What to Drink: Stylish Summer Brews

Summer's almost here, and that means grilling in the backyard, watching Euro 2008 (or, harumph, baseball), or entertaining more than a few ladies on a given night. Which all leads needing two things, and good beer is the other one.

So this summer, kick back and relax with a brew, stylishly. (Comments below the better ones are from Beer Examiner Charlie Papazian. While he clearly can't dress himself, he sure does knows a wee bit about the tastes involved in beers.)

UPDATE: The Southern Colorado Beer Examiner has also tried to take the p-ss out of Stile. (He calls me a "wardrobe fixing fashionista," the buggerer).While he notes he's not a style guy, he also has a decent list. The point? Drink with girls, drink while wearing nice clothes. Don't get drunk. That's style for summer.

UPDATE: Now the Baltimore Drink Examiner is weighing in. Good god, I wonder if he dances to the Hairspray soundtrack while in Baltimore.

The Definitive Guide to Stylish Summer Brews:

New Belgium Skinny Dip Great light beer, low in calories, from the makers of Fat Tire. Drink as many as  you want.

Beer Examiner: Their version of a refreshing “light” summer ale.  With the zing of kaffir lime leaf. Excellent compliment to Southeast Asian curries. 

Carlsberg Lager One of my favorites while watching the Euro 2008 first round this week. A smooth, crisp taste (best really cold) is the best part of this Danish brew.

BE: 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.

Samuel Adams Summer Ale Brewer. Patriot. Genius. Though their brews are getting a bit voluminous, you have to like this great ale on a hot Beantown day.

BE: 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. 

Anchor Steam Summer Ale Anchor Steam is a terrific, old-fashioned brew. But this is a must for those different times you want to just have a hint of Anchor Steam in a crisper, lighter way.

BE: Anchor is a national treasure, but this is yet another wheat beer. Expand your horizons, man. Summer time is for Discovery! 

Kona Brewery Longboard Lager Best enjoyed on a cool night in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. 'Nough said. (Girl on arm implied, right?)

BE: 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

Sierra Nevada Summerfest Fans of the Pale Ale will enjoy the more hoppy flavor of this summer ale.

BE: 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.  

Dogfish Head Aprihop Nevermind. I'm not sure how anything with apricots made it onto this list.

BE: 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.  

Harpoon Summer Beer Sit back and enjoy a summer night with this beer in your hand. Impress your friends. Woo the ladies.

BE: Yet another world class small craft brewer. Harpoon Summer Beer is yet another light ale refreshment.  A quenching pick over hopless light lagers.

Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss Yeah, it's from Wisconsin, but at least it's not cheese curds. Weisses in the summer are my favorites, and this one is right up there.

BE: 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.

Saison Dupont Classic. Period. The epitome of style.

BE: Belgian brewed classic. Sought after. Careful. It’s light in color but packs a 6.5% punch. 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.


Topics: What to Drink