The thirst-quenching refreshment of lime. The pleasant pucker of passion fruit. The lush, soft depth of pineapple. As humans, we love fruit. We’re wired to. For early humans, fruit was literally a source of life. Our hunter-gather ancestors foraged for fruit to obtain much of their sustenance. So it’s no surprise that we love fruity flavors in beer. From the tropical and stone fruit flavors of modern hops to the pome fruit and banana notes of yeast-derived esters, fruit flavors are all over our favorite craft beer styles.  

At times, fruit itself often makes its way into many of these same beers, especially once the warmer weather hits and yearning for juicy refreshers hits its height. So it’s no surprise that we’ve got a veritable grove of fruit-infused brews to cool that patio or beachside heat. Let’s discover how the fruit used in each takes these beverages to the next delicious level.

It’s difficult to think about fruit in beer without jumping right to one of the most iconic (and beachy) combinations: a pale, highly carbonated lager with a wedge of lime squeezed in. Brewed with real lime purée and peel, Mexican Lager with Lime is perfect for the beach, yes, but also for any other laid-back situation you might find yourself in. The gentle acidity and bright aromatics of lime enhance the already satiating character of a well-crafted light lager. Plus, we package our Mexican Lager in cans, which we think are the ideal vessels for sipping alongside sandy waterfronts or shaded backyard gardens, with or without an additional lime wedge. And if you’re looking for more of a Hawaii-style beach beer experience, try kicking it with the pleasantly refreshing passion fruit, orange, and guava flavors of Kickaround POG Tart. We think you’ll love Kickaround’s bright fruity flavor, inspired by Hawaii’s beloved tropical juice drink.

We all have our favorite beverages, but who doesn’t like switching things up occasionally? Thankfully, our brewers feel the same way, crafting a different fruit wheat beer to suit the season. For those warmer poolside months, the bright, fresh Strawberry Pineapple Wheat dives headfirst into a luscious blend of highly refreshing flavors. Once the leaves turn and the holidays draw nigh, the jam-packed Cran Orange Wheat harvests a satisfying medley of fruit sensations built for cooler days. And both of our fruited wheat beers are brewed with real fruit purée for bursts of quenching flavor in every sip. So whether it’s summer or winter, you’ll have a beverage to match your mood.

Fruit beers are often light and delicate, made for sun-drenched lounging on idyllic afternoons. Juicy Vibacious Double IPA, on the other hand, is a completely different vibe. The newest member of the Vibacious Double IPA family is big in every sense of the word, packing a powerful punch at 9.5% ABV while maintaining big drinkability at just 40 IBUs. Even bigger is the real orange and lemon packed into every drop of those stunning, soundwave-inspired cans (especially when they’re 19.2 oz. Cans!) The citrusy and tropical aromas of Citra and Cashmere hops add an extra-juicy touch to this ridiculously drinkable year-round Double IPA. 

Ready to peel open a pack of our fruit-forward brews? Use our Beer Finder to hunt down all our year round and seasonal brews at a store near you.

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Questions? Email GLBCinfo@greatlakesbrewing.com for more information.

Words by Michael Williams
Pictures by Lily Switka and Mary Kate Healey