Written by Well, here we are in the midst of a Summer heat wave in the Northeast which has me thinking about my summer beer selections so far. I’m curious to know if yours are similar.
Personally, while I don’t enjoy the heat of Summer, I do enjoy the seasonal beers available for the summer. This year, I took a liking to the Sam Adams Summer Ale – a beer I’ve bought more than once for myself to enjoy!
I’ve also had a bunch of other “Summer beers”. Some recent examples I’ve tried would be the oddly-named Cricket Hill ‘Jersey Summer Breakfast Ale‘, (Belgian Ale) and the Rock Art Brewery Sunny and 75 (Belgian White). Wheat beers seem to work for summer, being relatively lighter and with some spices in the mix for a little more pop in the flavor, they can do the trick on a hot day.
We’ve also suggested that some lagers might make an excellent ‘lawnmower beer’. Light and crisp, beers like Samuel Smith’s Organic Lager or even something like Poland’s Lomza lager seem to work as well.
Then, there’s always the crisp and hoppy beers like a good ‘ol American Pale Ale! Recent examples of this style of beer that we’ve tried here are the canned Dales Pale Ale, Stone Pale Ale, Mt. Tam Pale Ale, and the classically tasty Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Not specifically Summer Ales, but I think they work all the same.
Of course, there’s also the Saison, or Farmhouse Ales of which I’ve only tried a few, but I can see 
why it might be a new favorite beer style for summer. A bit higher ABV, but interestingly tart and slightly sour flavors make it a refreshing contender for favorite summer beer.
Four different beer styles – Lager, American Pale Ale, Saison and Wheat. Seasonal or not, these beers seem so make for good summertime beer enjoyment!
So, we ask you! What’s your preferred beer this summer? Is it a particular beer style you enjoy or is it something seasonal that’s only brewed for the summer months? Let us know because we’d like to find out what we’re missing before summer is over!
I’m from AZ, but I’m in NY this week and it is NUTZ how hot it is! Still not quite AZ hot but hot enough! I personally enjoy any good wheat beer for summer, especially the German ones.
We did a pretty intense summer beer trial (linked with my name) at the start of the season…I’m partial to Goose Island’s summer (sort of a kolsch) and Oberon, though the Blue Point Summer is really solid, too.
.-= Maggie´s last blog ..Poll- How Do You Eat Your Watermelon =-.
@Mike from AZ – I could NEVER live in AZ! I can barely tolerate temperatures over 70!
Anyway, good choice on the beer selection! One of my favorite German wheat beers is the Weihenstephaner Hefe. Bob gave it 5 stars!
http://thebrewclub.com/2009/11/06/weihenstephaner-hefeweissbier/
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Sea Dog Blueberry Beer =-.
For me, I like light dry beers. Particularly sours -> Geueze & Berliner Weiss. But will also go for lower abv IPA, PA, Blondes.
BTW, this heat SUCKS! I want fall!!!!
.-= Peter at Simply Beer´s last blog ..Tyranena Benji’s Smoked Imperial Porter with Chipotle Peppers =-.
Good choices, Peter. I’ve been looking to try a Berliner Weiss, any suggestions? I’ve heard the DFH Festina Peche is good, but I don’t see it anywhere around here. I’m with you on the heat. This is ridiculous! 103 yesterday????
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Sunny and 75 – Rock Art Brewery =-.
I’m on a pilsner kick. Go ahead…grab some nails and crucify me.
It’s nearly 100 degrees out today. My skin is sticky. I don’t want my mouth to be. A nice dry, thin on the maly, bitter pilsner just tastes so good. Plus, I don’t want a lot of alcohol…gotta keep that H20 inside…a big ABV will rob me of that.
.-= nate´s last blog ..Wyeast 3711 Review- French Saison Yeast =-.
Nothing wrong with that nate! Actually, you’ve reminded me that I have a bottle of Brooklyn Pilsner I’ve been meaning to try!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Jersey Summer Breakfast Ale – Cricket Hill Brewing =-.
You know what, screw it, I’m not apologizing – my favorite summer beers are any Mexican lager with a lime in it. Going back to your Best Mexican Beers post… Bohemia is probably the best, but if you drop a lime slice in Corona, Dos Equis, Pacifico, etc. they will all get the job done.
All of those beers remind me of being at the beach on a hot day. Love it.
.-= Royce´s last blog ..Music Tuesdays via Grace Boyle – Spanish Sahara by Foals =-.
