Lifestyle

SIX MUST-TRY BEERS FOR SUMMER DRINKING

June 9, 2015 by Jack

Ah summer, the season everyone hates to love so much. The season that gives everyone a chance to sweat like a professional athlete just by sitting down. Only one thing can bring people together to beat that kind of heat, and that thing is beer, glorious beer. Putting together a list of only six beers to drink during the summer is damn near impossible, almost downright ridiculous. However, I'm not one to shy away from a challenge. Below is your very own summer six-pack of mainly sessionable beers that are great for summer drinking. Did we leave off your favorite? Let us know in the comments.

Boulevard Hibiscus Gose

IPAs are so 2008. The Gose style is the hot new style on the block, like Hansel. This historical German style is tart, effervescent, and is typically brewed with a hint of salt. It is absolutely one of the most refreshing styles to enjoy on a hot summer day. The Boulevard version goes a step further and adds hibiscus and coriander to the beer, adding a fruity and almost tea-like element that compliments the tartness like a fine wine. The hibiscus also gives the beer a pinkish hue, just gorgeous.

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis

If you're a fan of the traditional Bavarian Hefeweizen style (hefe = yeast, weizen = wheat), Sierra Nevada makes one of the best on the market. The beer is unfiltered and pours a beautiful hazy orange with hints of banana and clove on the nose. At 4.8% abv, this beer is quaffable beyond measure. Fun fact, the beer is fermented in open tanks instead of the usual closed stainless steel, which gives the yeast a complex earthy character not found in many other beers.

Sam Adams Light

Samuel Adams gets a lot of grief in the craft beer crowd and I don't understand why. It's the company that really got me into craft beer and I still drink it to this day. Sam Adams Light is basically a lighter version of Boston Lager. It's a light beer with flavor but no lingering bitterness or anything offensive. It's one of those beers that you just reach into the cooler to grab and drink. A lot.

Lakewood Hopochondria

I couldn't create a list of great summer beers without including at least one Texas beer. Lakewood Brewing is out of Dallas and one of their newest beers is the Hopochondria, a Session IPA that reaches an astounding 3.5% abv. You would think that a beer with that low of an abv would be void of any flavor or hop presence. Wrong. This beer packs a hop punch with tons of citrus, floral and grassy notes on the nose and a balanced bitterness that makes you weep for joy.

New Holland Monkey King Saison

Saison, or 'season' in French, is a historical French/Belgian style that has transcended ages and has stood the test of time. It's a lighter ale that is fermented at higher temperatures, giving off very fruity aromas. New Holland does not disappoint. Peppery notes compliment the fruity undertones and it's only 5.6% abv.

Empty Growler

With lists like this, I always include an empty growler. Why? Because lists like this are too subjective and there are now more than 3,000 breweries in America to choose from. So get a growler or two and go to your local brewpub. Try something new, branch out and support your local brewers.

By: Matt Abendschein

Matt is a Guest Contributor for Jack Black. He is a beer fanatic who runs the blog stayhoppy.com out of his home state of Texas. There you can find information about craft beers, the brew scene in Austin and Dallas, and more info on how you can support your local breweries.