The smell of burgers searing on the grill is best accompanied by the taste of a cold, refreshing beer. A great summer beer cools you off and quenches your thirst while tasting damn good in the process. So put away the barrel-aged stouts and heavy barleywines and reach for one of these. These are the 8 beers you should drink this summer.
Upslope Thai Style White IPA
Having a clam bake? Tossing some seafood on the grill? If your summer plans involve meals that aren’t flame-licked beef, you need to pick up some of Upslope’s Thai Style White IPA, a citrusy and spicy brew that goes down easy with some lobster or shrimp. Brewed with lemongrass, Thai basil, and coriander, the beer packs a lot of interesting flavor in a 12-ounce package.
Odell Drumroll
A juicy double IPA is going to do some damage when it’s noon and the sun is attacking your skin. To get that citrus, fruit fix without ruining your day, consider Odell’s latest offering, Drumroll. Drumroll is a pale ale that clocks in at a drinkable 5.3% and is loaded with notes of pineapple, mango, and orange. If Odell is distributed to your area, look for it in a few weeks and stock up.
21st Amendment El Sully Mexican-Style Lager
Mexican-style lagers are about to have a moment, and that’s a good thing, especially with summer coming in hot. The style is meant to quench your thirst when the sun is beating down, and 21st Amendment’s El Sully does just that. Brewed with a Mexican lager yeast, El Sully packs the herbal, peppery notes of Northern Brewer hops and a grainy, malty taste. If you’re dealing with the kind of heat they do down in Mexico, this is the beer you want to cross your lips.
Goodlife Wildland Session Ale
It’s high time to hit a campsite and cap the day with some grilled hot dogs and thirst-quenching beers. You handle the dogs; we’ll give you the recommendation on the brew. Goodlife Brewing Company, out of Bend, Oregon, has just the brew to accompany a camping trip. Wildland Session Ale, which is brewed with Citra and Cascade hops, has a light body and a high drinkability. Plus, we’re suckers for great packaging, and these cans look damn good.
Epic Los Locos Lager
Remember that thing about Mexican-style lagers being a thing soon? Yeah, here’s further proof. The latest release from Denver’s Epic Brewing Company is Los Locos Lager, a Mexican-style lager that adds in a bit more Mexican influence with the addition of lime and sea salt. You still get that corn sweetness, but here it’s paired with just a bit of lime and a dash of salt. Think a Gose meets an American lager. It’s light, refreshing, and perfect for any spicy food coming off your grill.
Second Self Maverick & Gose
There are few styles as summer-appropriate as the gose. Traditionally brewed to be tart, salty, and refreshing, the style is perfect to cut through the heaviness of charred beef or pair with lighter fare. One of the latest we’re fans of comes from Second Self Beer Company. Maverick & Gose is a gose that’s amped up with some fresh coriander and dry-hopped with Wakatu hops. For when you feel the need to drink.
Funky Buddha Lemon Meringue Pie Blonde Ale
Certain desserts lend themselves to hotter temps. We’d probably pass on that molten lava cake and triple fudge brownie and opt for something that’s kinda refreshing, something like a lemon meringue. Funky Buddha, as they’re wont to do, have turned a fun food item into an even more fun beer. Lemon Meringue Pie Blonde Ale is brewed with vanilla and lemon for a sweet, refreshing taste. As with all things Funky Buddha, it will be tricky to get, but if you hit up the brewery on May 24 you’ve got a shot.
Stone Enjoy By Tangerine IPA
Okay, not every beer you drink this summer has to be sessionable. When you want a nightcap but you still want something fruit-forward, Stone has you covered. The latest spin on their ultra-delicious and ultra-fresh Enjoy By IPA is a new tangerine version. Enjoy By Tangerine is just like the super fresh double IPA Stone has been shipping, only now it’s been brewed with puréed tangerines. But at 9.4%, this isn’t exactly the beer for the beach.
