A user's guide to summer brew
By Colin Burch
For Weekly Surge
To prepare for summer - after you wax your legs or back or both - you need to know what beer to take to the beach, what to sip on the patio, and what growlers to pick up for the warmer weather.
So I offer my Guide to Summer Beers, based on experience and interviews (some seasonal beers haven't been released yet).
My ratings key:
Beach Baby - The kind of beer you want to hold at the beach.
Breeze - Refreshing, relaxing.
Firecracker - Exciting, lively, good for afternoons and evenings.
Partly Cloudy - Not terrible; not great; an okay day at the beach.
Patio Pal - The kind of beer you enjoy hanging with.
Shade - Sturdy brews that blend summertime with craft-brew character.
Sunburn - Watery, poor taste, or astringent.
In the process of talking with local brewers about their seasonals, I uncovered a good bit of news.
New South Brewing Co.,
Myrtle Beach
--White Ale
Rating: Breeze
Remedy to the hot, harried day with the kids. Perfect for cooling off and calming down. New South distributes White Ale to TBonz Gill and Grille locations as well as other restaurants. Dave Epstein, owner of New South, said some restaurants purchase white ale during the summer months, making it their seasonal, although it's available year-round.
--Unnamed Amber
Rating: Shade
New South's Blonde Bombshell will not appear at TBonz et al this summer. Epstein has a new recipe for a summer seasonal. The yet-to-be-named amber ale is an "easy-going session beer," on the lighter side of ambers, with a solid hop character. The kegs will roll out May 2 or May 9.
Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery,
Myrtle Beach
(Growlers available.)
--Golden Ale
Rating: Patio Pal
Head brewer Eric Lamb said this golden brew's mild hop finish makes it a "summertime, sitting-on-the-patio beer." Look for it on tap Friday (April 18). Lamb just came off a harrowing experience. He recently had major equipment problems, and his brewing operation was down for two weeks. "All my fermenters were empty at one point," he said. Fortunately he had his serving tanks full at the time, and he expects to have all six tanks full again today.
--Raspberry Wheat
Rating: Firecracker
It might seem odd to put a fruit-flavored beer under a "firecracker" rating, but for the first time, Lamb has made this long-standing favorite with raspberry puree instead of an extract. Eighty-eight pounds of puree per 30 kegs, to be exact. That's more exciting than fireworks. It's already on tap.
Quigley's Plate and Pint,
Pawleys Island
(Growlers available.)
--Billy Boch
Rating: Shade
It was a summer seasonal last year, but Billy Boch will probably be a spring seasonal this year. Owner Josh Quigley said if the last four weeks indicate what the summer will be like, he'll be busy enough just keeping up with demand for his six year-round brews. Billy Boch is due to the taps no later than Friday (April 18), and it will be around about a month. This pale boch lager, made with American hops, is slightly less than 8 percent alcohol.
--Longboard Lager
Rating: Beach Baby
With a name like this, who needs a proper summer seasonal? Light in body and lightly hopped with a distinct malted barley flavor. If you can sneak a chilled growler of this onto the sand, it'll be a good day at the beach.
Gordon Biersch,
Myrtle Beach
(Growlers should be available in June.)
--Kolsch
Rating: Shade
Pete Velez, head brewer, said the German Kolsch ale is his company's summer seasonal. The Kolsch is light, crisp, and holds more flavor than a typical golden ale, with hops more in the aroma than in the taste. The Kolsch tap party will probably come around the end of June, during which Velez will have another job requirement. "I get up on the bar and make some ridiculous toast," he said.
Coors Brewing Co.
--Honey Moon Summer Ale
Rating: Shade
This was a risky, but ultimately successful, twist on Blue Moon Belgian White, with refreshing hints of honey and orange peel.
Redhook Ale Brewery
--Sunrye Summer Ale
Rating: Beach Baby
There was a definite barley and rye flavor to this. The golden color, light body and the snappy finish hold broad appeal.
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
--Beach Bum Blonde Ale
Rating: Partly Cloudy
You'll notice subtle hints of corn and citrus. Keep it icy cold and it'll be alright.
Grupo Modelo
--Corona Light
Rating: Sunburn
Corona Light is popular. I'm changing my reputation as someone who disses all light beers. But let's be honest. With 182 reviews at BeerAdvocate.com, this beer's average grade was F.
Contact Colin Burch - the Beerman - at
beerpour@yahoo.com or visit his beer blog at http://maltyhops.blogspot.com. |
