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Local craft beer of the week: Last Days of Summer by Tampa Bay Brewing Co.

 
At just 4.2 percent ABV, Last Days of Summer has a fresh, satisfying taste.
At just 4.2 percent ABV, Last Days of Summer has a fresh, satisfying taste.
Published May 10, 2017

Summer may be a month away, but Tampa Bay Brewing Co. got a big head start last week, releasing its annual Last Days of Summer seasonal brew, which typically comes out sometime around late August.

There's not much to complain about, however, as this beer is absolutely perfect for the increasingly warm weather. It's a kettle-soured wheat ale that drinks like an especially rich Berliner weisse, flavored with an addition of peaches and mangoes.

Many fruited sours rely heavily on acidity, which often results in a loss of nuance in the fruit department. Delicate flavors like peach are especially at risk of being buried by an overly tart beverage.

Fortunately, Last Days of Summer offers an excellently balanced tartness, allowing its peach flavor to shine through clearly, with mango adding a subtle tropical suggestion in the background.

The finish is chewy and wheat-forward, giving the brew a little more body than your average fruited gose or Berliner.

At just 4.2 percent alcohol by volume and available in four-packs of 16-ounce tallboys, Last Days of Summer is a satisfying liquid popsicle that couldn't have arrived sooner, name notwithstanding.

Available on draft and in four-pack cans at Tampa Bay Brewing's Ybor City brewpub (1600 E Eighth Ave.) and Westchase restaurant (13937 Monroe's Business Park).

— Justin Grant Have a suggestion for the Local Craft Beer of the Week? Brewers, have a limited release coming that we should know about? Email jg@saintbeat.com. Follow @WordsWithJG.