Summertime Beer

By Jason Hunt
Certified Cicerone

 

As we head into the heat of the Florida summer, many of us reach for lighter, more refreshing beers. But just because we might be craving something more easy-drinking, that shouldn’t mean we have to switch to flavorless diet lagers. “Light” should not mean “bland.” This week, we are rolling out some outstanding new beers in the refreshing category.

 

Sierra Nevada Summerfest

 

Sierra Nevada’s annual summertime release is an all malt pale lager in the style of the Helles lagers of Munich. It is smooth and easy drinking, with bready maltiness and a more distinct hop character than most of the other pale lagers available on the market.

 

 

 

 

Sixpoint The Crisp

 

Brewed in Brooklyn, Sixpoint’s beers have only recently become available in Florida. Their flagship beer, The Crisp, is an excellent German Style Pilsner. True to its name, it is indeed crisp, with noble hop aromatics playing upon a mild pale malt base, finishing with a clean, pointed bitterness.

 

 

 

 

Southern Star Bombshell Blonde

 

The Texas based brewery Southern Star is also new to Florida. Its Bombshell Blonde is an approachable, entry-level beer and a great version of an American Blonde ale. American Blonde ales are light in body and hop character and easy drinking like pale lagers. Brewed with ale yeast but at cooler temperatures keeps the ale fruit notes subdued, leaving a clean beer with an easy finish.

 

 

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis

 

Although Kellerweis is a new year-round release from Sierra Nevada, Hefeweizens are perfect for summer drinking, and Kellerweis is an outstanding example of a traditional German Hef. It is quenching and refreshing like all wheat beers, with the milkshake-like mouthfeel of a well made hefeweizen. Kellerweis is bursting with the classic Hef flavors of banana and clove, and even some of the bubblegum and vanilla notes often found in the style.

 

 

Fort Collins Z Lager

 

Z Lager is a classic amber lager-based rauchbier from Fort Collins, Colorado, brought in especially for The Blind Monk. Rauchbiers are the family of German-style smoked biers, made with smoked malt to give them their distinct character. While some smoked beers can overwhelm the palate with intense smoky, almost meaty aromas and flavors, Z lager’s smokiness is fairly subtle, which makes it very approachable to most beer drinkers. It is the perfect beer for summertime barbecues.

 

Ommegang Fleur de Houblon Summer Ale

 

A new release from Ommegang, Fleur de Houblon is an excellent example of how a refreshing, easier drinking beer can still be abundantly flavorful. Fleur de Houblon captures all of the wonderful floral and fruity notes of Belgian Strong Ales, but with the body and alcohol content more reminiscent of a Belgian Blonde. Loads of whole Bravo hops used in the late stages of the brewing process impart lush hoppy aromas, while hop bitterness is kept to a minimum. Think Belgian IPA minus the bitter. Don’t miss out on this deliciously well-balanced beer.

 

It’s summertime; it’s time to drink some beer.