Best Local Summer Beers

Discussion in 'New England' started by Jcorn, May 24, 2018.

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  1. Jcorn

    Jcorn Savant (1,196) Jun 17, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I wanted to start this thread as my street is having a Memorial day party & was thinking I want to load up a cooler full of great, local (Boston distro) Summer beers. But I think this could be a good thread for the whole summer. Nothing over 6% (preferably <5%) & is easily found on shelves in cheaper 4-6 packs. So far I am thinking lagers, pilsners, pales such as...

    Jacks Abby Post Shift
    Notch anything
    Zero Gravity Green State

    What am I missing? Because I know I am missing many great beers.
     
    AlcahueteJ likes this.
  2. Glider

    Glider Initiate (0) Nov 15, 2004 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Notch Zwickel is great and a good deal in a six-pack of pounders.

    Von Trapp. I’ve only tried their Helles and pils, but it sounds like their lineup is pretty solid across the board.

    Jacks Abby House Lager
    Zero Gravity Little Wolf Pale Ale
    Exhibit A Goody Two Shoes Kolsch
    Idle Hands Adelais Pilsner
    Two Roads No Limits Hefeweizen

    For Saisons:
    Mystic Table Beer
    Allagash Hoppy Table Beer
    CBC Working Class Hero
     
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  3. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,282) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Mystic Table
    Mystic Saison Renaud
    Allagash White
    Allagash Hoppy Table Beer
    Allagash Lil Brett
    HF Farmstead Ales
    Idle Hands Proeme
    Idle Hands' Funky Town Releases
    Idle Hands Adelais/Edgeworth (I hope that they can one of these this summer)
    CBC Working Class Hero
    CBC Hefeweizen (you can probably get growlers of it once it's released)

    A very anti-hop list.
     
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  4. Jcorn

    Jcorn Savant (1,196) Jun 17, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I know for my particular crowd any belgians, wheats, or saisons are probably out. But good to know. And I dont see myself making any trips to HF this week either. Looking more at easy to grab from the shelf type beers.
     
  5. Capt_Quint

    Capt_Quint Zealot (626) May 29, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Beyond New England, definitely Sierra Summerfest. And 21s Amendment's Hell or High Watermelon is always a summer staple in my house.

    And to piggyback a bit. I'm on the hunt for some easily accessible Helles for the warmer weather. Again, local/MA distro. A few off the top of my head are Von Trapp, Cisco Summer Lager and JA House Lager. Anyone have any others they enjoy?
     
  6. bring

    bring Zealot (686) Aug 17, 2005 Greenland
    Trader

    To some extent, I think this is an exercise in going to the store and seeing what is available and fresh; a few ideas, if found fresh:

    NS Whirlpool
    Castle Island Candlepin
    Other (non-post shift) Jack's Abby/Springdale sub 6% beers that appeal to you (blood orange?)
    Lost Nation anything in cans that appeals to you
    Fort Hill whatever is under 6%
    Rising Tide Maine Island Trail Ale
     
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  7. jbertsch

    jbertsch Pooh-Bah (2,710) Dec 14, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    My memorial day weekend cooler is going to be 90% this beer. 10% House lager.
     
  8. Jcorn

    Jcorn Savant (1,196) Jun 17, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Yeah I really liked Green State as a beer I could drink straight from the can while grilling or doing whatever.
     
  9. cmoney13

    cmoney13 Initiate (0) Sep 9, 2017 Massachusetts
    Deactivated

    Sam's Summer. Miller High Life.

    JA's House Lager.
     
    TheMattJones88 likes this.
  10. thedaveofbeer

    thedaveofbeer Savant (1,169) Mar 25, 2016 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I will second Sierra Summerfest-I am planning on buying a few twelve packs for the weekend parties
     
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  11. soheadyithurts

    soheadyithurts Zealot (527) Jan 4, 2013 Massachusetts

    Mayflower Summer 3.8%abv

    It's been a few years since I've had it but it was perfect then.
     
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  12. LukieBL

    LukieBL Initiate (0) Jun 10, 2015 Massachusetts

    Ipswich Summer Ale

    Founders solid gold
     
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  13. SunDevilBeer

    SunDevilBeer Pooh-Bah (1,945) May 9, 2003 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Local:

    JA Blood Orange Radler & House Lager
    Cisco Summer of Lager & Grey Lady
    Harpoon Lime-y Vice Gose

    National:

    SN Summerfest
    Bell’s Oberon (ETA 6/13)
    Victory Summer of Love
     
    soheadyithurts likes this.
  14. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    One of his criteria was cheap and available in 4 - 6 packs. Hill Farmstead wouldn't really fit the bill here.

    Also, I believe Idle Hands cans both of these beers.

    People seem to be enjoying Sixpoint's Alpenflo a lot. Could probably easily cram a bunch in a cooler too due to the thin Red Bull-style can.


    I'll throw these in the ring...

    -Nightshift's Nite Lite (although I prefer Solid Gold if I'm going that route)

    -Jack's Abby Sunny Ridge (I prefer this over Post Shift...by a lot)

    -Devil's Purse Handline Kolsch
     
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  15. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,282) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I read the title and skipped over that criteria.

    They do can both of those, but they've canned Adelais like once a year and it's been in January. Edgeworth was canned in March or April, I believe. They did just can Heide, but I want some fresh Adelais in the Summer.
     
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  16. HopsDubosc

    HopsDubosc Pundit (791) Apr 24, 2015 Vermont

    I like all of Narragansett's secondary stuff. Fresh Catch seems like it would fit the bill at 4.2%.
     
  17. rdecker679

    rdecker679 Aspirant (281) Oct 8, 2015 Massachusetts

    Knowing full well it'll probably get dumped on here, I have a soft spot for Gansett's Dels Shandy. Perfect for sharing with a group while gawking the RI riff raff at Scarborough beach.
     
  18. AirBob

    AirBob Pooh-Bah (1,718) Jul 15, 2014 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I look forward to buying a couple of six packs of this every season. Their golden ale, though unremarkable, is a solid year-round alternative.

    Really enjoyed Spring Hop - kind of bummed they pulled it from their seasonal rotation for Fresh Start (or whatever the new spring rotational is named).
     
  19. lbower860

    lbower860 Initiate (0) Jun 28, 2011 Connecticut

    Not sure if you get it in Boston area, but Back East Summer Ale is great. Ive always liked Brooklyn Summer Ale cans as well.
     
  20. dental

    dental Savant (1,178) Apr 2, 2014 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I'm pretty sure everything from ZēLUS is 5% or less
     
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