Temperatures are creeping higher (finally!) and we are absolutely itching to get outside. For us, that definitely means hot dogs on the grill and some beers in a cooler. These six microbrews are our top picks for sipping in the sun while waiting for the grill to warm.
1. Allagash White from Allagash Brewing Company - This classic witbier makes an excellent transition from the heavier beers of winter to the more light and crisp beers of summer. Brewed with wheat, Allagash White has a creamy mouthfeel and citrusy, spice-infused flavor.
2. Jack D'Or from Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project - Finally had a chance to try this on a recent trip to Boston and it's definitely worth seeking out. A saison in style, this beer is simultaneously fruity, spicy, herbal, and hoppy. Every sip seems to reveal something new and incredibly tasty.
3. Smuttynose Maibock from Smuttynose Brewing Company - Honey-sweet, but a smattering of spicy hops helps reign it in. With an 8.7% ABV, this one will also keep your toes warm if the spring afternoon is a bit nippy.
4. Bender from Surly Brewing Company - Creamy from a dose of oats in the brew kettle, this brown ale has some of the warm chocolate and coffee flavors of our favorite winter beers, but with the fruity crispness of summer ales. Another excellent transition beer.
5. Blanche de Chambly from Unibroue - This is another crisp and fruity witbier, but we find this one to be dryer and less sweet than the Allagash. Fun to compare the two!
6. Red's Rye PA from Founder's Brewing Company - We've been loving the earthy-spicy flavors of rye-based beers lately, and this is one of our favorites.
What beer will you be drinking for your first spring cook-out?
Related: Beer with Dinner: The Basics of Pairing Beer and Food
(Image: Flickr member eddie.welker licensed under Creative Commons)
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I'm a Louisiana girl, so Abita Beer is essential on a hot, humid day. If you live in the south, try Abita's Strawberry Harvest, a lager made with real Ponchatoula strawberries! So good.
Red's Rye is delicious. Still has that spiciness, bitterness hop enthusiasts love, but seems to fare better in the bottle than a lot of ultra-hoppy IPAs, double IPAs, etc. whose flavor depends so much on the freshness of the hops. Have had it bottled many different times and have never been disappointed.
Yazoo, of Nashville - their HOP PROJECT is really interesting. Batches and numbered and differ so you can vote for favorites.
Add to that Bell's Oberon! Best summer beer ever!!!
I was excited to see the Abita bottle in the pic thinking a non East Coast beer was going to be featured...sad to not see it included in the list :-(
@m3tx (and tinyviolin) - Sorry! I needed a picture for the post and couldn't find a good one with an anonymous bottle. Then, I didn't feel right about including Abita because I've never actually tried it (yet!). What's it like? I'll keep an eye out for it, for sure.
I agree with Tinyviolin that Abita's Strawberry Harvest is one of the best summer beers out there!
"What beer will you be drinking for your first spring cook-out?"</I>
This implies that I HAVEN'T been cooking out, all winter....
What kind of beer will I drink at my first SPRING cook-out? HOMEBREW! ;-)
It's hard for me to give up those dark winter beers this time of year. They're just fantastic. So I go with Negro Modelo or a Xingu. Also, Session's Black Lager is pretty tasty!
Abita Amber is my favorite beer, but any of the Abita seasonals are really good too (Strawberry, Satsuma, Mardi Gras Bock, Fall Fest, Christmas Ale, etc.).
Abita!!!
Emma, a good entry to Abita is Purple Haze and its gotten much more common around the country. Its a light raspberry wheat beer. World Market store up north carry Abita (found the pecan ale there not long ago) and many groceries are starting to as well.
Agreed with others about the Strawberry Abita. Its awesome. And you won't find a better beer to cook with than Abita Turbodog.
Chiming in with the Abita love! Amber is a great all around beer, but the seasonals are where they really get creative. Abita Strawberry is the best thing ever!
Gotta love Abita Purple Haze when I grill! As a transplanted Cajun living in Chicago, I was thrilled to find that my neighborhood spirits shop started carrying it. It's still best on drought though!
To add to the list: 3 Floyds Gumballhead and just about any saison.
belgian white from blue moon brewing co, served with a slice of fresh orange. aaaaaahhhhh.
My "cheap" summer beer is Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat.
My more expensive beer is their Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale (saison) or Saison Dupont. I've fallen in love with the style recently.
YES SURLY!!! I'm a Furious gal, myself. But very happy with any Surly and glad to see it on this list!
Abita 'Turbo Dog' is worth a try for those that like really dark.
Oh I'd second the mention of Gumball Head it's awesome! I'd also add to the list Avery White Rascal, it's similar to Blue Moon and it's my new favorite beer!
I second Abita's Turbodog!
I'll be drinking a Cattail Peak Wheat from Highland Brewing. If you haven't tried this awesome summer seasonal from this Asheville, N.C. brewery (3rd largest in the Southeast) then you're missing out!