Allagash Cherry Lime Times 500ML

Allagash Cherry Lime Times 500ML is a foudre-aged, session-strength sour ale brewed in Portland, Maine, bottled at 4.8% ABV in a 500ml format. What distinguishes this release is its layered combination of fresh Maine-grown cherries and lime zest, producing a beer that drinks closer to a dry sparkling wine than a typical fruit sour.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.8%  |  Origin: Portland, Maine, USA  |  Style: Foudre-Aged Sour Ale  |  Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Allagash Brewing Company, founded in 1995 by Rob Tod in Portland, Maine, built its reputation on Belgian-inspired brewing long before American sour ales gained mainstream traction. Cherry Lime Times begins with a grain bill of local pale malt, malted red wheat, Victory malt, Maine-grown flaked spelt, and Maine-grown rolled oats — a foundation heavy on local sourcing. The beer is aged in foudre barrels on fresh, Maine-grown cherries for approximately four months, developing its sour character through extended contact with the fruit and resident microflora. Fresh lime zest is added just before packaging, giving the beer its distinctive citrus brightness without overwhelming the cherry and oak base.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Tart cherry leads immediately, followed by a vivid lime zest lift and subtle crackery malt underneath. A faint white wine quality emerges as the beer warms, along with hints of light oak and gentle funk.

Taste: The entry is juicy and pronouncedly tart, dominated by sour cherry and fresh lime juice. Mid-palate, crackery malt and light white pepper come through, grounding the fruit with a bready, almost savory dimension. Oak-driven funk murmurs beneath the acidity, adding complexity without heaviness.

Finish: Very dry with tingling carbonation that scrubs the palate clean. Lingering notes of tart cherry skin, lime pith, and a whisper of oaky funk carry the beer to a crisp, refreshing close.

How to Drink Cherry Lime Times

Pour into a tulip glass or wine glass at 45–50°F to let the aromatics open fully; this beer rewards the same attention you would give a good lambic. Its light-medium body and bone-dry finish also make it an exceptional partner in beer cocktails. A Cherry Lime Spritz — topped with sparkling water and a lime wheel — amplifies the effervescence for warm-weather drinking. A Berliner Shandy riff, blending the ale with a splash of elderflower liqueur, complements the floral undertones of the wheat and oat base. For something bolder, use it in a Sour Beer Michelada where the cherry-lime tartness stands up beautifully to hot sauce and Worcestershire.

Best For

• Sharing at a summer cookout alongside grilled foods and bright salads
• Gifting a sour beer enthusiast who appreciates foudre-aged complexity
• Pairing with a multi-course dinner as an aperitif or cheese-course accompaniment
• Exploring Allagash's barrel-aged and wild ale program beyond their flagship White

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cherry Lime Times taste like? Cherry Lime Times delivers a pronounced tart cherry flavor brightened by fresh lime zest, with supporting notes of crackery malt, light white pepper, and subtle oaky funk. The body is light-medium with a very dry, sparkling finish.

How does Cherry Lime Times compare to Cascade Cherry Lime Casc-ade? Cascade's version uses a sour rye ale base aged for 12 months with Oregon-grown Montmorency sour cherries, resulting in a more vinous, tannic profile. Cherry Lime Times is lighter at 4.8% ABV, aged roughly four months on Maine-grown cherries with lime zest added late, making it more sessionable and citrus-forward by comparison.

Is Cherry Lime Times good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its low 4.8% ABV, dry finish, and complex tartness make it an ideal standalone sipper, especially when served slightly chilled in a tulip or wine glass.

Where is Cherry Lime Times made? Cherry Lime Times is brewed by Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine. Allagash, founded in 1995, produces all of its beers at its Portland facility and is well known for its Belgian-inspired and wild ale programs.

What foods pair well with Cherry Lime Times? Aged goat cheese or chèvre — the tartness cuts through the creaminess. Grilled shrimp with lime — mirrors the citrus notes. Smoked pork or pulled pork tacos — the acidity balances rich, fatty meat. Fresh berry tarts or lemon curd desserts — complement the fruit-forward profile without clashing on sweetness. Thai green papaya salad — the dry sourness echoes the lime and chili interplay.

What sizes does Cherry Lime Times come in? Cherry Lime Times is available in a 500ml bottle, consistent with Allagash's standard format for their specialty and barrel-aged releases.

Is Cherry Lime Times worth the price? Cherry Lime Times positions as a specialty, small-batch sour ale with foudre aging and locally sourced fruit — details that place it in the premium craft tier. For drinkers who value barrel character and real fruit complexity at a sessionable strength, it delivers well within its price category.

Why Cherry Lime Times?

Foudre aging is a slow, space-intensive process that most American breweries skip entirely, and pairing it with a four-month cherry maceration and last-minute lime zest addition results in a beer that genuinely has no close analog on the shelf. The grain bill — featuring Maine-grown spelt and rolled oats alongside malted red wheat — gives the base a textural depth that lighter kettle sours cannot achieve. At 4.8% ABV, Cherry Lime Times manages to be both complex and crushable, a rare combination in the American sour ale landscape. It stands as a clear example of Allagash's ability to apply old-world mixed-fermentation techniques to distinctly regional ingredients.