Summer Brews - featuring Leinenkugel's

Looking for some good "summer brews"? Leinenkugel's has a summer sampler case with four different flavors:

1. Classic Amber
2. Sunset Wheat
3. Honey Weiss
4. Summer Shandy

While they are all tasty, the "most unique flavor" award goes to Summer Shandy.  Why?  It's got lemonade in it!  Thanks to it being a wheat beer, the Shandy has a low bitterness factor (IBU = 13.5).  Combine that with the lemonade, and man!  Talk about a doubly-refreshing beer!

As far as other brands go, I always recommend Tröegs. They have a good, thirst-quenching beer formally called Sunshine Pils, but commonly and affectionately known as Sunny Pils.

As far as other types of beers go, you can't go wrong with a wheat beer (often combined with a fruit flavor), Belgian, weiss or witbier (white), or any "brisk" lager (mmm, Yuengling!).

There are a number of other "summer brews" that I hope to try before the season is out, including: Magic Hat's Wacko, Lancaster Brew Company's Strawberry Wheat, and Dogfish Head's Festina Peche.  Let me know if you've tried any of these or if you have other suggestions!

Cheers to beers!

Sam Adams' Summer Ale - or is it Ail?

Tonight, we stopped by the Conewago Inn in Manchester, PA.  We always enjoy the ambiance and tasty food, and of course, I look forward to a pint of frothy brew.  I was just in time to try Sam Adams's seasonal Summer Ale.

Image courtesy of http://www.goingouttulsa.com 

The golden-colored liquid had very little head and looked to be a refreshing beer.  Scents of zesty lemon wafted up from the glass of this 5.3% ABV wheat ale.  Upon first sip, Summer Ale was a real taste-pleaser.  The citrus combined well with the spicy Grains of Paradise to produce a flavorful sensation.  After savoring its essence in my mouth, I swallowed - and that's when it hit.  The spice-and-citrus mixture left a grapefruit aftertaste.  There are those who like grapefruit, and then there is me.  The sour suggestion didn't leave until I washed it down with some water.

While I choose not to partake of this particular draught again, I would recommend it to anyone that has a predilection for grapefruit.  I was disappointed by Summer Ale, but Sam Adams has a good selection of some other, fairly palatable pilseners and beers.  Prost!