Nothing beats relaxing at the beach on a sunny day. But to make the experience even more enjoyable, you need the perfect companion – an excellent, refreshing beer! While any beer is refined near the ocean, some are better suited than others to complement your beach outing.
Rocket’s Red Glare, Samuel Adams Summer Ale, Super Session #8, High Desert Days, Bubbles, Brain Vacation, Del’s Shandy, Summer Ale, Hell or High Watermelon, Rodenbach Classic, River Trip, and Surfcasting are the best beach beer options to consider bringing along. These feature light bodies and flavors such as citrus, wheat, spice, and fruit to refresh on a hot sunny day.
In this article, we bring 12 of the finest beer options that fit all the above criteria for the perfect beach day. From light lagers to fruity wheat beers and citrusy IPAs, we have included flavors for all beer lovers. Discover your new favorite summer companion for relaxing with sand between your toes!
See Also: Perfect Brats: How Long to Boil Brats in Beer for Optimal Flavor
Table of Contents
Top 12 Best Beach Beers to Try
The ideal beach beer should be light-bodied and crisp to enjoy without feeling heavy or bloated in the heat. It should also have some fruity or citrus flavors matching summer vibes. But most importantly, a great beach beer must quench your thirst so you can relax without running to the cooler often. Let us look at the top 12 beach beers to try:
Rocket’s Red Glare
This beer has a light body, which makes it easy to drink on the beach without feeling full. It has a sour and tart taste, like lemonade. Blue raspberry is also added, which gives it a sweet, fruity flavor. The lemon and lactose give it a very refreshing taste. The beer’s sourness mixed with the fruity flavors of blue raspberry makes it a unique beach beer.
- ABV: 5.8%
- Style: American IPA
- Price Range: $10.99 for a six-pack.
- Country Origin: Colorado, United States.
Samuel Adams Summer Ale
This summer ale has the flavors of lemons and oranges from citrus fruits. It also has some lime added. Though light and crisp like most beach beers, it has a little spice, making it taste interesting. The spice is from grains of paradise spice. This gives it a sophisticated taste compared to regular beers. It will make you feel like running into the ocean after drinking it! Overall, it is refreshing with its citrusy flavors and subtle spice.
- ABV: 5.3%
- Style: Wheat Ale
- Price Range: $9.99 for a six-pack.
- Country Origin: Boston, United States.
Super Session #8
This beer has a light, refreshing taste that is perfect for the beach. It is brewed with eight different hops, these in beer giving it many tropical fruity flavors like mango and pineapple. Though hoppy, the hops are well-balanced and do not overpower the taste. The light body makes drinking easy on hot summer days without feeling full. It is a great beer to enjoy while relaxing on the beach.
- ABV: 4.8%
- Style: American IPA
- Price Range: $11.99 for a six-pack.
- Country Origin: Vermont, United States.
High Desert Days
This top beach beer is golden and is brewed locally in the Pacific Northwest region of America, known for its beautiful desert landscapes. It has a crisp taste with flavors of citrus fruits like lemon and orange mixed with subtle herbal notes. At only 4.8% alcohol, it is light and refreshing. One can enjoy this beer and beach snacks like fish tacos throughout the day. The clean taste and low alcohol content suit those who like exploring the outdoors on summer days.
- ABV: 4.6%
- Style: American Pale Ale
- Price Range: Approximately $7.99 for a six-pack.
- Country Origin: Texas, United States.
Bubbles
Bubbles is a light and refreshing beer from Cape Cod Beer. This is one of the best beach beers. It has a golden color and is very bubbly, just like champagne. You can taste hints of lemon and oranges from the hops when you drink it. The bubbles tickle your nose in a fun way. This beer goes down easy and won’t weigh you down on a hot beach day. It’s a great choice if you want something that tastes sweet but isn’t too heavy.
- ABV: 6.0%
- Style: Belgian-Style Tripel
- Price Range: $13.99 for a six-pack.
- Country Origin: Dublin, Ireland.
Brain Vacation
Brain Vacation is a hazy IPA from Night Shift Brewing. It has a bright orange color from all the juicy hops. When you take a sip, it gives your brain a little break from thinking too hard. The hops have tropical fruit flavors like mango and peach that help you relax. Even though it’s hoppy, it isn’t too bitter to drink. This beer is perfect if you want to chill out on the beach without stressing your brain too much.
- ABV: 8%
- Style: Double IPA
- Price Range: Approximately $14.60 for a 473 ml can.
