Ten canned craft beers for summer sipping

With Summer just about the corner, and picnic season in full swing, it’s worth taking a look at canned brews, one of the rising trends in the craft beer world. The days of cans’ sole use as canisters of watery, adjunct-laden “beer” are coming to a close, replaced by a growing variety of tasty nectar that we already love and enjoy in bottle form.

You might be asking, “why not simply pack bottles into the cooler?” To that I say, Indeed! – if you’re at home. Actually, I partially agree, because you should pour all beer into a glass to achieve Maximum Enjoyment Mode. But, when it comes to get-togethers and shindigs in public areas, it is important to consider a few stipulations. The first and infinitely most important of these is that most parks, pools, beaches, and other public gathering areas don’t allow glass containers (slicing your foot on a broken bottle will put a damper on your day). Secondly, aluminum will protect our favorite elixir from the harmful UV rays of the sun that make us happy, but turn beer into moose piss (especially if you have that one friend who forgets to close the cooler lid). Finally, there’s no need for a bottle opener when it comes to cans. This last one is somewhat trivial, because everyone should have a bottle opener with them at all times — you never know when a wild beer will appear.

I have selected these ten beers based off of a few loose guidelines. First, that they are either local, or easily found in local markets. Two, nothing crazy in terms of alcohol (this list is designed for beers that are good for barbecues and picnics, and no one likes hearing an obnoxious drunk dude at the park). And three, refreshment qualities. While stouts are delicious, I’m not looking for one to keep me cool under a hot summer sun (not to mention most stouts are much tastier at room temperature). With that being said, canned brews range from lagers to the strongest of stouts, so don’t be afraid to make additions to this list based off of personal preference (just don’t get drunk at the park).

Strawberry Pig Cream Ale, Christian Moerlein, 4.9%

With an aroma of gentle strawberries laced with a hint of fermented malt grains toward the back, your nose will be pleased but not overpowered by the fruity smell. The strawberries are up front, but restrained, and while it isn’t a bouquet of the freshest berries, it is pleasant and delicious. On the tongue, mild bread crust and crackers arrive first, followed by a moderate strawberry finish that doesn’t overpower. Initially quite creamy, a faint bitterness at the back of the mouth crackles this beer from the tongue after a few moments – long enough to enjoy the flavors, but not so long that the strawberry turns south. Faint notes of vanilla finishes off this beer, perfect for anyone who enjoys a brighter brew.

Hala Kahiki Pineapple Beer, Rivertowne Brewing, 4.9% ABV

Not to be confused with Cincinnati’s Rivertown Brewing, this Pittsburgh-brewed beer starts off the list with an aroma of mild pineapple, with a touch of wheat and crackers at the back that can go unnoticed at if the beer is ice cold. On the tongue, pineapple juice dominates, lending a decent amount of prickly sweetness that doesn’t go overboard. The presence of malts and hops are kept quite low, but appear towards the end of the can. If you’re a fan of the shandy style, you’ll enjoy this one.

Hop Session IPA, White Birch Brewing, 5.0% ABV

Beginning with a bouquet of floral hops and cracker malts, hints of caramel slide in near the end of each breath, while notes of tropical fruits, specifically pineapple, arrive as the beer warms. A faint touch of pine can also be noticed from time to time. For its taste, an immediate and forward bitterness sweeps over the tongue with the flavors of pine and hop resin. Refreshing and crisp, the high bitterness quickly falls from the tongue instead of lingering. Cracker malts can be found at the back, while hop florality arrives at the sides.

Awesome India Pale Lager, The Brew kettle, 5.2% ABV

Prickly pine notes start off this beer’s aroma, which also includes notes of hop florality as well as pineapple and passion fruit. A touch of resin and citrus peel lingers at the sides, while a hint of caramel and bready sweetness underlies the entire bouquet. Taste-wise, this brew packs huge flavor into its aluminum container, rocking a massive pine flavor that dominates the tongue. Passion fruit and grapefruit rind show up at the back, while an underlying cracker vibe helps to balance things out. The bitterness is lasting but not palate-destroying, and the finish is lager-crisp, let busy and complex as you would expect from an India Pale style. The can also mentions that the brew was made with a splash of Wizard Magic, so your dreams of Hogwarts are still alive.

