Hit the patio with local pilsners, radlers and sours

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This article was published 20/06/2025 (471 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With summer kicking off in earnest this weekend, Manitoba craft brewers have once again introduced a slate of new (or back-by-popular-demand), refreshing pilsners, sours, radlers and other tasty options for your warm-weather sipping.

Here are six more local brews to help beat the heat…

One Great City x FortWhyte Alive Patio Party G&T Pilsner (Winnipeg — $4.49/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

A pilsner infused with juniper, coriander, lime, bergamot and grapefruit, the Patio Party is medium straw and hazy in appearance, with intense spice and herbal aromatics (emphasis on the lime and bergamot) as well as fresh malt notes. It’s dry, light-bodied and with a decent amount of bitterness coming from both the hops and bergamot notes, while the citrus and berry notes are lean and peppy (as opposed to overly juicy), with almost a hint of tannin on the finish. The 4.75 per cent alcohol is unobtrusive. Fun, lively stuff. 3.5/5

Bookstore Brewing Co. Crackin’ Wise Ol’ West Pilsner (Winnipeg — $3.50/473ml cans, Oxus Brewing Co., beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

A more straightforward style of pilsner, the Crackin’ Wise features three types of malt and two types of hops; it’s pale gold and mainly clear in appearance, with loads of malt and caramel aromas as well as grassy and floral notes on the nose. On the dry, light-plus-bodied palate, the malty notes are front and centre, with hints of bread dough, cracked wheat and, at five per cent alcohol, a modest finish. An example of a pilsner with great depth of flavour. Brewed at Oxus Brewing Co. 4/5

FullGeek BrewLab Lemony Bastard Mexican Cerveza (Winnipeg — $3.99/473ml cans, Oxus Brewing Co., beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

Medium straw in colour and clear, this lemon-infused Mexican-style beer brings bright citrus along with fresh malt, hints of saline and grapefruit rind. It’s light-bodied and dry, with malty flavours working well with the surprisingly subtle lemon notes, with medium acidity and, at five per cent alcohol, a modest finish. Crack open, pour in a glass, adorn with a lemon and enjoy when the lawn mowing’s done. Brewed at Oxus Brewing Co. 3.5/5

Sookram’s Brewing Co. Pink Slip Lemonade Sour (Winnipeg — $4.75/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

Medium pinkish-orange in colour and clear, this sour brew features lemon juice and hibiscus. Aromatically the tart citrus is front and centre, with hints of sour candy, chalky and saline notes. It’s light-bodied and dry, balancing tart citrus flavours with an almost-salty and chalky component, all of which comes mouth-watering acidity that keeps things lively and lingers long after the five per cent alcohol. A fab summer sipper. 4/5

Kilter Brewing Co. Crush Passionfruit Guava Radler (Winnipeg — $4.29/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

This medium-gold and hazy radler is infused with a tropical juice blend, which offers a fruit salad of guava, peach, mango, nectarine and pineapple notes on the nose. It’s a medium-bodied brew driven by ripe tropical fruit flavours, rich peach and nectarine and a hint of sweet coconut. Bitterness and acidity are low, as is the alcohol content (3.5 per cent), but the big bold fruit flavours deliver. 4/5

Nonsuch Hazy IPA (Winnipeg — $4.80/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

Pale copper and hazy in appearance, Nonsuch’s hazy IPA leads with ripe mango and pineapple aromas along with fresh malt, nectarine and peach notes. It’s medium-bodied and mainly dry, with mango, peach and coconut coming with hints of pineapple, modest bitterness and, with 6.5 per cent alcohol, a medium-length finish. A fresh and chewy hazy IPA with loads of character. 4.5/5

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