Over the decade craft beer has become extremely popular. Going to a bar or restaurant and ordering a bud light is now considered taboo. If you’re new to the craft beer scene, it’s hard to know where to start with such a growing list of breweries and options. On the other hand, if you’re a craft beer connoisseur like us, we are always seeking to learn more through trying as many different styles, in as many different places, as possible.
So, we’re doing you a favor by giving you a list of 9 craft beers that you to try this Summer.
If you have tried any of these or have recommendations on other craft beers worthy of trying, drop in your thoughts in the comments on the post! With thousands of options, we’d love for you to share.
1. Lagunitas Brewing Company: DayTime Session IPA (4 percent ABV)
Lagunitas sent its citrusy session IPA on a diet, reformulating the recipe to drop DayTime to just 4 percent ABV and 98 calories. Not reduced: the fizzy, nearly clear beer’s magnified aroma of mango and papaya. Buy a six-pack of cans and your summer BBQ is set.
2. Founders: All Day IPA (4.7 percent ABV)
It's a summer classic at this point. All Day has all the pop of your favorite hoppy IPA, without the overload of ABV. It's no-fuss and relaxed—just like the perfect cookout guest.
3. Deschutes Brewery: Da Shootz! (4 percent ABV)
The Oregonians set the linguistic record straight on their brewery name’s pronunciation with Da Shootz! It’s a contemporary American pilsner suited for lunchtime and anytime, thanks to its low ABV and lively aroma of citrus that’s supplied by Lemondrop hops.
4. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery: Slightly Mighty (4 percent ABV)
Dogfish Head designed this beer for calorie-conscious IPA lovers with an active lifestyle. Slightly Mighty offers the aromatic excess of your favorite IPA wrapped up in a 95-calorie package packing but 3.6 grams of carbs per 12-ounce can. The secret to the subtle sweetness and surprisingly full body is a bit of monk fruit.
5. Marathon Brewing: 26.2 Brew (4 percent ABV)
This year, Boston Beer Company (the maker of Sam Adams beers) launched the Marathon Brewing spin-off. The first release is the runner-friendly 26.2 Brew, developed with insights from marathon champions Meb Keflezighi and Desiree Linden. The refreshing golden ale is flavored with coriander and Himalayan sea salt, the latter lending post-run electrolytes.
6. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company: Sierraveza (5 percent ABV)
The legendary California brewery looked to Mexico for this easy-going, cracker-crisp lager designed for good times at the beach and trips to the taco stand. Sure, you can add a squeeze of lime, but the fine floral aroma needs no adulteration.
7. Victory: Summer Love (5 percent ABV)
There's no more straightforward beach beer than Summer Love, a seasonal from Philly brewing Stalwarts. It's not promising to be anything it isn't and it's gone before you know it.
8. Bell’s Brewery Oberon Ale (5.8 percent ABV)
This easy-drinking American wheat from Michigan put summer seasonals on the map after its 1997 debut.
9. Dogfish Head Brewery Seaquench Ale (5 percent ABV)
SeaQuench Ale is a session sour mash-up of a crisp Kölsch, a salty Gose and a tart Berliner Weiss which are three of the best beer styles for summer. This oddly named brew from Delaware ties them all into one innovative package that has captured the attention and hearts of beer, wine and margarita drinkers alike!