Abbey’s Single, Destihl Brewery, 4.9% ABV

Beginning in true Belgian fashion, this beer’s aroma consists of apple peel, lemon juice, and a touch of fresh grass as the yeast notes reach the nose. A touch of autumn leaves and hay complete the nature-vibe, while grain malts side in underneath, unobtrusive yet prevalent enough to create that olfactory backbone. On the tongue, a touch of crackers and light bread dough arrive with cherries, apple juice, and lemon tartness, while the leaves and hay arrive near the end of each drink. Fresh grass and a hint of bubblegum complete the flavor, which is wonderfully fresh and refreshingly juicy. Wonderfully complex for a lighter beer, this one was definitely one of my favorites.

Cougar Blonde Ale, Rhinegeist, 4.8%

Cougar begins with an aroma of light malt grains, followed up with the faintest touch of floral hoppiness. A hint of crackers arrives next, subdued and smooth, while light notes of cherries and apples finish up the bouquet. Across the palate, grains and crackers create a slightly sweet beginning, countered by a mild tartness brought about by faint lemon juice. Apple peel and cherries arrive once more, creating a crisp drink that is bright and refreshing, while lingering just long enough on the tongue.

Pale Ale, North High Brewing, 5.5% ABV

On the nose, floral hop-spice arrives upfront, while a touch of crackers slides in beneath. Prickly pine and damp vegetation mingle at the sides, growing stronger with each breath, yet remaining somewhat subdued within the can. At first taste, however, all aromatic shyness is lost, as sweet caramel malts team up with pine to create massive flavor across the tongue. Notes of orange peel enhances the pine while create a mild fruit sweetness. A touch of hop spice arrives at the sides, contributing a pleasant floral flavor. Beneath everything, a mixture of resin and malty sweetness keeps this brew balanced and delicious, not to mention refreshing as hell.

Ginger Lemon Radler, Boulevard Brewing 4.1%

A radler is a German beer that is traditionally part beer, part lemon soda (with variations occurring due to regionality). Boulevard’s take on the radler begins with an aroma of lemon citrus, sweet and spicy ginger notes, and a faint backbone of wheat-style maltiness. In taste, it begins slightly sour, with the spice of the ginger cutting the tartness before the lemon-sweetness arrives. Crackers arrive at the end, rounding out a beer that is easy to drink and just as tasty. Shandy-lovers should enjoy this one.

Razz Wheat, Jackie O’s Brewery, 5.5% ABV

Razz Wheat delivers an aroma of sweet crackers laced with a touch of caramel. Underlying faint raspberries remain reserved throughout the entire bouquet. Subtle notes of lemons and apples rise up from time to time, but the raspberry-tinged malt cloud is constant. On the tongue, the wheat base arrives first as bread crust and mildly sweet bread. The raspberry stays to the sides of each taste, with a relatively low sweetness, but adding enough flavor to ensure you’ll taste the berries. A mild fruit tang finishes off each drink, clearing the tongue of most flavors between tastes. This beer is a great thirst quencher, even if you’re not the biggest fan of fruited brews.

Gnarly Brown Ale, MadTree Brewing, 7% ABV

The final brew on this list is also the biggest. Arriving with notes of roast, chocolate, and smoke, the aroma leans more towards a porter than a brown ale. A touch of vanilla and brown sugar, as well as hints of lighter bread keep the darker notes in check, but this one might catch you off guard if you’ve been enjoying nothing but the lighter beers on this list. As for flavor, you’ll wonder why I included it on this list (I’ll explain that at the end). Big notes of chocolate and coffee arrive first, while a touch of earthy vanilla creeps in from the sides. Roasted bread comes next, while a smoke vibe akin to a porter finish off the darkness. After that, brown sugar sweetness help to control the strength, while a moderate hop bitterness settles on the back of the tongue. The aftertaste is strong and malty, but it fades quickly despite its darkness. Now, why did I include it on a list with mostly lighter-style beers? It’s damn tasty, and goes great with grilled meats.