There’s something about citrus, sunshine and spring showers that go hand-in-hand. To complement the season as it quickly bursts into bloom, we compiled a collection of beverages equally as refreshing as the season to sate your springtime thirst. From the Okanagan Valley to the flowing waters of the Deschutes River, the region is budding with citrus-fied beers, ciders, spirits and sparkling wines, just in time for the turning season.
Beer: Citra and mosaic hops give Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery Fresh Squeezed IPA a burst of citrus flavor, making these suds delightfully refreshing. The beer, which started as an experimental tap at Deschutes’ public houses, has since been inducted into the brewery’s popular Bond Street Series, and is now available year-round so that you can pretend it’s Spring anytime.
Cider: Scrumpy lovers looking to refresh themselves will love Reverend Nat’s Behold Deliverance Ginger Tonic. This hard cider, which comes from the popular Portland cidery, gets its kick from “gallons of pure squeezed ginger juice, hundreds of hand-cut fresh lemongrass stalks [and] the fresh-squeezed juice and zest of many limes.” Spicy ginger comes together with the refreshing flavors of lemongrass and lime to make this “tonic” balanced and refreshing.
Wine: For spring celebrations or Sunday morning brunch, Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars’ Brut NV “Gold Label” is a refreshing sparkler marked by a strong citrus character and a vibrant lemon finish. You can enjoy this Okanagan-made bubbly straight up, or add a splash of fresh squeezed orange juice for an added burst of citrus.
Spirits: For the ultimate in citrus, Seattle’s small-batch distillery, Letterpress Distilling, crafts its vodka from 100 percent Washington-grown white winter wheat and two-row barley, then they add real lemons and Washington blackberry honey to create their homemade, traditional-style Letterpress Limoncello. Containing natural, locally-sourced ingredients and no artificial coloring, this Italian liqueur is made in the old-fashioned way, and tastes great served straight on ice.
Gearing up for spring is easy with these citrus-centric sippers, but if you find yourself longing for the flavors of the season the other nine months of the year, you’re in luck—all of these beverages are offered year-round!
