Beers Of Summer
/Be the belle of your bbq with this summer's crop of fruitful beers. Made with real fruit--not faux flavors--these thirst-quenching quaffs will cool you off as the temperature rises.
Früli Strawberry Beer
Slip into summer with Früli, a lovely blend of Belgian white ale with strawberry juice. Better than Bartles & Jaymes, this fruit-forward sipper is the wine cooler for the foodie set. Instead of corn syrupy-sweetness, the flavor comes from peak-of-their-season strawberries; as Fruli's tagline proclaims, it's "simply delicious." Discovered with my fruit-beer aficionado, Barndi (pictured, top), at L.A.'s best beer n' sausage emporium, Wurstküche, Früli became available in the States last year. Get your berry on!
Icicle Brewing Raspberry Wheat
Take a German-theme town (Leavenworth) in a beer-centric state (Washington), and it's inevitable a delicious brewery will be born. When warm weather hits, 'tis the season for Icicle Brewing Company's Colchuck Raspberry Wheat. Taking advantage of the region's agricultural bounty, Icicle crafts this American Hefeweizen with water from nearby Icicle Creek, hops from Yakima, and raspberries from Oregon's Willamette Valley. The result is a tasty mix of tart, fresh, and fruity. Icicle is on tap around WA and at the brewery, which has the most happening patio in Bavaria-ville. Lederhosen optional.
21st Amendment Hell Or High Water
San Francisco's beloved brewery, 21st Amendment, crafts Hell Or High Watermelon with summer's signature fruit. I was a bit dubious that this seasonal flavor would be overly sweet, but just as Hefeweizens get garnished with a slice of orange, this American wheat brew has a hint of fresh-squeezed watermelon. You can find this refresher at stores across the U.S. of A. or at 21st Amendments's good-time brewery. The convenient cans are perfect for boating, beaching, and pool-time fun.