Summer Beers

America's Next Top Bottles

by James Saul

	print	email	reply	rss feed

Published: Jun 3, 2008

1 Philadelphia Brewing Co. Walt Wit

PBC's "wit"-icism makes Walt our No. 1 summer beer for 2008. The Belgian-style white ale is packed with wheat flavor up front, with a twinge of citrus and spice from grapefruit peel and chamomile. It's the best way to rep Kenzo short of getting a map of the El tattooed on your back, and it tastes great with salty snacks.

Grab a picnic basket and a checkered blanket and get outside with Long Island-based Blue Point Brewing Co.'s Blueberry Ale, an all-American beer brewed with 132 pounds of blueberries (!) in each batch. You'd think all that fruit would be overwhelming, but you'll be surprised by how subdued it is — a complex finish teases the palate without a single trace of syrupy aftertaste.

A bit of California dreamin' comes in every bottle of Sierra Nevada's Summerfest, a lager with a familiar two-row pale and Munich malt and Saaz hop finish. While many warm-weather offerings lose something due to citrus overload, this brew rules due to its accessibility. It's on the darker side of summertime, but a solid specimen regardless.

Sam Adams Summer Ale benefits from a unique blend of lemon zest and grains of paradise. The rare West African spice provides a tangy flavor that works well with the sour fruit, resulting in a clean taste that's ideal for multi-bottle boozing. Pair it with anything grilled or just use it as an excuse to throw a founding father-themed barbecue.

Beer Advocate forum posters are pissed off at Intercourse Brewing Company due to alleged distribution ties with the beer-snob-reviled Lion's Head. Yes, the bottle label does say Wilkes-Barre, but call off the witch hunt: The crisp, mild Mount Joy Light Pilsner would fit right into any import drinking session. The brew's labels celebrate giggle-inducing Pennsylvania towns like Intercourse, Blue Ball and Peach Bottom.

Feeding Frenzy
Evil Genius
Mali High
Absinthe Minded
The Week In Eats
Small Bites