Best Summer Beers

PREV 2 of 2

A new German import, Weihenstephan 1809, is on the milder side of this style, and is becoming more widely available. But your best bet for finding a Berliner weisse might be a brewpub, where brewers are a bit more adventurous. Nodding Head in Philadelphia goes through a ton of their Ich Bin Ein Berliner Weisse over the summer.

Wheat’s also in the witbier I mentioned above. It’s a Belgian style (witbier is Flemish for “white beer”) that includes raw wheat—an addition that makes the beer lightly cloudy with proteins—and spices, traditionally coriander and bitter-orange peel. The combination makes for a beer with a spicy twist, a citrus twang, and a crisp finish (it’s also a great marinade for grilled chicken; just add a splash of orange juice). Two good ones are the beautifully traditional Allagash White, from tiny Allagash Brewing in Portland, Maine, and the suddenly popular Blue Moon Belgian White, from not-so-tiny Molson Coors.

The favorite summertime drink in Washington, D.C., brewpubs is kölsch (“kuhlsch”), a light, golden, ale-lager hybrid that originated in Cologne, Germany. It’s light, with just a quick wisp of hops and a dry finish. The pleasant, slightly grainy kölsch available at the Capitol City chain of brewpubs keeps things cool in D.C., while you can find Goose Island’s superbly drinkable Summertime in wide distribution—just the thing for cooling the cook while the bratwurst is grilling.

Then there are “extra” pale ales and blond ales, and the various “summer ales”—the sprint cars of beer: light-framed speedsters with just enough hop to keep them on the track. The Steel Rail Extra Pale from Berkshire Brewing’s, out in western Massachusetts, nails the class: light, crisply bitter, and not cloying. Anheuser-Busch has Beach Bum Blonde Ale, a clean refresher with a bright, hoppy edge. They’re both perfect with picnic fare.

Finally, if there’s a reason and a season for light beer, it’s gotta be summer. Try Heineken Premium Light, which actually achieves a taste like Heineken’s, only lighter. One new entry in the class is a love/hate proposition: Miller Chill, a light beer with an addition of lime and salt. I haven’t had an opportunity to try it yet, but at this point it’s looking like a summertime success.

It’s hitting 97 humid degrees as I finish this up. I think I’ll take the hefe out for a drive … in the hammock. Cheers!

PREV 2 of 2