I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream come the warmer months – but if there's one other unifying summer pursuit, it's cracking open a cold beer and kicking back in the sunshine (ideally, by the water). So it was only natural that Muskoka Brewery, located in Bracebridge, should team up with the iconic Kawartha Dairy ice creams to create a full-bodied raspberry and vanilla cottage country-inspired Milkshake IPA.
In addition to being the delicious embodiment of Muskokan summer, Black Raspberry Thunder (which shares its name with Kawartha Dairy's black raspberry puree and white chocolate chunk ice cream) also gives back. The collaboration benefits local community improvement projects, so you can feel good about grabbing a few cans on your booze run en route to the cottage. The creamy, raspberry beer is dark amber in colour and versatile enough to pair with a BBQ or fireside smores.
Upon the first whiff, Black Raspberry Thunder's fruity nose gives you the impression you're about to embark on a sour beer. However, courtesy of the rich and creamy mouthfeel of the milkshake IPA, the tartness of the drink gives way to softer notes of vanilla and caramel. While it might not be the most crushable beer for those lazy, hazy cottage days, it's the perfect mid-afternoon brew to savour in the afternoon sun.
$3.65, lcbo.com
