“Living in the limelight, the universal dream.” Those lyrics from Rush lead singer Geddy Lee swirled in my head. So did memories of the Limelight, a New York City nightclub that I may or may not have snuck into as a high schooler using my older brother’s expired driver’s license. Intelligentsia Coffee had a very different take on the Limelight, which was only slightly less impactful.

Intelligentsia Coffee has been a caffeinated force in Los Angeles since launching at Sunset Junction in 2007. In Silver Lake, Pasadena and Venice, Intelligentsia has become a trusted source for seasonal coffee. Some of my all-time favorite coffees have been in their cafes. Apart from the Angeleno, the company has rarely featured specialty beverages. Limelight is one notable exception that I recently found at their Pasadena coffee bar.

Limelight ($5) is a seasonal iced beverage served in a pint glass. The drink beautifully melds cold brew coffee shaken with tangy lime juice and a reasonable amount of simple syrup sweetener. I’ve gradually become a believer in blending coffee and citrus. Limelight makes a convincing argument for the mix. Naturally, each pint comes with a splash of tonic water. This slightly bitter, carbonated beverage has become de rigueur in California coffeehouses.