And a PS to Mike from AZ and Scott – I hear it’s crazy in the northeast right now, and AZ is undoubtedly hot. I will therefor take this moment to plug Southern California, Los Angeles at the moment is about 70 degrees and cool. It’s a little overcast lately but I will take it.
.-= Royce´s last blog ..Music Tuesdays via Grace Boyle – Spanish Sahara by Foals =-.
I’ve been digging the Mayflower Summer Rye (made local to me in Plymouth, MA), The Tap Berlinerweiss (brewpub in Haverhill, MA) and Peak Organic Summer Session. Mayflower is a 3.7%abv hoppy, super dry belgian style ale while the Peak Organic is an Amarillo hopped wheat beer at about 5%abv. The Tap’s Berlinerweiss is delicious: crisp, tart and refreshing… also only 3% abv. I drank a growler of it and was good to go!
I’m definitely partial to a good Saison, too, though. Brooklyn Sorachi Ace, Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere and, of course, the prototype for all saisons: Saison Dupont.
A good pale ale or pilsner is also pretty wonderful in this heat!
@Royce – not my thing, but I can see how its a good beer choice for summer. BTW, I’m sure that soon enough LA is going to be scorching and we’ll be back to normal here on the east coast. Whatever that is!
@Jeff – thanks for sharing. That’s the second Berlinerweiss suggestion – going to have to look into that style I think, and I need to break out my bottle of Sorachi Ace too!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – Mike Loves Beer Style- =-.
@Maggie – we unfortunately don’t see much of Goose Island out here which it too bad.
I’ve heard good things about their summer brew. However, I do think Blue Point is available. Going to check out your link too! Thanks for sharing!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Help Start a Brewery- =-.
Oh heavens… favourite Summer beer?
Basically, anything but Cider… it just doesn’t do it for me, and screws with my digestions.
In my local I’d probably go for a lager, probably Staropramen, Hurlimann or Kronenbourg 1664. But that’s mainly because specialist beers tend not to be available in local pubs.
In a specialist bar, I’d head for a wheat beer or a good IPA.
At home it tends to be wheat beers – Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier or Grolsch HefeWeiss, unless I’m exploring my beer rack for The Brewclub.
And recently I’ve started to get a taste for British Summer ales… oh dear.
.-= Bob Massey´s last blog ..Paperback Writer =-.
I’ve been brewing a bunch of rye beers for myself this summer. Nothing like the dry spiciness of a ryePA to go with the heat here in NY. (I’m in western NY near Lake Ontario, so it’s not as bad for us)
Aside from rye beers, the Victory Helles Lager has been my top beer this summer. It’s got the perfect combo of light body and smooth but subtle flavor that goes down like water.
I love all sorts of beers in the summertime, but the first one I always think of when the weather gets hot is *straps on helmet* Leinenkuegel’s Summer Shandy. Alright everybody, let the beating commence!
@Jeff – interesting choices. Hadn’t thought of the rye beers actually. Tnx!
@Jim – I’m still looking to try that based on your recommendation! Nothing wrong with it if it makes you happy, and if you think about it, what could be better than combining the two best summer drinks into one?
@Bob – hopefully we’ll be hearing about these British summer ales!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..The ‘Official’ London Beer Taster =-.
I like Dales (which in irony of ironies I can no longer get) and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and water. Hard to beat a good glass of thirs quenching water when nothing else will do.
Don, you are right about the water, but I find it really hard to drink plain water when other options are available. I have to mix something in it for flavor otherwise it seems like something one would drink in prison along with swill.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Sea Dog Blueberry Beer =-.
Agree with Royce! Give me a good Mexican cerveza with a little lime and I’m a happy girl!
Been drinking a ton of Arcadia Whitsun and Bell’s Oberon!
John – sounds like great choices. I really wish we could get Bell’s stuff here in Jersey though!
A great topic!
I’m actually writing this comment from my hotel balcony in Italy drinking what I have to say is the most surprising birra I’ve had so far. The Birra Moretti Doppio Malto from the Heiniken stables is surprisingly good. Like it’s name states, it is quite heavy, double actually, on the malt, which really makes the birra perfect for the Italian heat and food
I’m going to have to try and get some back home and add to the collection.
Otherwise when I’m back home it would have to be REALLY cold wheat beers such as a Franziskanner or Weihenstephaner. Being Australian any really cold lager can quench a thirst, such as the Swiss-French standard Boxer is great as well.
.-= Nate´s last blog ..International Beer Challenge 2010 =-.
@Nate – I am envious of your beer drinking environs! I haven’t seen that one yet but I think I have a bottle of the ‘regular’ on hand.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Brewdog-The End of History =-.