- Country Origin: California, United States
Del’s Shandy
Del’s Shandy is a shandy made by Narragansett Beer. This is one of the great beach beers. A shandy mixes beer with lemonade. This one uses Narragansett Lager and Del’s Frozen Lemonade. It’s light yellow and has a bubbly personality. When you drink it, the flavors of lemon and beer blend refreshingly on a hot day. The lemonade takes the edge off the beer, making it easy to enjoy without filling you up. Del’s Shandy is a crowd-pleaser if you want something different than a regular beer at the beach.
- ABV: 4.7%
- Style: Wheat Ale
- Price Range: $8.99 for a six-pack.
- Country Origin: Rhode Island, United States
Summer Ale
Summer Ale is a golden beer made by Samuel Adams. It tastes like lemons and oranges from the hops when you drink it. A little spice also adds flavor. This beer is light and crisp, perfect for hot summer days. It’s sophisticated but not too heavy or filling. The citrus flavors remind you of summer.
- ABV: 5.3%
- Style: Wheat Ale
- Price: Approximately $7.49 for a six-pack.
- Country Origin:
Hell or High Watermelon
Hell or High Watermelon is a fruity beer from the 21st Amendment. It has a bright pink color from watermelon. Taking a sip tastes like you’re eating a juicy slice of watermelon. The wheat beer is light and bubbly, with a touch of sweetness from the fruit. This is a fun, refreshing drink for the beach or picnic.
- ABV: 4.9%
- Style: Belgian Pale Ale
- Price Range: $9.99 for a six-pack.
- Country Origin: San Francisco, California, United States
Rodenbach Classic
Rodenbach Classic is a Flemish red ale from Belgium. This best beer for the beach has a deep red color and tart, wine-like flavor. When you drink it, you taste cherries and berries. This beer is more flavorful than usual but still light-bodied. It’s unique and complex, yet smooth. A Rodenbach is satisfying but won’t fill you up in the sun.
- ABV: 5.2%
- Style: Flemish Red-Brown Ale
- Price Range: $10.99 for a six-pack.
- Country Origin: Roeselare, Belgium
River Trip
River Trip is a light lager made by New Belgium Brewing. It has a golden color and foamy white head. When you drink it, you taste hints of grains and cereal. The flavor is mild and crisp. This beer goes down easy whether you’re floating on an inner tube or fishing along the banks. It’s refreshing on a hot summer day spent by the river.
- ABV: 4.8%
- Style: Belgian Pale Ale
- Price Range: $11.99 for a six-pack.
- Country Origin: Brewed in the United States
Surfcasting
Surfcasting is a wheat ale from Cape May Brewing Company. It has a hazy orange color and creamy mouthfeel. Taking a sip gives flavors of orange zest, clove, and banana. The ale is lightly spiced and goes well with salty snacks. This beer is a good choice for relaxing on the beach while surf fishing. The fruity wheat flavors make drinking enjoyable while waiting for a bite.
- ABV: 4.5%
- Style: Grisette
- Price: Approximately $16 for a six-pack
- Country Origin: Maine, United States
See Also: What Does Beer Taste Like For The First Time?
FAQs
What beer is good for the summer heat?
Light, wheat, or lagers are good choices for hot summer weather. They have lower alcohol, so you won't feel as warm after drinking. Look for beers with citrus or herbal flavors that can help refresh you on a hot day.
Is beer good for dehydration?
Beer can contribute to dehydration since alcohol is dehydrating. However, beer is still liquid, so it provides hydration along with the alcohol. Light beers with lower alcohol content are a better choice than heavier beers if you're at risk of dehydration. It's also important to drink water along with beer on hot days.
Is beer good for cooling?
The liquid in beer can help you feel more relaxed on a hot day by providing hydration. However, drinking too much alcohol can raise your body temperature. Light, refreshing beers like pilsners or wheat beers are good options for cooling off without overheating from the alcohol. Staying in the shade and drinking water between beers also helps your body cool off.
Which beer is good, cold or warm?
In general, lighter beers are better enjoyed very cold, while heavier beers can be drank chilled or even at cellar temperature. Opt for colder, more refreshing beers, like pilsners, lagers, or wheat beers, served very cold on a hot day. Heavier styles like ales, porters, or stouts can still taste good, slightly warmer when the weather is hot. But always drink what you enjoy and stay hydrated.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of pouring a beer like a pro bartender is a skill that enhances the enjoyment of beach beverages. Whether a crisp lager, a flavorful ale, or a specialty brew, the proper pour complements the refreshing flavors, perfecting a day in the sun or a stroll along the shore. So, after perfecting your pour technique, grab the best beach beer, choose your favorite beach beer from the list, and elevate your beach experience with a professionally poured drink.
Kendall Jones: Seattle journalist, freelance writer, and top contributor to Washington Beer Blog. Published 5,400+ stories on beer and brewing.