Spirit Cruises January 2023 Leaderboard

Beer Review: 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon

Beach spirit in a can
by The Drink Nation on Jun 4, 2012 in Beer
Beer Review: 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon

Drinking a beer may not be the absolute best way to prep for summer (as it won’t necessarily improve your beach bod), but when you're caught mid-week, yearning for a day on the sand, drinking a refreshing beer can do a lot to liven your spirit. Happily, 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon is back on shelves across the nation.

A seasonal wheat beer from the San Francisco brewery, HoHW is brewed with actual watermelon. Distributed in cans (and in limited supply on draft), this 4.9% beer is both easy-drinking and flavorful. Very little head appears after the pour, and lacing is close to non-existent, but the liquid is opaque, with a hazy dark-gold color. The scent of fruit is apparent immediately in the nose, tinged with a tart, citrusy flavor.

Hops fans need not bother with this wit — some critics deride it as “not even a beer” — but those who enjoy a smooth, slightly-malty sip will appreciate HoHW’s bright flavor. Not overly sweet, the watermelon weaves in and out, appearing on the palate at both the start and finish of the swallow. In between you’ll find a lemony taste, reminding of a shandy (beer mixed with actual lemonade).

Whether you’re sunning on a patio, in a beer garden or at the actual beach, Hell or High Watermelon is a sessionable, reinvigorating brew that is like summer in a can. Get it now to start off your season.

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