Spring & Summer Beer Guide: Local brewers pick region's best 'post-mow' beers
Three summertime beer favorites, selected by local brewers. From left to right: Troegs Cultivator, Soudts Pils and Sly Fox Pils.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
by Brandon Baker PhillyVoice Contributor
As delicious as those milk stouts have been all winter, it's time to re-stock the fridge with a new batch of warm-weather seasonal ales and pilsners.
To help you sort through the good, the bad and the hoppy, we asked 12 local brewers to tell us which Philly craft beers quench their thirst when temperatures start to rise. The only rule? No picking your own brews, of course.
The Taste: A dry sour that is tart with notes of apple. Very balanced and crisp. With the low ABV and clean, crisp taste, you can have many on a hot summer day.
Why I Picked It: I find this one perfect my post-mowing beer. It's also refreshing after a long day brewing in a hot brewery.
The Taste: Malty with a touch of hops; seriously drinkable with delicate stone fruit and cracker notes. Very balanced and clean.
Why We Picked It: We’re seasonal drinkers and Fritzie’s Lager is a go-to for a not-quite-warm-weather beer. Give us a pint outside in 60-degree weather and we’re set.
The Taste: Crisp and refreshing, yet flavorful — just like a German pilsner should be.
Why I Picked It: After a long day of moving into my new place in Philly, I went to the beer store looking for some local refreshment. I picked up this beer and it did not disappoint. I look forward to trying a lot more local beer, but this will always be on the short-list of beers to pick up when not drinking Saint Benjamin.
The Taste: Clean and refreshing with a mild but appropriate hop profile; this is a well-made and admirable brew.
Why I Picked It: Summer sun and pilsners are a natural combination as the heat requires a beer that still delivers comfortable flavor at chilled temperatures. Stoudts Pils is a comfortable throwback for us, having enjoyed it for years.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceCultivator Helles Bock, by Tröegs Brewing Company.
The Taste: Lovely notes of lemongrass and citrus blend so nicely with the spicy undertones from their house yeast.
Why I Picked It: This beer just drips of spring and summer. It pairs well with almost anything you can throw on a grill, and it's so light and refreshing while simultaneously being incredibly flavorful.
