What We're Drinking Now (Issue 61)

Sweet, sweet summertime. For school children, it is a time of freedom from the rigors of school – when days stretch on to infinity as enjoyment never ceases until bedtime… a cycle that starts all over again the next day.

For adults, summer usually means at least one solid vacation, which frequently includes tasty boozy beverages, and, in our case, those beverages are wondrous examples of craft beer that have filled our fridges (and our tummies) this summer.

There are an immense number of breweries out there to explore, and for each of them, myriad beers are available for thirsty patrons to imbibe. Read on to explore What We’re Drinking Now during the summer months of 2022!

LMN ADE – Rated 94
Wild Leap Brew Co.
LaGrange, GA

Wild Leap’s LMN ADE is a sultry summer sipper based on one of the finest warm weather drinks around – a nice, cool glass of lemonade. One thing that normal lemonade does lack is alcohol, so Wild Leap made this slightly tart ale with just the right amount of alcohol (5.5%) to be sessionable while also providing a bit of a kick to help those lake or beach days zoom by.

Watermelon Gose – Rated 88
Terrapin Beer Co.
Athens, GA

In the same vein, Terrapin’s Watermelon Gose is a standard-bearer for summertime sour beers. Providing a piquant watermelon rind-like flavor and a lovely light ruby hue in the glass, drinking this beverage is like digging into a ripe watermelon – without those pesky seeds!

Heritage Helles – Rated 88
Arches Brewing
Hapeville, GA

Arches Brewing is known for making delectable lagers that represent a wide swath of styles, and its seasonal Heritage Helles is no exception. A Munich Helles-style beer sitting at 4.8% ABV, this German style is eminently drinkable as well as surprisingly complex thanks to the interesting hop and malt bills used.

Trop Tail – Rated 88
Social Fox Brewing
Norcross, GA

New England IPAs are still a hot ticket in craft beer, and Trop Tail IPA by Social Fox Brewing is sure to satiate any hop lover’s appetite with its blend of El Dorado, Sabro, Idaho Gem and Zappa hops as well as the trademark creamy mouthfeel of a hazy NEIPA.

Double Sunshine Ruby Red Grapefruit – Rated 97
Lawson's Finest Liquids
Waitsfield, VT

Speaking of New England IPAs, this terrific offering from Lawson's Finest Liquids in Vermont is a spin-off of the brewery's popular Sip of Sunshine IPA. This imperial-strengh version is also brewed with ruby red grapefruit for a zesty, ultra-citrusy kick for the summer months.

Sion Kölsch – Rated 95
Radeberger
Germany

Kölsch beers are among the most enjoyable during the summer months, as their complex graininess gives way to an incredibly quenching and refreshing sip. This example from Radeberger in Germany is tremendously well-made and deserves a sampling whether you're on your backyard patio, on a boat or at dinner with your friends and family.

Han Brolo – Rated 92
Monday Night Brewing
Atlanta, GA

Monday Night Brewing’s Han Brolo is a flagship pale ale for the brewery and it’s easy to see why. Pouring a lovely golden orange color with delightful hoppy aromas and other zesty notes erupting from the glass, this pale ale goes down smooth in the summer months – or whenever you decide to imbibe it!

Invocation – Rated 94
Wild Heaven Beer
Avondale Estates, GA

While one might not normally think about Belgian Golden Strong Ales when pondering good beer options for summertime, Wild Heaven Beer wants you to rethink that bias. Its Invocation golden Belgian might be quite strong (8.5%) but it serves as an excellent nightcap with its grounded earthiness in the finish coupled with dainty tropical fruit aromas and flavors throughout. Don’t miss this year-round release from this Atlanta area standout.

Hop’lin IPA – Rated 93
Southbound Brewing Co.
Savannah, GA

While a bit further afield than others on this list, Southbound Brewing Co. in Savannah has been offering up tremendous craft beer creations since its opening in 2013. The brewery’s flagship IPA, Hop’lin IPA, is no exception, as this exquisite West Coast-style IPA features a cavalcade of “C” hops to fit the more bitter bill that its style dictates. Inhale deeply and sip at your leisure to enjoy the blend of Magnum, Amarillo, Centennial, Cascade, Chinook and Citra hops.

Bibo – Rated 92
Creature Comforts Brewing Co.
Athens, GA

Summertime is prime time for lagers, pilsners and blonde ales, and breweries do not disappoint on that front. Creature Comforts Brewing Co. produces a wide range of year-round, seasonal and limited releases, but it’s the brewery’s Bibo Pilsner that serves as perhaps its best summertime sipper. While the brewery’s range of Athena Berliner Weisses (both with and without fruit) are also excellent during the sweltering summer heat, Bibo is about as easy-drinking as you can get. Hunker down in your lawn chair, lather up the sunscreen and enjoy a classic Athenian pilsner.

Euphonia Pilsner – Rated 93
New Realm Brewing
Atlanta, GA

New Realm Brewing was co-founded by former Stone Brewing Co. brewmaster Mitch Steele in 2016, and they haven’t looked back. With a year-round release like Euphonia Pilsner leading the charge, it’s understandable that they’ve been successful, bright hop aromas and a subtle smoothness typify this German-style pils, and the Ersbrucker, Huell Melon, Saphir and Sterling hop blend make for an engaging flavor and aroma profile from start to finish.

Field Party – Rated 89
Georgia Beer Co.
Valdosta, GA

Georgia Beer Co. in Valdosta, Georgia stakes its claim as the most southernmost brewery in the state, and its Field Party Blonde Ale is the perfect accompaniment to any outdoor event or gathering among friends. Refreshing and pleasant, this blonde would pair well with a burger in the backyard or at a pool party.