National Style Examiner Stile E Coyote's Top Ten Beers

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June 13, 10:07 AM

by Charlie Papazian, Beer Examiner

 

 

Summer Ales - Served at your pleasure

National Men’s style Examiner Stile E. Coyote  has come up with his  list of summer beers.  I could be seen enjoying several of these beers myself.   Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to beer.  Here’s my summertime perspective reflecting my personal tastes.  Let me preface by admitting that basically I don't have a real sweet tooth when it comes to beer.  Here's Stile's top 10 list along with my comments

1. New Belgium Skinny Dip  - Their version of a refreshing “light” summer ale.  With the zing of kaffir lime leaf.  Excellent compliment to Southeast Asian curries.

2. Carlsberg Lager – World class international lager.  My taste buds get tired of these types of beers quickly due to the lack of hop bitterness and flavor.  Too sweet for my mouth chemistry.  Kind of leaves a sour aftertaste that a good dose of hops could counter.

3. Samuel Adams Summer Ale – An American-style wheat beer with spice enhanced zest.  Not a highly hopped beer.  Certainly refreshing.  But once again my mouth chemistry needs a bit more hops in quest for quench.

4. Anchor Steam Summer Ale – Anchor is a national treasure.  But hey Stile man – another wheat beer.  Expand your horizons.   Summer time is for Discovery!

5. Kona Brewery Longboard Lager – Wonderful lager brewed and bottled in Oregon by contract with Portland’s  Widmer Brewing Company.  Great brewers all!  Light lager a bit more robust than the American/International light lagers, a bit more malty and a notable level of hops experienced than in your  typical in like-colored lagers

6. Sierra Nevada Summerfest – Now this is a great pick.  Expansive malt character, floral hop flavors, aromas and a wonderful balance of hop bitterness.  I’ll pay good money for this beer.  Pour this beer into a beer clean glass and you’ll treat yourself to a European style mousy, dense and luscious head of foam.   Great choice, Stile E.

7. Dogfish Head Aprihop -  I haven’t tried this.  The brewery claims: “Brewed with luscious apricots, finished with whole-leaf hops. A "’fruit beer for hop heads’”.  Sounds like a winner to me.   I’ll seek and discover.   Yo Stile, you rock.

8. Harpoon Summer Beer – Yet another world class small craft brewer.   Harpoon Summer Beer  is yet another light ale refreshment.  A quenching pick over hopless light lagers, but Stiles my man ya gotta break out…

9. Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss  - An American heritage brewery.  Yet another wheat beer, with little hop character.  For my taste I seek more hop balance. It makes beer life more interesting and lively.

10. Saison Dupont – Belgian brewed classic.  Sought after.  Careful.  It’s light in color but packs a 6.5% punch.  You’ve rallied Stile E.  Hop enhanced ale with herbal spice character, intriguingly wonderful aromas – inhale.  Refreshing with summertime foods.  Think of the outdoors, blue sky, sunshine, and a great big smile.

            Now here are a few suggestions.  How about an Imperial Stout?   What?  “Hey man, it’s summertime when the drinkin’s easy.” – you react?   Pour yourself a goblet of some the great dark stuff out there, add a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream on a summer evening (or day) and catch a load of the smiles on the faces that surround you.

            I’m on the beach.   I’m not a wheat beer fan, but try branching out with German style wheat beers.  Fruity, banana, low on hops (ok I said it), spicy/herbal, fully effervescent and not usually high in alcohol.    But my first choice for a beach beer would be a chilled English style Bitter if I could find one – below 4% alcohol.   Full of malt and hop character.   Hey have you tried Full Sail’s Session Lager – Now that’s a lower alcohol lager with a great crisp hop come on and finish.  A good choice.

            With any meal in summertime I’ll reach for an IPA.   We’re lucky here in Boulder, Colorado to have access to Odell IPA, Gold award winner at both 2007 Great American Beer Festival and 2008 World Beer Cup in American IPA category.  Now this is a hoppy beer with plenty of hop flavor and aromatics that you can offer even to those who think they don’t like “bitter beer.”   Unfailingly satisfying.   Not a guzzler.  Refreshing yes.  7%.  But ohhhh so good.

            Try some malty brown ales and normal strength chilled stouts with a summertime cheese tasting.  If my brain’s not in gear I’ll usually reach for a summer chilled pale ale I’m familiar with.  Gotta have hop/malt balance without being assertively bitter.

I could go on, but I’m thirsty.

Also Check out Eli Shayotivich's Top 10 Summer Brews - Mad Beer Man Style

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