When the weather finally turns from icicle-cold to sweltering, it’s time to adjust your beer tastes to those classic summer flavors. From tropical tangs to cherrywood aftertastes, these beers are ready to rock your world, and, also your mouth.
We’ve put together a list of some of the best brewers in NYC and our favorite selection of beers that match the vibe of the summer. So, whether you’re hitting up a weekend music festival, grilling BBQ on a rooftop high above the city, or casually sipping at your local bar, you’ll want to keep this list on hand all season.
Follow the UrbanMatter guide to some of the smoothest summer beers in NYC and you can’t go wrong!
Watermelon Session Ale
Montauk Brewing Company, 4.9% ABV
Crispy, juicy, and all-around great flavor, this Montauk Brewing favorite is only available from March through September, so it’s easy to make this fruity ale your summer anthem.
Kim Hibiscus Sour Lager
SingleCut Beersmiths, 4.2% ABV
There’s really no better way to cultivate the taste of summer than to put together a delectable blend of sweet and sour flavors. This wheat malt makes for a bomb-ass burger pairing.
Vibes Summer Ale
Photo Credit: Braven Brewing Facebook
Braven Brewing Company, 4.6% ABV
This one speaks for itself. Pair this lemon-and-lime beer with a plate of BBQ ribs on a rooftop patio and life couldn’t get better.
Holy Mother of Citrus
The Bronx Brewery, 8.56% ABV
Skip their summer brew and go with this juicy, alcohol-heavy captivation. You’re sure to pick up on the hints of mandarin and malt as you sip on this India pale ale.
Chelsea Fruited Wheat
Chelsea Craft Brewing Company, 6.0% ABV
This fruity amalgamation of blueberry, raspberry, cherry, tangerine, blackberry, and strawberry makes the Chelsea Fruited Wheat taste just like sangria. Literally, to die for.
Mermaid Pilsner
Coney Island Brewing Company, 5.2% ABV
Delightfully hopped, whatever that means to you pilsner lovers, this nautical-themed beer will make you feel like a princess under the sea. There’s also a Merman IPA with 5.8% ABV, if you’re into something a little more biting.
Brooklyn Summer Ale
Brooklyn Brewery, 5.0% ABV
A perfect accompaniment to a punk outdoor summer music festival, this bittersweet ale gives you that sublime buzz you’ve been craving while you jam out to Blink-182.
Ethereal Haze
Other Half Brewing Company, 6.2% ABV
No, I didn’t just choose this one for the cool name and even cooler packaging, though you have to admit, if you saw this on the menu, you’d take a stab at it too. Not to mention its high alcohol content, so you really can expect to feel that ethereal haze by a few beers in.
Metropolitan Lager
Flagship Brewing Company, 5.6% ABV
If you prefer to swig down something a little heavier, this smooth, hearty lager is perfect for your summer BBQs.
Sour Golden Ale
Transmitter Brewing, 6.5% ABV
This one will give your tastebuds a delightful shock as you experience the sweet ‘n’ sour mashup of flavor that this tart ale inspires.
Strange Shadows from the Flames
SingleCut Beersmiths, 7.2% ABV
Once again, the name of this beer caught my eye, but that’s not the only reason it’s on our list. Basically flavored after Jack Daniel’s with its smoke-and-honey taste, this summer stout means business.