Seasonal beers seem to be issuing forth from highly fashionable craft brewers earlier and earlier every year. I fully anticipate a time when you'll have to buy your Octoberfest lagers in in July because they'll be off the shelves by September, and actually consuming one in October will draw snickers of derision from your peers who've already started on the Winter Warmer. Fortunately, the distinction of

The point of a summer ale is basically to have a beer that refreshes in warm weather, comprised of ingredients that tolerate the colder end of refrigeration. Generally speaking, your average fridge keeps many styles of beer too cold, which is why the flavor of your first sips may seem muted while the last few are more vivid. There's usually not much you can do about that, as the odor of spoiling meat often interferes with a beer's palatability. The common ingredients of summer ales are very light or golden malts (a portion of wheat in the grain bill is not unusual), hops with citrus characteristics (such as Cascade), and a balance of actual citrus flavors and spices (the zest of lemons or oranges is quite often blended with a touch of peppery grains of paradise or coriander). Coupled with a moderate to high level of carbonation, these beers don't loose much flavor while packed in an ice-filled cooler.

Local examples abound, ranging from Samuel Adams Summer Ale to Harpoon's Summer Beer to Wachusett's Summer Breeze. The growing popularity of Gritty's of Maine, however, has presented us with an additional option for summer beer in our finer package stores.


Vacationland (summer wheat/ale, 4.9% abv)
Brewery: Gritty's (Portland, Maine, USA)
Format: Bottle
Cost: $7.99/6-pack
Bought at: [url=http://www.juliosliquors.com/]Julio