QC Malt​​​​​​​ is a brewed hard soda, the latest product from Philly spirits tycoon Steven Grasse, who also happened to invent Hendrick’s Gin, the Art In The Age line of spirits and Tamworth Distillery, among other things. (And who also, in the interest of full disclosure, employs this site’s editor and publisher, when he’s not writing here.) Having launched late last year, QC Malt comes in two flavors, Old Dutch, which has a birch-beer-inspired flavor, and Lemon Shrub, which is a tart, tangy, (gluten-free) lemon-infused malt and the reason we’re telling you about this in the first place, because we have just discovered a new little slice of heaven on a hot day. It goes like this:

1 can of Quaker City Malt Lemon Shrub (get it at Bottle Bar East, or your local beer deli or distributor)

1 container of home-brewed, unsweetened iced tea (we used PG Tips)

1 wedge of lemon

Pour the Shrub and iced tea in equal measure over ice in a tall glass, and garnish with lemon wedge. Enjoy. (If you’d like to get fancy, add a sprig of rosemary.)

And yes, we know what you’re thinking: It’s one of those Arnold Palmer/John Daly types of things. You are correct. But it’s also got this lightly boozy malt underpinning that hits a spot of the beer button, too. If you ask me, it’s delightful is what it is. And I’m not even getting paid to say so.