Berry good beer

Recently, I went for a hike around Hidden Falls Regional Park, a lovely section of Placer County that’s as pretty as the Shire. But half the reason I made that hour-long drive was to try Auburn’s Moonraker Brewing Co. (12970 Earhart Avenue) straight from the tap. Their host of hazy IPAs have been awarded and raved about, but their Blueberry Mosaic Milkshake IPA ($7 for a pint) stretches the bounds of what beer even is. The purple, delicious drink marries the titular berry with the tropically fruity notes of the mosaic hop and a bit of lactose for sweetness. It’s a miracle elixir for sore legs.