Quote:
Originally Posted by splashpot
This thread is massive. Forgive me for not reading the whole thing. I'm looking for a recommendation. I love a full bodied Belgian ale as much as the next guy, but sometimes a beer like that is too much. Sometimes I just want a cool, crisp, clean, refreshing beer. Something you'd drink on a hot summer day, maybe bbq-ing up some burgers.
If you want to stick in the world of Belgians, a good Belgian Blonde would do well, or a wit. For a good, easy-to-find blonde try Duvel, and for wits Hoegaarden is decent, and Allagash's White is an interesting, sortakinda American spin but still pretty classic. If you want a little more fruit and a little less spice, a Bavarian Hefeweizen is great. Paulaner Hefe, Weihenstephaner Hefe... basically any hefe from Germany - and in a brown bottle - will set you up nicely.
Hell, tons of continental lagers are great on a summer day. Pilsners will often have a soft sort of breadiness to them, followed by a whipcrack of spicy, floral hops. Pilsner Urquell, Budvar, Staropramen are all Czech Pilsners that go this route. German Pilsners will be a bit heavier handed with the hops, so if you're eating something with a bit of heat or spice, you might want to look at Paulaner, Spaten, or Lowenbrau Pils. And although not many US breweries make them (other than BMC, ha!), the Pils brewed in the US tend to be more Americanized, with higher alcohol content and higher hop levels. North Coast brews a Pilsner that I thought was way too bitter at first, but it really grew on me over the course of a week or so.
For other US-brewed beers, keep an eye out for a Rye Pale Ale. The use of rye really dries out the finish in the beer and keeps you reaching for just one more sip. Terrapin makes my favorite RyePA. If you're actually looking for pairing with food as well as quenching thirst, you might want something with a little more malt character to it. American Ambers and even Browns will match their carmelized malt sugars with the carmelization you're getting off the grill and will generally have the hop smack to stay snappy and refreshing. That goes double if you get one brewed on the West Coast, which will generally be hopped pretty highly.