A Guide to Ordering the Beers of Summer

With craft brewers exploring European styles, there are more varieties available than ever. Here's our guide to what's on tap.

German Beers

A wide range of styles, from pilsners to more niche types. 

Pilsners

Crisp, low-ABV brews that are perfect for hot summer days. 

Pivo Hoppy Pils: Firestone Walker Brewing Company

Czech Style Pilsner: Lagunitas Brewing Company

Radlers

​German for “cyclist,” the style blends beer with citrusy soft drinks; sometimes called shandies. 

Tricycle Grapefruit Radler: Parallel 49 Brewing Company

Curious Traveler Shandy: The Traveler Beer Co.

Wheats

​Cloudy and sometimes fruity; occasionally accompanied by an orange wedge. 

Gumballhead: Three Floyds Brewing Company 

Pier: Trillium Brewing Company

Goses

Made with salt and coriander. Sour, refreshing, and low ABV. 

Gose: Westbrook Brewing Company

The Kimmie, the Yink, and the Holy Gose: Anderson Valley Brewing Company 

Berliner Weisses

The style typically has low ABV and tart notes.

Hottenroth: The Bruery

Athena: Creature Comforts Brewing Co. 

Belgian and French Ales

Ales characterized by flavors of yeast and fruit instead of hops or malt. 

Farmhouse Ales

A wide range of dry and intensely flavored beers; also called saisons.

Peche 'n Brett: Logsdon Farmhouse Ales

Guava Grove Saison: Cigar City Brewing

Wild Ales

Sometimes called sours or Bretts.these are tart and earthy. 

Supplication: Russian River Brewing Company 

Sours

Tart and acidic beers made by adding special yeasts or bacteria during the brewing process. 

Le Terroir: New Belgium Brewing