Now that we are past Memorial Day, we are quickly entering Summer Beer Season. Actually summer beers have been released for several months, but now we can enjoy the beers during their appropriate seasons. I thought this would be an appropriate time to speak about some common beers everyone will find at their local store, and which ones are good to buy and which ones should be passed.
Summer beers are known for being lighter and typically a bit sweeter/fruitier. No one wants to drink a 12% ABV Bourbon aged coffee stout by the pool, especially for a whole afternoon. Therefore, the majority of summer beers will fall into the 4-6% range, with some going even lower than that. Wheat Beers, Hefeweizens, Sours (which I'll expand on) and session IPAs are quite popular during the summer. So which are good?
Most of my readers hail from the Boston or New York metro areas, so apologies to my Midwest, Southern and West Coast fans. I'll try not to forget about you.
Sam Adams Summer: I don't mind this beer, but I like it a lot less than I used to. For a party, it is a great buy, and something that people will drink up quick. Now that they are in cans, it is even more cost effective.
Harpoon Summer Beer: This on is OK. I put it below Sam Summer
Narragansett Del's Shandy: This one came out last year, and flew off the shelves in Massachusetts. This year I saw it in huge quantities up in MA back in late April and mid-May. Compared to a Shock Top Shandy or Leinenkugel Shandy, the lemon flavor tastes much less fake. Plus the 16 oz cans are great by the pool
Goose Island Summer Ale: This is a sessionable pale ale that is actually quite tasty.
Summer beers are known for being lighter and typically a bit sweeter/fruitier. No one wants to drink a 12% ABV Bourbon aged coffee stout by the pool, especially for a whole afternoon. Therefore, the majority of summer beers will fall into the 4-6% range, with some going even lower than that. Wheat Beers, Hefeweizens, Sours (which I'll expand on) and session IPAs are quite popular during the summer. So which are good?
Most of my readers hail from the Boston or New York metro areas, so apologies to my Midwest, Southern and West Coast fans. I'll try not to forget about you.
Sam Adams Summer: I don't mind this beer, but I like it a lot less than I used to. For a party, it is a great buy, and something that people will drink up quick. Now that they are in cans, it is even more cost effective.
Harpoon Summer Beer: This on is OK. I put it below Sam Summer
Narragansett Del's Shandy: This one came out last year, and flew off the shelves in Massachusetts. This year I saw it in huge quantities up in MA back in late April and mid-May. Compared to a Shock Top Shandy or Leinenkugel Shandy, the lemon flavor tastes much less fake. Plus the 16 oz cans are great by the pool
Goose Island Summer Ale: This is a sessionable pale ale that is actually quite tasty.
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