Summer is here and in a big way. We broke triple digits here in Southwest Idaho this week and it has been sweltering on the East Coast for some time now. With the heat and humidity of summer, all the outdoor activities and yard work we tend to need a beer. What beer to choose then when you reach into the beer fridge?
Summer beers or “lawnmower” beers tend to be light in body and crisp with a very clean, dry finish. Beers like American style lagers and pilsners have been the go-to beer in the US for a long time now but there are a lot more options. Kolsch, dortmunder, Belgian pale ales, Tripels, sour ales and saisons are all excellent choices and increasingly more accessible.
Here’s my list of the 10 beers you should be drinking this summer when sitting on the patio, while mowing the lawn, hanging at the lake, floating the river or chillin’ next to a campfire.
1. Alaskan Summer Ale: Alaskan Summer Ale is a German style called a Kolsch. Kolsch beers are clean and crisp with a mildly tangy finish. It’s hard to believe that a brewery in Alaska, a place not known for intense summer heat would make one of the most refreshing summer beers out there, but they have this one down pat.
2. Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils: Those of you looking for a beer that’s a little closer to the standard Bud/Miller/Coors beers may I suggest this gem from Oskar Blues. Oskar Blues made its name with Dale’s Pale Ale and Old Chub Scottish Ale but with the introduction of Mama’s Little Yella Pils they created an excellent beer that is a gateway from the macro-brews to quality craft beer. What makes this beer even more enticing for Summer is the fact that it only comes in 12 oz cans so its great in the cooler no matter where you’re headed.
3. Franziskaner Hefeweizen: Widmer and Blue Moon may have become staples in bars across America but the gold standard for hefeweizen is still Franziskaner. Soft and mildly creamy with a distinct citrusy bite, this beer is epitomizes summer for me. If this beer came in cans here in America it would be in every cooler on every river and in every campsite.
4. Elysian Avatar Jasmine IPA: IPA’s have been the hot style now for a few years especially here in the Northwest so it’s no surprise that we’re now starting to see tweaks to the style. Elysian’s addition of jasmine makes this beer a floral aromatic nose bomb but it also delivers on the tongue with a well balanced but still obviously a Northwest style IPA. You have this beer with some Thai food while sitting on the patio at dusk and you will know what summer taste like.
5. Maui Brewing CoCoNut Porter: Maui Brewing has seen amazing growth in its short life and almost all of that has come from this now iconic brew. Maui CoCoNut Porter may not seem like a natural choice for summer but trust me, the mildly sweet coconut flavors meld so nicely with the coffee and chocolate notes you find in a traditional porter. So at your next backyard BBQ and you’ve got a big plate of ribs in front of you crack open a CoCoNut Porter, take a bite out of one of those hunks of pork and wile away a summers night in total contentment.
6. Great Divide Belgica Belgian Style IPA: Yet another variation on the IPA and I have to say, it’s a great variation indeed. Great Divide, according to Beer Advocate is the fourth best brewery in the world and honestly I really can’t argue with that. Belgica has that great Belgian twang both on the nose and on the palette but it’s backed up with a solid hop bitterness that together makes a near perfectly balanced beer that is great at a softball game, campsite or just hanging out with friends.
7. Boulevard Saison-Brett: Boulevard brewing is from a place that almost no one thinks of when thinking of craft beer, Kansas City. Maybe they benefit from low expectations a little bit but the Saison-Brett is one of the best beers in America. The addition of brettanomyces to the beer creates a pleasant tartness that is so perfectly balanced so delicious that you will wake up in the middle of the night craving this beer. Food-wise this beer pairs well with a ton of great summer foods. You can serve this with grilled salmon, raw oysters and clams, grilled chicken, sharp cheeses and summer salads and fruit.
8. Rogue Somer Honey: Rogue has been a staple of the Northwest beer scene for years now and has blazed a trail for all the other breweries that have come after them. When you drink a bottle of Rogue you’re drinking a little Northwestern craft beer history. Rogue’s Somer Honey is a summer beer for lovers of summer beers. The closest style for this beer is a Belgian witte but that doesn’t really sum up what this beer is. The depth that the honey brings to the beer is balanced by fruitiness and a solid spice profile that makes this beer so enjoyable. This is also a great transition beer for those that are used to the macro-brews.
9. Anderson Valley Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema: This is a beer that defies all description. A velvety smooth creamy texture with a sweet caramel malt flavor will leave you totally befuddled and trying to explain it to those around why this beer is so awesome. What’s even better about this beer is that it comes in both bottles and cans so it’s perfect for the rafting trip or the weekend camping trip. Anderson Valley is one of the most underrated breweries in the country and Summer Solstice is a beer that has totally flown under the radar but I suspect that that is about to change and in a big way.
10. 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat: Don from Beer and Whiskey Brothers is going to hate that I made this the number one summer beer but he just needs to face the fact that this is a great summer beer and is deserving of this honor. Now let me say, this beer taste nothing like what you’d expect. Instead of tasting sweet like the red part of the watermelon it taste more like the white part of the watermelon rind. It’s definitely melonny (is melonny a word?) but its subtle enough that you aren’t weirded out by it. A little trick to enjoying this beer is to serve it with a wedge of watermelon that you’ve salted with a little kosher salt. This really heightens the experience and makes for a refreshing summer experience. Food wise, I’d serve this beer with BBQ’d chicken, ribs, salads or as a great session beer. You honestly can not go wrong with this beer, it’s a fantastic summer beer fit for all your summer activities.
So there you have it, this year’s summer beer selection. No matter what you’re doing this summer these beers are beers that are both delicious and crowd pleasers so you can rest assured that your cohorts will be happy to quaff these beer with you. Whether you’re by the pool, the campfire, in the boat or floating the river these are the beers that will define your summer.