Here in America, Cinqo de Mayo has reached nearly National Holiday levels of popularity, celebrated by drinking Mexican-style beer, margaritas, body shots of tequila, and eating as many tacos as possible. While the 5th of May is actually the date of the Mexican Army’s victory over the French nearly a century and a half ago (not Mexico’s Independence Day), there’s nothing wrong with drinking a tasty and mildly festive beer that happens to coincide with this date. With that, North High has released Jalalima, a jalapeno ale spiked with lime juice to create a tasty burst of freshness all up in your mouth, regardless of the date. And if you’re going to wear a sombrero while drinking it, at least know why you’re wearing the sombrero in the first place.
Once your nose gets within a foot of this beer, you are hit with a garden-fresh burst of jalapeno pepper earthiness. Beneath that, a base of crackers and the slightest hint of caramel sweetness provides a subtle base to build upon this grove of freshness. At the sides of the mouth arrives a tangy hint of citrus and fruit. It is indistinct, and there is no detectable “lime” presence, but the tang goes quite well with the pepper aromatics.
Across the palate, the pepper arrives first once more, bringing that same earthy freshness, as well as a slight heat that builds at the back of the throat. Crackers and slight biscuit notes mingle with a gentle honey sweetness to help cut the heat, but you’ll have no trouble understanding that jalapenos went into this beer. Beneath the pepper lies faint and intriguing notes fruit, particularly raisins and an indistinguishable berry medley, outlined by a curious green melon vibe. These fruit notes go great with the pepper and the spice, and is made all the better by a slight tang at the corners of the mouth. Again, any distinct lime notes are hidden, but the citrus brightness is discernible, and is an epic pair with the heat at the back of the throat.
Remember, this isn’t the abomination known as Lime-A-Rita, so don’t expect a fiesta in your mouth. Instead, expect a beer which focuses a versatile and somewhat mysterious (in beer terms) ingredient – the jalapeno – through a lens of bright fruit and superb drinkability. Not only is North High’s Jalalima here in time for Cinco de Mayo, it’s also a great lawnmower beer, so grab some cans and start off the warm months the right way.
