A Dozen Refreshing Beers for Summer

During these warm, muggy days of summer I tend favor crisp, light-flavored beers.

These beers — blonde ales and lagers, wheat ales, kolschs — are perfect for imbibing after mowing the lawn or at a backyard barbecue.
Some summer beers have a little extra zip — additional hops, spices or citrus, most are light-to-medium bodied, have increased carbonation, and, perhaps, slightly less alcohol.

A recent beer hunt turned up 20 summer brews at such area shops such as Big Z Beverage, Shoreline Beverage, Huntington Thrifty Beverage and Huntington Super Star Beverage.

I found several tart quenching American wheat ales, but varied in taste. I also discovered a handful of kolschs, beers styled after the German ales made in Cologne. Others were blonde ales, somewhat in the English style, but lighter in body and occasionally flavored with citrus. Also crisp, lagers and, an odd pink hued brew.

My top picks and ratings:

Anchor Summer Wheat. 96/100. San Francisco. Looks like lemon meringue pie. Deep golden brew with bright white head. Tart lemony zing from wheat. Flavors of lemongrass, sweet malt. Lip smacking refreshment. 

Sierra Nevada Summerfest. 96/100. Chico, Calif. Smooth, refreshing, pilsner-style golden lager. Floral and malt aromas; sweet malt, tangy grassy hop flavors; full-bodied, but quite refreshing.

Southern Tier Hop Sun Summer Wheat Ale. 92/100. Lakewood, NY. Light gold. Short head. Aroma of crisp citrus hops. Crisp, light, not overly bitter. Deliciously refreshing.

Goose Island Summertime. 92/100. Chicago. Kolsch-style brew. Apple, soapy hop aromas. Bready malt, mild spice flavors. Highly carbonated. Crisp, medium bodied. Real refresher.

Ithaca Partly Sunny. 92/100. Belgian-wit style. Hazy gold with big head. Tart, spice nose; flavors of apples, oranges, coriander. Medium bodied. Excellent wit.

Green Flash Summer Saison. 90/100. San Diego. Brewed with Seville orange peel, ginger and grains of paradise. Golden, foamy head, peppery nose, lightish body, subtle orange and pepper flavors. Good quencher.

Brooklyn Summer Ale. 88/100. English-style golden ale. Floral and bready aromas. Subtle hop and wine-like flavors. Medium bodied. Easy-drinking lip smacker. Available in cans.

Dundee Summer Wheat Beer. 88/100. Rochester, N.Y. Brewed with wheat and rye.  Cloudy gold. Aromas of spice, grass. Sweet fruity, mellow malt flavors. Crisp, light, refreshing.

Peak Organic Summer Session Ale. 84/100. Portland, Me. Golden.  Resiny, spicy aromas. Tastes resiny, bready, lemon pepper, citrus sweetish. Medium bodied. Highly drinkable.

Anderson Valley Summer Solstice. 80/100.  Booneville, Calif. Copper colored with beige head. Aroma of malt. Sweet taste of orange and spice. Zero hop bitterness. Smooth, easy to drink. Available in cans.

Geary’s Summer Ale 80/100. Portland, Me. British-style ale, Deep gold. Malty nose. Sweet malt, winey and bitter resin flavors.  Good, but a tad heavy for the season.

Widmer Brothers Citra Blonde Summer Ale. 80/100.  From Portland, Ore. Light gold. Big hoppy nose.  Soft malt, a resiny citrus flavor of citra hops. Full bodied. A hophead beer.
Smuttynose Summer Weizen Ale 80/100. Portmouth, N.H. Chamomile added. Floral, grassy nose. Tart, malty brew. Touch of hop bitterness. Medium bodied. Refreshing.