IN REVIEW: Whether it’s a day spent at the beach or a picnic with friends, Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops Reverb and its 10mg of THC is the perfect cannabis-infused companion. With a shandy yet IPA-like taste, this bubbly beverage gives you the feel of a beer with the effects of cannabis—meaning you’ll never find yourself bogged down and worse for the wear in the morning. What could be better than that?

I was in desperate need of a grocery run. My friends had invited me to a socially-distanced picnic in their sprawling backyard, and I didn’t want to show up empty-handed. I cracked open my fridge and stared into the fluorescent-lit abyss at one lonely six-pack of beer that I had already made into a five-pack the night prior.

“I noticed a warm sense of euphoria begin to build up inside me.”

“Well that’s not going to work,” I thought to myself.

Scanning the haphazard shelves for a solution, I spotted one lonely bottle of Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops Reverb sitting in the fridge door next to the almond milk.

“Now this could work,” I thought as a smirk crossed my face.

I didn’t feel much like drinking anyway, so this bad boy was just what I needed. I slipped the beer-like bottle into the empty sleeve of my six-pack and boom: I was ready for action. I grabbed the beers, my finest fall-ready flannel, and got into my Uber looking forward to some human interaction.

When I arrived at my friend’s house, I handed my six-pack to the host and grabbed the Lagunitas all for myself. The car ride over had built up my anticipation, and I was ready to give this infused sparkling beverage a try. With 10 milligrams of THC, I knew it wouldn’t be long until I was in my happy place.

I popped off the cap, which had a satisfying beer sound and feel to it, and took a little whiff of the effervescent liquid inside. It smelled bright, zesty, and fresh as the teeny-tiny bubbles burst and tickled my nose. I took my first sip and almost instantly felt a surge of energy rush to my brain. The carbonation and crisp lemon flavor woke up my senses in the most pleasant way. There was also a slight bitterness to the flavor that tasted reminiscent of a bouquet of hops. Each sip was almost like the perfect blend between a summer shandy and an autumnal IPA.

I slowly sipped on the THC-infused Lagunitas as I kicked back on the picnic blanket and enjoyed the company of my friends. We munched on a charcuterie spread and swapped stories for about half an hour when I noticed a warm sense of euphoria begin to build up inside me—almost like a happy drunk feeling, but far more clear and aware. My friends even seemed funnier than usual, and I found myself smiling and giggling more often than not.

Feeling completely present and in-the-moment, I sat back and admired the clear blue sky with the din of my friends in the background. The crisp fall air brushed against my cheeks as some yellowed leaves fell from the canopy above us. I wrapped my scarf tightly around my neck, feeling grateful for this day. It was truly the perfect fall afternoon accompanied by the perfect upbeat high.

“My friends even seemed funnier than usual, and I found myself smiling and giggling.”

I came back to Earth as my friends cracked open another round of beers for themselves. I grabbed one for the sake of feeling like I was a part of the fun, but I barely sipped on it—the light, jovial high I was experiencing was enough for me at the moment. The 10-milligram dosage was just right for my tolerance level, and I could see myself maybe having another over the course of the afternoon, but was happy right where I was.

My only wish was that I had a full six-pack of Lagunitas Hi-Fi Reverb to share with my friends so they could experience it as well. The effects of this infused beverage were far better than a beer, and they had the added bonus of zero hangover. I felt social and cheery throughout the picnic instead of feeling sloppy or tired after a day of drinking in the afternoon.

As if that weren’t enough reason to love this product, I also enjoyed that it’s sugar-free yet packed with flavor. I can still taste the citrusy bubbles bursting in my mouth as they gave way to a hoppy finish. In my opinion, not only were the effects better than a beer, but the taste was more refreshing as well. Next time I pull up to a picnic, backyard barbeque, beach day, or even a football game, I will definitely have a few of these in tow to share with my friends—or maybe I’ll just keep them all to myself.