Lil Beaver Wainbow Sherbert 4Pk

Lil Beaver Wainbow Sherbert 4P is a milkshake-style American pale ale at 6.5% ABV, sold as a 4-pack from Bloomington, Illinois. Brewed with orange, raspberry, lime, vanilla, and milk sugar, it carries a strong 4.0 out of 5.0 rating on Untappd across nearly 1,400 reviews — a meaningful consensus for a regional craft release.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5%  |  Origin: Bloomington, Illinois  |  Style: Milkshake Pale Ale  |  Brewery: Lil Beaver Brewery

Production & Heritage

Lil Beaver Brewery operates out of Bloomington, Illinois, founded by Chad Bevers, a National Homebrew Competition medalist who turned competitive homebrewing experience into a commercial operation. Wainbow Sherbert follows the milkshake pale ale blueprint: lactose (milk sugar) is added during brewing to create body and residual sweetness, while generous additions of orange, raspberry, and lime provide the fruit-forward character. Vanilla rounds out the adjunct bill, tying the fruit elements together in a way that deliberately evokes rainbow sherbet ice cream. The base is an American pale ale rather than an IPA, keeping the hop bitterness restrained relative to the fruit and lactose sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh orange peel and ripe raspberry lead, followed by a bright lime zest lift. A subtle vanilla cream note sits underneath, lending a dessert-like quality without overwhelming the fruit.

Taste: The first sip registers noticeably tart, driven by the citrus and raspberry additions. As the palate adjusts, the lactose body emerges and smooths the acidity considerably, delivering a creamy mouthfeel with layered fruit flavors — orange and raspberry most prominently, with lime and a touch of grapefruit in the background. The texture is thick and full for a pale ale, though it retains enough carbonation to feel like beer rather than a smoothie.

Finish: Medium length with a mild hop bitterness that surfaces at the tail end, balancing the residual sweetness from the lactose. Lingering citrus and a faint vanilla note fade gradually.

How to Drink Wainbow Sherbert

Pour cold into a tulip glass or shaker pint to let the aroma open up; this beer drinks well straight from the can on a warm afternoon, but the aromatics benefit from a proper pour. As a cocktail ingredient, milkshake pale ales are unconventional but not without merit: try it as the beer component in a Shandy mixed with fresh lemonade to amplify the citrus tartness, in a Beer-mosa alongside orange juice for a brunch-friendly riff that leans into the orange character, or as a Radler blended with grapefruit soda to extend the lime and grapefruit notes already present.

Best For

• Introducing a non-craft-beer drinker to the milkshake ale style
• Summer cookouts and patio sessions where sessionable ABV matters
• Gifting to someone who gravitates toward fruited or dessert-style beers
• Pairing alongside a cheese board or light brunch spread

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Wainbow Sherbert taste like? Wainbow Sherbert tastes like a creamy, tart blend of orange, raspberry, and lime layered over a smooth lactose body, closely mimicking the flavor of rainbow sherbet ice cream. A mild hop bitterness on the finish prevents it from tipping into pure sweetness.

How does Wainbow Sherbert compare to other milkshake pale ales? Compared to many milkshake-style beers — which often use an IPA base with higher hop bitterness and ABV — Wainbow Sherbert sits on a pale ale foundation at a moderate 6.5% ABV, making it lighter and more sessionable. The triple-fruit combination of orange, raspberry, and lime also gives it a more complex citrus profile than single-fruit milkshake releases.

Is Wainbow Sherbert good for beginners? Yes — the low bitterness, creamy mouthfeel, and prominent fruit flavors make it approachable for drinkers who find traditional pale ales or IPAs too hoppy. The 6.5% ABV is also manageable for casual drinking.

Where is Wainbow Sherbert made? Wainbow Sherbert is brewed by Lil Beaver Brewery in Bloomington, Illinois. The brewery was founded by Chad Bevers, a National Homebrew Competition medalist, and has been recognized by The Herald & Review as one of the best breweries in the state.

What foods pair well with Wainbow Sherbert? Grilled shrimp tacos complement the citrus notes well. A mixed berry tart mirrors the raspberry and plays off the vanilla. Mild goat cheese balances the tartness with its own creamy tang. Key lime pie doubles down on the lime character for a dessert pairing. Light salads with citrus vinaigrette keep the meal aligned with the beer's bright, fruity profile.

What sizes does Wainbow Sherbert come in? The Wainbow Sherbert 4P is a standard 4-pack format from Lil Beaver Brewery, which is the primary retail packaging for this release.

Is Wainbow Sherbert worth the price? Wainbow Sherbert positions as a craft-priced milkshake pale ale from a respected small-batch Illinois brewery. Given the multiple fruit and lactose adjuncts involved in production and the consistently strong community ratings on Untappd, it represents solid value within the fruited ale category.

Why Wainbow Sherbert?

What sets this beer apart from the crowded field of fruited ales is the deliberate restraint of its pale ale base — where many breweries chase haze and hop intensity, Lil Beaver lets the orange, raspberry, lime, and vanilla do the talking against a clean, lactose-softened canvas. The 4.0 Untappd average across nearly 1,400 ratings reflects consistent quality rather than hype-driven scarcity. Chad Bevers' background as a National Homebrew Competition medalist speaks to the technical precision behind what might initially seem like a novelty beer. For drinkers who want the sherbet experience without sacrificing drinkability, this is a well-executed example of the milkshake pale ale style from one of central Illinois' most capable small breweries.