The summer solstice is upon us; today is the longest day of 2024 for anyone living north of the equator. If pagan rituals are your thing, this is probably a big moment for you. If not, the solstice is still pretty neat. Technically speaking, the summer solstice occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, or 23.5° north latitude. This will occur at noon. Of course, Peaks & Pints has summer craft beer on the brain. In case you hadn’t noticed, American craft brewing prides itself in flaunting conventions and ignoring or breaking traditions, enough so that our Peaks and Pints Cider and Beer Flight: Summer Solstice might be rather ridiculous given the number of beer styles that include “summer” in their name. After all, at some point, you’re going to need to showcase some solid cider and beer selections for that summer cookout or long lazy weekend get-together with friends that you’re already planning. Maybe one or all five of the following cider and beers might help get your summer beer game up to par.
Peaks and Pints Cider and Beer Flight: Summer Solstice 2024
19 Acres Brazilian Limeade
5% ABV
Brazilian lemonade is tart, but sweet, made with fresh limes and sweetened condensed. The first question that people generally ask about Brazilian lemonade is why it’s called lemonade when it’s made with limes? In Brazil, lemons are not common Their word for lemonade, “Limonada” refers to limes. And in Brazil, they call this beverage Swiss Lemonade because the signature ingredient, Nestle brand sweetened condensed milk, shows a Swiss milkmaid on the label. So, Brazilian lemonade is called Swiss lemonade, which is limeade. Got it? 19 Acres Hard Cider does. Their delicious version is called Brazilian Limeade, a cider, with Key lime juice and sweetened condensed milk for an amazingly sweet, tangy and refreshing sipper.
Schöfferhofer Grapefruit
2.5% ABV
Frankfurt, Germany’s Binding Brauerei takes credit for creating the globe’s first grapefruit-infused hefeweizen, a 50-50 blend of grapefruit juice and unfiltered wheat beer. Schöfferhofer’s bubbly offering is more benign and accessible than more citrusy radlers, with a heavier sweetness that could be a turn-off to some. Still, this 2.5-percent ABV radler would make a fine brunch alternative to a mimosa, or to chase away the thudding fog of last night’s bad decisions.
Reuben’s Brews Tour de Ballard
3.5% ABV
Brewed with grapefruit zest, grapefruit juice, and lemon juice, Reuben’s Brews’ Tour de Ballard citrusy refresher is a little bit sweet, a little bit tart, and easy to drink from the first sip to the last. Enjoyable whether you’re a bike racing enthusiast or just a fan of tasty radlers.
Great Notion Seedless
6% ABV
Great Notion Brewing’s Seedless fruited gose is brewed with watermelon, dragon fruit, coriander and sea salt to add just the right balance to the sweet and sour flavors. This electric pink beauty tastes identical to a popular hard candy and juicy watermelon with an extra edge from the dragon fruit.
Sierra Nevada Summerfest
5% ABV
The Sierra Nevada Summerfest is made with 2-row Pale, Pilsner and Munich malts and Magnum, Saphir, Tettnang, and Tradition hops. A crisp summer lager that took time off but has returned, the Sierra Nevada Summerfest also lets you know that you’re drinking a real beer. With a full-flavored tang hop kick, this pilsner style lager is another classic from Sierra Nevada. With light malts and light hops and spice, the crisp big bubbles make an excellent refreshing summertime lager. The lemon and malt aftertaste are very well balanced making this one of our favorite summer beers. Less-experienced drinkers may find the hoppy finish a tad too bitter, but they’ll come around.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
