Summertime Challenge to Pick Refreshing Brews

I was approached by a fellow Examiner to put up a list of brews I thought worthy to tempt the palate for the Summertime.  Men's Style Examiner, Stile E. Coyote, posted his short list for stylish brews to try for the hotter months of the year and asked his fellow beer examiners to put up their own version of the list.  My comrade in brews, Eli the Southern Colorado Beer Examiner, as well as our famous Colorado resident Charlie Papazian, have all chimed in with their thoughts on this subject.   So here's some suggestions from a Northern Colorado point of view.

Seeing how my beat is to focus on the beers and breweries in the north 40 of Colorado I figured I'd have to add in some local selections to my list, but I also can't pass up some other great out of state beers to add to the list.  So for your consideration, I present to you:

Chipper Dave's 10 Suggested Beers for Summertime Refreshment.

1.  Steamworks Colorado Kölsch

This wonderful German-style ale won medals at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival and the 2008 World Beer Cup as one of the best examples of a Kölsch style ale.  Rich enough in taste and light on the alcohol.

2.  Avery White Rascal

A crisp Belgian white ale that's light and refreshing.  A bit different than American wheats but is sure to satisfy.  Be sure to save the last ounce in the bottle and swirl it around before pouring into your glass.  The extra cloud of yeasty goodness will make this a fine drinking experience.

3.  Fort Collins Brewery Summer Fling

Be warned, this beer isn't quite released yet.  It was part of their Tap Club sampler at the FCB tasting room in Fort Collins but will be released as a Summer Seasonal on June 26th.  I had the opportunity to sample this a while back and fell in love!  Considered to be a Blonde / Kölsch blending, it is light and smooth! Check their June newsletter for more details.

4.  Coopersmith's Punjabi Pale Ale

This is getting into a bigger and hoppier brew.  The Punjabi Pale Ale is a fine example of an India Pale Ale (IPA).  It has a richer taste with a bit more bitterness to it.  IPA fans will enjoy this tasty brew and a bit more alcohol kick.  Worthy anytime of year.

5.  Odell Double Pilsner

Watch out for this bad boy.  This is no ordinary pilsner.  It's a beefed up brew with a lot of kick to it.  It is heavily hopped and will grab you with it's higher alcohol content.  Still refreshing but sample this in moderation.  If you're looking for a full taste with a kick, this is your beer.

6.  Oskar Blues Gordon

You won't find this beer in a bottle.  This is real craft beer that comes in a can and from none other than Oskar Blues in Lyons, CO.  Gordons is an American Strong Ale and deserves some respect.  This beer is describes as "Big. Red. Sticky".  This is no session beer either.  One will do you but it is oh so tasty.

7.  Bell's Amber Ale

Now we venture out of state to an ale that I fell in love with while traveling in Michigan.  Bell's ale is brewed in the Kalamazoo, Michigan area.  It's a lovely dark reddish color with some tasty malts.  Perfectly blended with hops, this amber is sure to please.   Best served cold.  Unfortunately not available in Colorado (yet) but worth seeking out in your travels.

8.  Grand Teton's Bitch Creek ESB

Don't let the name fool you.  Bitch Creek ESB is a wonderful English Bitter from Idaho that pours a magnificent mahogany color.  It's a fully flavored brew that works well any time of year.   Prepare your taste buds for this one.  The hops and malts are bulked up but drinks well.  Available in the Rocky Mountain region.

9.  Rogue Dead Guy Ale

This beer comes from Oregon and is a fine example of a Maibock, a German seasonal beer.  This beer pours orange in color with a sweet floral aroma.   While there are a decent amount of hops in this beer, the malts smooth out the taste.  This would be the perfect mascot beer for Nederland's Frozen Dead Guy Days.  Pick a shady spot and relax with this one.

10. Alaskan Summer Ale

Finally, a suggestion that comes from our great state up north.  Finally available in Colorado, this summer ale from Alaska is another example of a German Kölsch.  It invites you to pair this beer with some nice crab or fish, but works well all by itself.   See why the locals up near the arctic enjoy this beer so much.  Smooth and oh so good.

While this list shouldn't be considered the best beers in the world, it is meant to be an eye opener for some unique tastes to try during your summer months.  I'll leave the much darker beers for the cooler months.  There are a few heavier beers in this list.  Just enough to mix it up a bit.  Give these a try.  You might be pleasantly surprised how well these can refresh.   Just remember that some of these are stronger than others and should be enjoyed in moderation (as always).

Think you've got a better summer beer suggestion?   Leave a comment here and let us know what you like and why.  Or drop me a line at:   nocobx.beer.examiner @ gmail.com
 

Update:  Mark Burlet, the Baltimore Drink Examiner, posted his recommendations for the best Summer brews.

Topics: NoCoBX , beer , colorado , summertime , suggestions , kölsch