Trust us when we say the best spring beers are paramount to enjoyable spring days and nights. Consider trading in those heavy porters and roasty brown ales in favor of lighter, crisp, more refreshing and easy-drinking brews.
The best beers to drink this spring come from breweries big and small, regional names and Northeast favorites and Midwest craft beer pioneers in equal measure (and a few from elsewhere, of course). If you do your homework the right way, you’ll please your palate and your guests this season through spring dinners and days at home, time and again.
Oh, and what sort of homework do we mean? We mean the fine art of cracking open a cold one, kicking back and enjoying one of the best spring beers. Here are a few of our favorites. Cheers — save a few in the cooler for us, will ya?
BrewDog Lost Lager
From the pioneering BrewDog Craft Beer Hotel in Columbus to its chain of excellent brewpubs across the pond, BrewDog has long done things its own way, and that’s an approach we can appreciate. You can become a shareholder in the brewery with just a few clicks, but before that, you should assuredly try out this light, pleasingly flavorful lager — brewed in Ohio — that the brewery says is a “21st-century pilsner.” Can’t go wrong there.
Threes Brewing Vliet
Picture the perfect spot to enjoy a spring beer, and it very well might be the well-appointed garden backyard of Threes Brewing in Brooklyn. It’s a bustling place in the best of times, and when that first sip of Threes Brewing Vliet hits, it’s not hard to see why. It’s a refreshing, clean beer with just enough balance and sweetness to pair nicely with, say, a burger from Threes’ in-house kitchen. And just like that, you’ve just compiled the ideal spring weekend agenda.
Other Half Brewing Ivy City Lager
Other Half’s hyped IPAs are the stuff of legend, inspiring fervent can collectors to journey from far and wide to get their hands on the good stuff. But Other Half’s small-but-mighty rotation of lagers is enough to please even the biggest IPA fan, and the good news is, they’re a hidden gem among excellent spring beers. Until now, that is.
Revolution Brewing Cross of Gold
Cross of Gold’s humble beginnings in Revolution founder Josh Deth’s basement have given way to some award-winning showings in recent years, and that’s all the better if you want an innovative and eye-catching spring beer. It’s not every day that you find an English-style pale ale stateside, and we appreciate the fact that Revolution has coined this one with the phrase “Chicago Golden Ale” — bottoms up.
Firestone Walker 805
We mentioned earlier that you should be lightening up your spring wardrobe alongside your spring beer rotation, and that’s where the recently launched Firestone Walker 805 comes into play. Simple ingredients and a no-frills brewing process results in a beer that clocks in at under 5 percent ABV, so you can enjoy it through weekend days aplenty.
Bell’s Oberon
Ask any Michigan native or transplant what the start of spring means to them, and there’s a very good chance Oberon from Bell’s in Kalamazoo is going to factor into that response. It should also factor heavily into your next beer-inclined spending spree, because this wheat ale (best served with an orange slice) is a much-loved, stone-cold classic. It’s perhaps best enjoyed while playing hookie and watching some afternoon baseball, but that’s just our take.
Paulaner Hefeweizen
Paulaner’s heritage and history nearly needs no introduction, but it’s always worth revisiting an iconic brewery, particularly when that brewery comes through with a light and airy hefeweizen made with time-tested methods. If you’re a fan of Paulaner’s dark ales, you’ll surely enjoy this flavorful spring beer, and that’s an understatement.
Sierra Nevada Summer Break
Sierra Nevada is calling this beer the “beer of summer,” but we say it’s never too early to start enjoying a new brew from the pioneering brand. It’s the rare hazy IPA that clocks in at under 5 percent ABV, and tasting notes of mango and passionfruit are a welcome addition to your spring beer fridge — right? No doubt about it.
Jack’s Abby Post Shift Pils
To us, the Jack’s Abby Post Shift Pils is a sign that the work day is over, that it’s time to kick back with a cold beer and let the good times roll. We’re big fans of this classic pils any day of the week, and any season, but it’s an ideal beer to enjoy as the sun sets on a breezy spring day. So go on, wrap up that work day and enjoy one with us — you’ve earned it.
Allagash White
There’s a reason that Allagash White inspires fervent devotion even among fans who haven’t had the chance to visit the idyllic Maine brewery, and that’s because it’s a darn fine beer (to say the very least). Allagash White was a bold gamble as far as its looks and flavor when it launched in the 1990s, but it’s become a legendary beer in its own right decades later. Make sure your fridge is well-stocked with it.
Lawson’s Finest Little Sip
If you’re a fan of the lauded and quite frankly, incredible Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine IPA, you’re going to love Little Sip. The brewery says this beer is a “cousin” of its flagship IPA, and that means you’re getting a 6.2 percent ABV beer with notes of pineapple and grapefruit. Be warned: It’s as crushable an IPA as you’re apt to find, so enjoy responsibly.
Springdale Beer Co. Be The Beacon IPA
Springdale Beer Co. is always pushing the limits when it comes to innovative and unique beers, even looking outside the traditional craft beer world for inspiration. That’s where its Be The Beacon IPA comes into play: It’s part of Springdale’s 2021 Hazy IPA series, with each release inspired by the brewery’s love of music and a collaborative playlist compiled by the Springdale team. In fact, Be The Beacon is inspired by English rocker Frank Turner. We’ll drink to that.
Anchor Brewing Anchor Steam
As a new season dawns, it’s always nice to look back to the past to shape your future — or in this case, to fill your beer fridge. We’re big fans of the always-consistent, ever-reliable Anchor Steam from San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing, an iconic beer that never disappoints. Consider it a reliable everyday sipper.
Sixpoint The Crisp
Go just about anywhere in Brooklyn and you’ll likely come across Sixpoint’s range of varied, flavorful and fresh beers. Better still, get your hands on some yourself via delivery service Drizly and bring a taste of the borough to your own beer fridge. You can’t go wrong with Sixpoint’s The Crisp, a perfect beer for cool spring days and nights aplenty.
Stone Brewing Dayfall Belgian White
Stone Brewing’s Dayfall is a beer that’s as rewarding and enjoyable as it is flavorful and innovative. Stone says Dayfall represents “a new beer for a new day,” and they’ve used a light malt, plus Bergamot orange peel and coriander to drive that point home quite nicely for a new season. It’s part of the Stone Pilot Series, which accents Stone’s lineup of bold beers with experimental releases. Sounds great to us — how’s that for one of the best spring beers, ehh?
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