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What makes a beer a summer beer? When we think of summer beers, we typically think of light, refreshing, and crisp brews that aren't too heavy or high in alcohol—something you want to sip in the heat or while playing beach volleyball. A stout sounds good if you're curled up by the fireplace, but not so much when lounging by the pool.
No beer is off-limits any time of year; if you enjoy stouts on the beach, so be it! But here are our picks for summer beers as we think of them, whether you're looking for a lager or pilsner or an easy-drinking IPA. So grab your cooler and fill it up with any of these bright, refreshing summer beers (or canned co*cktails if that's more your speed).
And if you need help deciphering all the beer styles, check out our guide to types of beer.
Hailing from Michigan, the seasonal Oberon Ale is synonymous with welcoming summer after a long, cold winter. The refreshing wheat ale is citrusy, with a hint of spice, and is often garnished with an orange slice.
It's celebrated annually at the end of March on Oberon Day, the unofficial start of summer for Michiganders and beer lovers (me) across the country. Yes, in the Midwest, we skip right past spring.
The Kona Big Wave Golden Ale is perfect for drinking on the beach. It's brewed with Citra and Galaxy hops, giving it a fruity and juicy taste and aroma, while remaining light and easy to drink.
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Bets Golden Ale Runner-Up
Montauk Summer Ale
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Bets Golden Ale Runner-Up
Montauk Summer Ale
Montauk Summer Ale is a seasonal beer I wish were available year-round. It's well-balanced with caramel malt and wheat, and has the flavor and body to stand on its own with a 5.6% ABV.
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4
Best Lager
Corona Extra
From its birth in Mexico City in 1925 to its 1979 release in the U.S. to now, there might not be any other beer more internationally associated with warm weather, the beach, and a general good time. The Mexican lager is light and crisp, with notes of citrus and honey and can be found in 120 countries across the globe. Drink it with or without a lime—it's pure summer.
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Best Lager Runner-Up
Pacifico Clara Lager Mexican Beer
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Best Lager Runner-Up
Pacifico Clara Lager Mexican Beer
This pilsner-style lager was created in 1900 by German brewers in Mazatlán, Mexico, on the Pacific coast. Then in the 1970s, it's said that California surfers discovered the refreshing, crisp beer and brought it to the States.
It's a well-rounded beer—not overly citrusy, and light yet flavorful. Whether you're a surfer or not, this beer is a summer essential.
Perfect for any day of the week, Sunday Beer is a light lager that doesn't sacrifice flavor. The founders created it to fit in a healthy and active lifestyle, without being "watered down." The carbon neutral certified beer is brewed with Hallertau hops and fine pilsner malt for a balanced beer that still has all the flavor.
The brand also makes a Sunday Beer & Juice, which is a beer crafted with lime juice.
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While lagers and pilsners are more associated with summer, IPAs can have a place at the picnic table too. Unlike many IPAs that have a rich taste and high ABV, Founders All Day IPA was designed to keep you going through your summer activities—just look at its name. It has a 4.7% ABV and maintains a clean finish that's not overly hoppy.
8
Best Lighter IPA
IPA Bell’s Light Hearted Ale Lo-Cal IPA
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Best Lighter IPA
IPA Bell’s Light Hearted Ale Lo-Cal IPA
Whether or not I was born and bred in Michigan, Bell's Two Hearted Ale is probably one of the best IPAs you can find nationally. Even IPA haters love it. But at 7%, it's not exactly what you might be pounding under the sun (hats off to you, if you do). Enter: Light Hearted Ale, a session IPA that's flavorful, easy, and only 3.7% ABV and 100 calories.
Okay, so hazy New England-Style IPAs aren't exactly light, but like I said, that doesn't mean it can't be a summer beer. When the struggling Old Nation Brewing launched M-43 in 2017, it immediately took the business to new heights and created a craze surrounding the often sold out beer.
When I first took a sip of this years ago, my brain immediately went to orange juice and mimosas. Brewed with Calpso, Simcoe, Citra, and Amarillo hops and full of tropical flavors and aromas, it's sunshine in a can. And while New England IPAs aren't always for the faint of heart, this creamy, juicy one will change any non-believer.
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Best Session Ale
Montauk Watermelon Session Ale
Nothing says summer like juicy watermelon, so what better way to quench your thirst than with a watermelon beer? Many fruit-flavored beers are just too much—too sweet, too sticky—but the seasonal Montauk Watermelon Session Ale is the exact opposite. This 4.9% ABV beer has very subtle watermelon notes and will absolutely quench your thirst on a hot summer day by the pool.
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Best Sour
Dogfish Head SeaQuench Ale Session Sour Beer
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Best Sour
Dogfish Head SeaQuench Ale Session Sour Beer
I'm not a regular sour beer drinker, but the Dogfish Head SeaQuench Ale is actually refreshing. It's a mix of Gose, Kölsch, and Berliner Weiss beers, with a touch of lime juice and sea salt, which makes for a crisp and tart libation. It has a similar flavor to a margarita, but not as sweet (and without the tequila).
This balanced American Pale Ale is a go-to for summer. It's smooth with a touch of citrus and is perfect for quenching your thirst on a hot day. Just looking at the can makes me want to lounge by the pool.
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Best Pilsner
Threes Brewing Vliet Pilsner
The award-winning Vliet Pilsner is one of the best pilsners (outside of the OG Pilsner Urquell) that I've ever had. It's so crisp and smooth, I always misread its name as "velvet." It's brewed with Saaz and Spalter Select hops and German Pilsner Malt, and is so complex in taste and body. It's difficult to do a pilsner right, and Vliet gets it done.
When you think summer, you might not think of Alaska, but you should definitely be thinking of a kölsch. A mix between an ale and lager, the German-style beer is crisp, smooth, and refreshing. It's made with glacier-fed water from the Juneau Ice Field and a combination of hops and malts.
What could be more refreshing than lemonade and beer? German for "cyclist," the radler, a mix of beer and lemon-flavored soda, is said to have originated in Germany as a drink for cyclists. The Samuel Adams Porch Rocker is a blend of Helles lager and lemons for a tangy, refreshing drink that's low in ABV.
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Best Shandy
Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy
Shandy is another name for a radler, and Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy has been a popular citrusy drink for years. It's a weiss beer with natural lemon flavor that's ideal for drinking by the lake (or anywhere).
Allison Arnold
Associate SEO Editor
Allison Arnold is the Associate SEO Editor at Delish, where she writes about kitchen gadgets and food and culture. She likes exercising almost as much as eating, and has a thorough Google Maps ranking system for her favorite restaurants and bars. You can find her spewing hot takes on the food world and planning her next trip, all with multiple cans of seltzer open at a time.
