Summer and beer are a perfect combo. There’s nothing like sipping on a cold one while firing up the grill, teeing it up at the golf course, tailgating at Miller Park, or while simply sitting on a lawn chair anywhere in southeast Wisconsin.
I’m into beer pairings lately, and this week I’m pairing summer with some appropriate brews mainly from Wisconsin breweries. Try them all, and see if you can wear out that lawn chair by fall.
Central Waters Hopsessional: This doesn’t quite have the hoppy bite that I look for (unlike the outstanding Central Waters Illumination), but big IPAs frequently have big alcohol percentages, which can make for rough goings on a hot summer day. Hopsessional has an ABV of around only 4.5%, making it a perfect summer session beer for those looking for a little bite.
Lakefront Wisconsinite: Another excellent session beer (4.2% ABV) with the standard banana and clove hints of a weiss with a crisp, slightly tart, finish. And it’s made entirely with ingredients from Wisconsin. Go local.
Milwaukee Brewing Booyah: This saison packs a little more of a punch (6.5% ABV) than the previous two, but its fruity and refreshing citrus flavor make it one of my new favorites. Milwaukee Brewing has been turning out some good stuff recently, and Booyah is one of the standouts.
Sprecher Special Amber: I mentioned in the July issue of Milwaukee Magazine (aka: the Beer Edition) that Sprecher Amber gets high marks because it comes in a 16-ounce bottle, giving the drinker a little more beer to work with. But it’s also tasty. The malty lager has a hint of bitterness, which I like. And again…four extra ounces don’t hurt.
Ale Asylum Bedlam!: I mentioned this amazing brew from Ale Asylum last week, and I have to bring it up again. The delicious Belgian IPA mixes Belgian yeast and deliciously fruity Citra hops (my favorite) to near perfection. Bedlam! is incredibly smooth, but be warned, it clocks in at 7.5% ABV.
Sixpoint Apollo: Apollo is one my new favorites not brewed in Wisconsin. The canned weiss from Brooklyn-based Sixpoint is big on banana and slightly sweeter than similar beers, but it’s darn tasty. And, the can is 16 ounces (see Sprecher Amber above). Sixpoint, which arrived on Milwaukee shelves this spring, has been a nice addition to the local beer scene.
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis: A solid hefeweizen by the folks in California that isn’t short on flavor or refreshment. Expect the banana and clove flavors of a quality weiss beer with hints of citrus. You can have a couple too, because Kellerweis has a relatively modest 4.8% ABV.
Bell’s Oberon: I’ve always been a fan of this wheat ale. It’s just fruity enough, but still has a good measure of crispness. Fire up the grill and crack one open…or forget the grill and go straight for the Oberon. It’s a 5.8% ABV sipper.
Barley Pop of the Week
I mentioned last week that I’m trying any beers from our “Milwaukee’s Best” list in July’s Milwaukee Magazine. This week, it’s the New Glarus Thumbprint Imperial IPA. The bite of hops is hefty but pleasant, and the main reason this beer earns a score of 99 on ratebeer.com.
Quick Taps
Leinie’s is introducing a Summer Festeweizen 45th Anniversary Ale during Summerfest. No word yet on how it pairs with Saz’s sour cream and chive fries.
The chain World of Beer tavern appears slated to open in August at 1300 Brady Street.
Events Brewing
Wednesday, June 20: Stop in at 6:30 p.m. to see what the beer club at Puddler’s Hall (2461 S. St. Clair St.) is sampling.
Saturday, June 23: Not sure about sour beers? For the record, I’m not either. You can try some for free at Three Cellars (7133 S. 76th St.) from 1 to 4 p.m. to find out.
Saturday, June 23: Sample four different Capital Brewery selections paired with four cheeses at the Cheese Bar (1048 N. Old World Third Street). Cost is $12. Buy tickets here.
