Discover Your New Favorite Beer This Summer

If there’s anything better than a refreshing, chilled beer on a hot summer day, we don’t know what it is. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, playing a game of cornhole, or just sitting outside enjoying a quiet dinner with your family, summer is absolutely the most beer-friendly season.

Because of that, it’s easy to stick with what you know. Maybe you’ve loved a summer seasonal beer for years, or maybe you stick to something standard no matter what the calendar says.

However, it can be both fun and rewarding to branch out. Because there are so many opportunities to enjoy new brews in the summer season, it’s easier than you might think to find your new favorite. Plus, expanding your “beer repertoire” is a great way to meet new people, explore different places, and make lasting memories.

So, how can you find the best beer of the summer, and a potential new favorite?

Try Seasonal Releases

One of the easiest ways to find your new favorite beer is to check out what your favorite brands and breweries are putting out. Some breweries release the same seasonal brews every year. It’s a great marketing technique and tends to build a hefty following. Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for example, releases their special Oberon Ale once a year in the late Spring, celebrating by calling it “Oberon Day”.

Whether you choose to go local or decide on something with a national release, you won’t have a hard time finding plenty of summer choices in your local grocery store or even at your favorite bar.

Brands are notorious for adding lighter, crisp, bright flavors in their summer beers, including things like

• Orange
• Lemon/lemonade
• Lime
• Berries

Earlier this year, Schlafly Beer even released Hazy Punch IPA, a perfect summer brew made with pineapple and orange.

Because so many breweries come out with summer releases, the possibilities are endless for what you can (and should) try. Commit to something new every time you’re at the bar, or pick up a sick pack of different seasonal offerings whenever you’re at the store.

Host a Party

If you do end up buying multiple packs of beer each time you’re out, what are you going to do with all of the extras?

Why not host a dinner party, or even a beer-tasting event with your friends and family?

Summer is an ideal time to host an outdoor party, reconnect with friends, meet new people, and make lasting memories.

If you want to host a beer-tasting event, have everyone bring a six-pack of their favorite brew, and you can sip all night long or even exchange bottles at the end of the evening. If you want to have a dinner party instead, let everyone know the menu ahead of time, and have people bring brews they think would pair well with each dish. Wine isn’t the only thing that goes great with food!

Throwing the perfect outdoor party doesn’t have to be stressful. Make sure you check the weather, have plenty of space for your guests, and don’t be afraid to get creative with mismatched decor and items that accentuate the natural beauty of your backyard. A party with beer at the center should be fun and casual, so don’t let yourself get overwhelmed in the planning stages.

Do Some Traveling

You can find great summer beers all over the country, or all over the globe. If you really want to try something new this season, consider stepping out of your comfort zone and make it your mission to discover something new while hitting the road.

It’s not uncommon for people to go on a summer vacation, so why not add some beer exploration to it? Every time you go to a new city, make it a point to try a different brewery. Or, set up an itinerary of different beer festivals throughout the country to attend. If you’re a true enthusiast, being able to travel and try new flavors along the way will make for the best summer trip you’ve had in years.

Of course, man cannot live on beer alone (unfortunately!). No matter where you’re traveling, make sure to take care of yourself and stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water will give you more energy and make it easier to drink your brews responsibly. If you tend to have a hard time getting in enough water each day, try some of the following tips.

• Set daily goals for yourself
• Set reminders
• Keep a water bottle with you
• Add flavors to your water
• Enjoy a glass with every meal

Summer is an ideal time to try new things and have some fun. Why not let that carry over into your love of beer? Whether you stay local and try something from the store or your favorite bar, or travel the country to find a new seasonal selection, with a little time and a lot of fun research, you might end up discovering your favorite beer this summer, allowing you to branch out from your old standby.

Special thanks to Jori Hamilton for this Great Beer Now guest post!