 05:35:58 | More by superspak

sixerofelixir

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bomber. I can't locate any date codes. Dig the label art, like all the Hoppin' Frogs..

Pours a hazed, lite, lemon-yellow. A fine, white head bubbles up if you pour heavily, but most of the time a small ring washes around the glass. Smell is a pleasant, citrus-fruit *bomb* - straight lemon & lime. Tastes good too, layers of balanced, not-too-sour lemon and a very mild malt underneath. Honestly, this tastes like Sprite (though not as carbonated). Smooth, flat, fruity feel. Finishes tart, the 7% ABV is hid splendidly. Refreshing indeed, and by *far* the most intense lemon-infused beer or shandy I've tried. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 21:14:53 | More by sixerofelixir

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer poured out as a light hazy yellow color. The head is a little fizzy and it vanishes pretty quickly. The smell is strong with citrusy lemons. It smells highly refreshing for the summer season. The taste is very lemony. The beer taste more like a lemonade than a beer. The mouthfeel is light and slightly carbonated. Overall this beer is a decent summer beer, I wouldn't drink more than one of these. Pretty sweet all around, worth drink on a really hot day.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 03:15:44 | More by Knapp85

stakem

Pennsylvania

2.78/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Bomber split with the family during a cookout and poured into a cervoise. This brew appears a hazed color of lemonade but with a dark yellow to orange coloration. There is no head formation despite lots of fizz and rising bubbles of carbonation to the surface. A swirl does nothing for the appearance.

The smell of this brew is very fruity with hints of lemon zest and pulp. Tons of fruity sweet indications fill the nose. There is a minor fruity malt or alcohol inclusion through the middle but the lemon remains dominating. As it warms, a light amount of sulfur is evident which mixes with a smell that gets somewhat more like grain but that is stretching it.

The taste of this brew is like lemony candy. It is very sweet with some zest, rinds and pulp addition but without the expected bitterness associated with that arrangement of ingredients. Very candy-like across the board like lemon and a bit of limes and a touch of orange. Despite the brew warming up, it doesn't have any more depth of flavor beyond that which has already been described.

This is a medium bodied brew with a light to modest amount of carbonation. It is easy drinking initially but it goes downhill fast. This is just overly sweet candy alcohol with almost an oily feel to it. The stage was set perfectly for this brew to be enjoyed. Chilled down appropriately on a hot summer day along the pool, even shared with people who don't necessarily like beer that tastes like beer... Finishing a bomber of this by yourself would be a real task. 4 people had but 4 or 5 ounces and each one struggled to finish off their share. While initially it was an interesting citrus beverage, the drinkability here is among the worst I have had.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 22:27:24 | More by stakem

MeanGene

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +28.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Big bottle from Kruegel's Deli in Wilkes-Barre, PA. I'm a big fan of Hoppin' Frog and was eager to try their spin on a summer shandy. While I've enjoyed this style in the past (Leinie, Saranac, etc.) this was easily the best bottled shandy I've had. At about 7% abv, it was substantial yet very tasty. Mouthfeel was good...not too cloying and it was very refreshing. For the $7.99 price (relatively low for this brewery) I'd definitely purchase it again!

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 19:20:50 | More by MeanGene

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours with no head over a cloudy yellow body. Plenty of carbonation at the onset.

Lots of lemonade and lime in the aromas, with some yeasty qualities in the back.

Tangy and sweet citrus flavors, like an lowly carbonated Fresca. Grassy hop quality, but mostly lemonade-quality coming thru ... as advertised. Pretty cool that they can give this ale such a shandy replication.

Mouthfeel is pretty juicy and light, with just a touch of carbonation. Hard to believe this has as much ABV as some doppelbocks.

I really enjoyed this one, as fruity beers go. Perfect alternative to the "malternatives".

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 14:28:46 | More by BeerImmediately

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cracked open at a summer cook out, figured the perfect situation. I see I am in the minority as I found this one to be VERY tasty.

A-Hazy golden straw yellow with a very thin white head that vanishes to nothing. Disappointing for the fact that it does not resemble beer.

S-Sweet and tangy lemon and lime zest with a touch of grassy hops and a bit of biscuit malt. Nothing over the top here but it nice.

T-Punch of lemon zest up front with an augmenting dash of lime in the back. Biscuit malt adds a balance of sweetness with a light touch of grassy hops and a subtle hint of honey.

M-Light bodied but not thin. Sharp, crisp and refreshing. This one comes off exactly like I would expect.

D-Come on people this is suppose to be a Shandy--which is a beer/lemonade mixed drink. This one has the lemon/lime zing up front with a light, sweet biscuit malt chaser. I could do without the 7% ABV though. Make this a 4-5% easy drinker and this one could be the ultimate summertime BBQ accompaniment!

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 14:36:30 | More by Deuane

beergod1

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Well....I had to make sure this wasn't a lemonade, because thats all I tasted, It was good lemonade, but I do prefer some Beer flavor with my Lemons. That being said.
It poured a cloudy yellow with minimal head. low carbonation. lemon on, in and around the nose. little bitterness before some strong citrus notes of lemon and a slight graininess, some lingering sweetness that isn’t overwhelming but doesn't work for me. It is still refreshing, but dammit, I want Beer. (7% abv...who would have thunk)

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 00:34:25 | More by beergod1

hosehead83

Ohio

2.25/5  rDev -34%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a "bomber" bottle into a standard pint glass. Almost flourescent yellow in color, with a very thin "now you see it, now you don't" head of foam.
Aroma-Sunkist orange soft drink
Taste-Sunkist with some malt thrown in. Cloyingly sweet and just about undrinkable to my hop-head tastes, even on a 90 degree day. Maybe over ice or with a shot of rum. Not for everyone.
Especially me. I do enjoy other Hoppin' Frog brews however, just not this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 17:42:45 | More by hosehead83

bluejacket74

Ohio

2.3/5  rDev -32.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

22 ounce bottle. Served in a nonic pint glass, the beer pours a hazy gold color with about a 1/4 inch white head that went away pretty quickly. No lacing whatsoever. The brew smells like lemon/limeade made with some kind of sugar substitute. It tastes the same way to me, mostly like some kind of lemonade with lime flavor and sugar substitute, maybe like a diet lemonade drink. It sure doesn't taste like good lemonade. After a while it just gets harder and harder to finish this bottle. Mouthfeel/body is light, and it has decent carbonation. Overall, I just don't care for this brew. I've had worse but I certainly won't buy this again, especially for $6.99 a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 23:26:30 | More by bluejacket74