DRAFT Magazine

by Molly Petrilla

Beach-worthy isn’t a term we take lightly around here. While wearing sandals with white tube socks is certainly a seaside crime, there are far worse things you can do at the beach: namely, bring a sub-par beer. The ultimate beach beer should be refreshing but not watery; light, but not bland; flavorful, but highly drinkable. And try to watch those ABVs while you’re at it. See? We told you: serious business.

Still, there’s no better feeling than popping open that first bottle as the waves crash in front of you and the sand heats your feet. As Flying Dog Brewmaster Bob Malone puts it, that first blissful sip of a chilled beach beer is truly “the taste of summer.” These five beers fit our admittedly high bill for beach-worthy status. So grab your cooler, dust off your koozie (it’s OK—you’re at the beach) and prepare to head seaward with one or more of these brews in tow.

Anderson Valley Summer Solstice: We hate to kill your beer buzz before it even starts, but here’s the bad news: Some beaches don’t allow glass bottles. Now, the good news: this smooth-as-ocean-foam cream ale is available in both bottles and cans. The hot-weather cousin of Anderson Valley’s popular Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale, the summer release is silky and slightly sweet, with plenty of malt flavor and just a dash of spice thrown in. It’s already developed something of a cult following, and Julie Atallah, owner of Brusin’ Ales in Asheville, N.C., says she struggles to keep any on the shelves during warmer months. And there’s an added bonus to bringing your beer in a can: It helps shield your brew from harmful UV rays, which can react with hops and cause a bitter taste and skunky smell.

Flying Dog In-Heat Wheat: The beach may be full of water, but that doesn’t mean your beer should be, too. This German-style Hefeweizen is full of spice and flavor, but not too heavy on the hops. “It’s very approachable while still having a lot of body to it,” Malone says. Plus, its base yeast is the same style that’s used in Germany, making it one of the most authentic Hefeweizens around. (“I’ve had several German people come up and tell me it’s the best wheat beer they’ve had since they left Germany,” Malone adds.) Flying Dog’s secret yeast recipe also results in a beach-friendly banana scent and taste—the perfect complement to that ubiquitous banana smell in sunscreen. (You are wearing sunscreen, right?)

Otter Creek Solstice: Sure, there’s a river on the label and it’s made in Vermont, but this beer is ideal for beachside sipping, too. Like other session ales, Solstice’s ABV is on the low end (4 percent), so you can gulp a few without feeling dehydrated or seeing extra waves in the ocean. But with seven malts and Willamette, Cascade and Amarillo hops, you’ll forget how light on the alcohol this beer actually is. And its malty flavor and mild hoppiness complement just about any beach food you bring—or no food at all. The Solstice debuted in late 2009, shortly after Otter Creek set its sights on creating a session ale, and according to Brewmaster Mike Gerhart, “It’s one of the more complicated beers to develop and brew.”

Saranac Summer Brew: Mixing lemonade with beer may sound a little odd, but Europeans have been doing it for decades. In Germany, it’s called a radler. In England, a shandy. And over at Saranac Brewery, it’s called a lemonade and lager, and it’s every bit as tasty, thirst-quenching and summery as it sounds. The lightness and crispness of the lager still reign supreme, but there’s also just enough tart, sweet lemon flavor to remind you that it’s summertime, and hey, you’re at the beach. As Saranac Brewmaster Jim Kuhr explains, “If we’re going to make a beer that has a fruit component, the beer has to be the star and the added component just a supporting role to the overall flavor.”

North Coast Blue Star: It’s no secret that Californians know their beaches. And while the North Coast brewery is closer to Oregon than it is to the SoCal surf scene, it’s still just blocks from the Pacific Ocean—and it shows. Brewed in the style of the “American beer renaissance,” this refreshing wheat beer is crisp, well-balanced and ideal for a hot day on the sand. Unfiltered and brewed with American barley and wheat malts, Blue Star was designed as a session beer, according to the brewery’s President and brewmaster Mark Ruedrich. “It’s substantial enough that you know you’re not drinking water, but thirst-quenching and refreshing enough that you can drink two or three,” he adds.

[Photo: Losovsky Pavel]