Local Lemons

    Powdered Country Time mix might take you back to sticky-fingered summer days as a child, but if you’ve found that your taste for the sweet and sour concoction has become ever so refined now that you’re a big kid in college, Bloomington has plenty to offer even for the most ardent of lemonade lovers to the casual sippers of  summertime’s  (probably) official  beverage.

    WEEKEND sipped and slurped, gulped and guzzled around town to find the best of the best and the not-so-good, so trade in your iced tea and kick off the summer right this Memorial Day weekend with our breakdown of Bloomington’s best squeeze.


Circle K, 201 W. 17th St.

    The staple of every road trip and study night, the Polar Pop, has its own version of summer’s signature beverage. While a fan of any convenience store soda with more than 30 oz. and a price tag less than 75 cents, this one was difficult to get through. The Minute Maid lemonade was sickly sweet and undrinkable after the first 15 oz. But, for those who have palates similar to that of a 5 year old, or are looking for something to kill the taste of a $10 handle of Kamchatka, the extra sugar in this one might do the trick.

Refreshment: 3/5
Balance of tartness and sweetness: 2/5
Price: $0.69 (before tax)
Overall taste: 2/5


Kilroy’s on Kirkwood 502 E. Kirkwood Ave.

    OK, OK, so it’s not exactly the lemonade of your childhood – or lemonade at all, but Kilroy’s holds a special place in all our hearts, and so do their mini pitchers. Here, the “ electric lemonade” is a very sweet mixture of vodka, blue curacao, sweet and sour mix and lemon-lime soda. Despite being a bright blue alcoholic drink, it simply tastes a lot like Sprite, making it a refreshing choice for happy hour with friends.

Refreshment: 4/5
Balance of tartness and sweetness: 3.5/5
Price: Depends on the day. Best bargain is $2 on Tuesdays.
Overall taste: 3.5/5



Laughing Planet Cafe, 322 E. Kirkwood Ave.

    Lemonade-philes would be hard pressed to find a better lemonade than that served at Laughing Planet. Don’t be turned off by its color, which verges on a shade of light brown; the stuff is great. Staying true to the rest of the restaurant’s menu, the lemonade has a concentrated, straight-out-of-nature flavor, complete with a bit of pulp in every gulp. It’s quite tart, making it difficult to guzzle, and not the most thirst quenching of beverages, but as something to sip on while sunbathing or sitting on a porch with friends, it is truly divine.
 
Refreshment: 3.5/5
Balance of tartness and sweetness: 4.5/5
Price: $1.65 (before tax)
Overall taste: 4.5/5


Penn Station, 212 S. Indiana Ave.

    While we don’t generally condone the syrup-sweet stuff served at most chain restaurants, Penn Station, however, is the exception in a world of lemonades so processed they nearly qualify as soft drinks. Give their “fresh-squeezed” drink a try and you’ll never look back. Penn Station’s beverage is not too tart and not too sweet, perfect for satisfying thirst on a sunny day. Order it in combo with some salty fries, and you’ll have a snack made in artery.

Refreshment: 4.5/5
Balance of tartness and sweetness: 4.5/5
Price: $1.85 (before tax)
Overall taste: 5/5

Runcible Spoon, 412 E. 6th St.

    While generally a big fan of the beverages at Runcible Spoon, having indulged in their various coffees and lattes on a number of occasions, their lemonade was less than impressive. Though made from fresh ingredients and squeezed to order right in front of the customer, it tasted less like citrus and more like honey, which was probably used to sweeten the beverage. Still, it beats water or soda on a warm summer afternoon.

Refreshment: 4/5
Balance of tartness and sweetness: 4/5
Price: $1.95 (before tax)
Overall taste: 3.5/5