I Sample Six Summer Alternatives

Holding on to Summer

Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, DE.

by Joe Elia

Maybe I am getting old.  Actually I know I am getting old because I catch myself saying things old people say.  Lately I been saying, "Fall beers already...geez it gets earlier and earlier each year."  Our distributors are pushing pumpkins and Oktoberfest beers while it's still sunny and warm and my kids are sitting on the couch moaning hourly, "There's nothing to do."  These are sure signs that summer is still in full swing.

Buddy on the beach.  Note the bottle opener on his
Troegs dog collar

 

When the fall beers come out, the summer beers become more elusive.  This is unfortunate because there are still four to six weeks of warm weather left in which to enjoy summer beers.  And what about Labor Day?  Have the brewers forgotten about this beer drinking, barbecuing, beach trekking, pool going summer holiday?  Showing up to a Labor Day get together with an Oktoberfest beer is just as awkward as showing up in lederhosen.

So, in an act of rebellion against the season pushers, I headed to Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, DE.  With the wife, the kids, Buddy (our faithful Pit Bull), and a six pack in tow, I sampled some alternatives in case your favorite summer beer is MIA from the shelves. 

Try Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA if you like Victory Summer Love

If there was ever an IPA made to drink in warm weather Chainbreaker is it. With an alcohol by volume (ABV ) of 5.6% and just enough bittering to qualify it as an IPA, this beer is very drinkable year round but excels as a summer brew.  Made with Citra and Cascade hops and Belgian yeast, Chainbreaker bursts with complex yet subtle notes of  citrus and spice.  It drinks more like a wheat beer, a classic summer time favorite, than a full blown IPA.  This is also a great beer for those who don't customarily drink IPA's.  If you like beer you'll like this offering.  It is a great alternative to Blue Moon, Magic Hat Circus Boy and any other wheat based ale.  Other similar beers to try are Founder's All Day IPA, Clown Shoes Miracle IPA, Bear Republic Racer 5, and Harpoon White IPA.
 

 

Try Thirsty Dog Labrador Lager if you like Sierra Nevada Summerfest

Bud, Coors, Miller, and Yuengling (of course) are technically lagers.  The actual beer snob term for them is American Adjunct Lagers. The Labrador Lager is an excellent microbrew choice for those who normally drink these standard beers.  It is brewed as a Dortmunder style using German grains and yeast.  These ingredients combined with a slightly higher alcohol content (6% ABV) make a highly drinkable beer like its big brewery counterparts without their watery qualities.  It is a crisp, clean drinking beer that accompanies all your usual summer fare; hotdogs, hamburgers, pulled pork, etc.  It also carries itself well into football season.  Again this is a great alternative to Bud, Miller, Coors, Yuengling, Land Shark, DAB and Sam Adams.  Other similar beers are Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, and Sly Foxx Helles Lager.

 

Try Lagunitas Pils if you like Troegs Sunshine Pils

This is another German styled lager only it is a pilsener, or pils for short.  Lagunitas brews this beer using German Saaz hops giving it a bolder taste than other lagers. This beer drinks clean and crisp with some herbal hints and a smooth, slightly noteworthy bitterness. The bitterness is not overwhelming however and ends with a subtle yet enjoyable dryness that is perfect for warmer weather.  The 6% ABV nicely rounds out the flavor of Lagunitas Pils without leaving the sense that you just drank octane.  With its bolder taste this is a great beer to drink with bbq'd pork or chicken, and grilled shark, tuna, or swordfish.  Like the Labrador, this too is a great football season beer.  Lagunitas Pils is an excellent alternative to Heineken, Stella Artois, and most German imports.  Other similar beers to try are Victory Prima Pils, Staropramen, and Oskar Blues' Mama's Little Yella Pils.


Try Flying Fish Extra Pale Ale if you like Flying Fish Farmhouse Ale

The Extra Pale Ale from Flying Fish is an extremely light drinking, well balanced beer.  With a little more fizziness than most beers and a slight citrus note, this pale ale is a great warm weather beer, much like its Farmhouse cousin.  Its light, bubbly quality and a low 5.2% ABV means this is a craft beer that won't weigh you down and is perfect for an active day outdoors.  This beer pairs well with lighter fare such as chicken and fish or with salty snacks such as nachos.  EPA is also an alternative if you like Michelob, Corona, Pacifico, and Modello.  Other similar beers to try are Uinta Wyld Extra Pale Ale, Anchor Brewing Liberty Pale Ale, New Holland Sun Dog, New Holland Monkey King, and Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale.

Try Clown Shoes Miracle IPA if you like Sam Adams Summer Ale

 



Miracle IPA is a great example of a session IPA.  Session or sessionable beers are brewed for extended drinking sessions.  IPA's are notoriously hoppy, bitter, and have ABV's between 6.5% and 8%.  In an effort to give IPA fans a session beer, brewers have been crafting IPA's that are easier to drink over the course of a few hours.  Miracle IPA, with its 5.5% ABV is an enjoyable warm weather beer.  Its hop/bitterness profile is well balanced with some hints of citrus.  It is assertive without being aggressive and pairs well with grilled beef, pork, or lamb.   If you like IPA's or enjoy Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Yards Extra Special Pale Ale or Troegs Pale Ale, Miracle IPA is an excellent alternative.  You may also want to try Founders All Day IPA and Goose Island IPA.

Try Ithaca Apricot Wheat if you like Leinenkugel Summer Shandy

 



Beer brewed with fruit is difficult to do well.  In many cases there is too much fruit and not enough beer or the other way around.  In the worst cases both are understated to present a beer that seems like it was mixed with fruit in your kitchen.  Ithaca's Apricot Wheat is an excellent example of what a fruit-beer fusion can be.  It combines the easy drinking lightness of a wheat beer with just a hint of apricot and sweetness in the finish. This is a great beer to drink with desserts, salads, and grilled vegetables.  Apricot Wheat is an alternative if you like Magic Hat #9, Magic Hat Elderbetty, Sam Adams Porch Rocker, Traveler Curious Traveler and Bud Light Lime. It is also an alternative to Blue Moon and Shock Top.  You may also want to try Dogfish Head Tweason'ale and Old Dominion Cherry Blossom Lager.