Summer ale recommendations for non craft beer drinkers

• Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier
• North Coast Pranqster
• Weihenstephaner Pilsener (OK, not an ale, but still a good craft gateway beer)

 

Does it have to be an Ale? If you want to go with quality lagers, I recently went through a Von Trapp variety 12-pack and found it to be outstanding.

If you're still leaning in the ale direction, witbiers go over well, and some of your guests might even be familiar with Blue Moon. Serving a better version, like Alagash, could work.

 

Yuengling Summer Wheat. It's a solid hefe, and most (all?) people know about Yuengling, so less adventurous beer drinkers would have no problem reaching for it.

 

I find Sam summer to have quite the sweet/heavier bite considering it's abv is only in the 5% range, it's not a desirable trait for what should be a refreshing ride.

Bell's Oberon wheat ale on the other hand. Very refreshing. As far as wits, Avery has a passion fruit wit called lilokoi kepolo. Very refreshing.

Honestly, if it doesn't have to be a specific summer ale, import lagers are great. Weihenstephaner original is like a usda prime cut of meat, while your macro beers are more like mcdonalds. Or think shiner bock, Boston lager, or fat tire, which are nice intro beers to the maltier side of what beer is.

Personally I think you're boxing yourself in by thinking only summer ales. I've been on a pilsner/lager binge lately to get my summer ale fix in.

It seems like a lot of people go that wit route in the summer and drink your shock tops, blue moons, and leinenkugel type of fruited shandies. I guess those can be on the table as well.

 

Not a summer ale, but if they drink PBR, Miller, ect you could try introducing them to Jack's Abby House Lager.
Nice easy drinking lager.

 

Not knowing what they like, nor what you have available distribution wise. It's really a crap shoot because the doors have been blown off stylistically in America and there are plenty of summer friendly styles that might appeal to whatever they might like. Because too, they might just be the sort who freaks out over Goses, or fruit infused IPAs, or they might get lubricated enough to go right for the BA RIS that they see in your fridge and start waxing poetic about how amazing it is.
If you are trying to be that beer proselytizer for these guests. Get some variety packs, and enough of one easy drinker that you enjoy personally.

 

Blue Moon.

 

Any German or Pennsylvania pilsner should do the trick. As @butters_mcgee said Jack's Abby House lager (sunny Ridge pilsner is great too) is delicious and I'll vouch for Victory Summer Love. Sierra Nevada Nooner or Summerfest should work too. I'm not so into the wit beers anymore but Hoegaarden and Allegash White are good options.

 

If you're set on an ale, I'd choose something balanced and refreshing like Victory's Summer Love, or a cream ale like Sixpoint's Sweet Action. Weihenstephaner's Kristallweissbier is also awesome, and could definitely be a gateway beer.

Though, like others are saying, a lager might be better for both bridging the macro-craft gap as well as summertime refreshment. In that realm I'd suggest Firestone Pivo Pils or Lagunitas Pils. The new Wussie Pilsner from Arrogant Bastard Brewing is pretty tasty too.

 

This is an assumption. I work in a beer store 5 minutes from the beach so we always get a lot of summer seasonals and a lot of tourism. And not a lot of people buy craft but the beer they do buy is Brooklyn Summer Ale. A lot of it. We went through 5-6 cases in two days. And will probably run out today and there's still one holiday day left.

Brooklyn Summer Ale
Harpoon Big Squeeze
Fat Tire Citradelic
Boulevard Ginger Lemon Radler
Evil Genius Pineapple Hefeweizen (if in your distro)

Besides the traveler and leinienkugel shandies the above sell a lot.

 

Another vote for Oberon...

 

SN Summerfest is another choice... Clean, crisp pilsner

 

Surprised no one has said Victory Summer Love. Super easy drinking and flavorful. Doesn't get any better than that!

 

I did ;_;

 

American Blonde Ales like FW's 805 always seem to be popular. Deschutes' River Ale is another example.

 

Sam Adams Summer Variety Pack it always a good option

 

Some are better than macros.