Talking Head: Summer beers that don't suck
Summer calls for beer with a lighter body, a drier finish, moderate alcohol, and perhaps a bit of citric tartness. But that doesn't have to mean sucking out all the flavor. The addition of specialty malts, spices, fruit and quenching hops can add flavor while keeping the body light. Here are some suggestions for flavorful, refreshing beers for summer that you can drink without chugging.
It's that time of year again, where Bud Light Lime pulls its "seasons change, tastes don't"ads and starts running its "Summer. Not just a season, but a taste" ads. Well, I've tasted summer and it is way better than Bud Light Lime. Commercials like these give the impression that summer beers have to taste like Gatorade so as not to interfere with your pickup game of football with the Girls of the Southeast Conference.
Certainly, summer calls for beer with a lighter body, a drier finish, moderate alcohol, and perhaps a bit of citric tartness. Sweet, thick, roasty, and potent beers do lose some of their appeal in hot weather. Still, the desired characteristics can be achieved without sucking out all the flavor. Additions of specialty malts, spices, and fruit can all make a beer more palatable on a hot day. More importantly perhaps, the right hops can add citrus, spice, and floral aromas and flavors, along with quenching bitterness.