Summer Beers

By Michael Koger

As summer approaches and the temperatures heat up, you’re going to want a beer that will quench your thirst but not completely overwhelm you with kill your palate alcohol content.  Luckily, there is a wide selection of beers and beer styles that are perfect to quaff your summer thirst.

While only recently considered an official category, “session” beers are something to seek out for a summer brew. As the name implies, a session beer is something you can have at least one of in one sitting.  They’re typically under 5 percent alcohol by volume and are easy to drink.  Some good examples include Full Sail Session Lager, a nice, easy to drink and crisp lager that will satisfy every palate.  If you’re looking for something a bit more tart, you may be able to find The Bruery’s Nottenroth, a Berliner Weisse style beer, is tart but has a nice, crisp fruity taste to it.  At only 2.08 percent alcohol by volume, it’s easy to drink a few of them.  If you like bitter, hoppy beers, keep your eyes out for Alpha Session by Drake’s Brewing Company or Alpha Waves at Beachwood BBQ and Brewing in Long Beach. Both beers have a nice, bitter taste that has become popular in California, but are low in alcohol.

Germany is home to a few styles of beer that prove perfect for Summer drinking. The most popular styles are Hefeweizens and Kölsch style ales. If you’re a fan of Hefweizens, check out Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier. The brewers at the Weihenstephaner Abbey have been brewing for almost a thousand years and have the most respected Hefeweizen in the world.  Sierra Nevada’s Kellerweis is an American interpretation on the German classic.  Kölsch is a style relatively unknown in the states, but it is gaining popularity.  Reissdorf, Sünner and Gaffel are the most readily available Kölsches found in the states. The style is typically pale in color and dry in taste but easy to drink and order a second.

Whether you’re mowing the lawn or grilling some burgers, a low alcohol content beer does not mean you have to sacrifice taste in order to drink a few brews.  There are plenty of offerings out there with lots of flavor, low alcohol and are usually pretty cheap.  Cheers!