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---
title: Beers for Summer: Light Summer Craft Beers to Drink in Hot Weather
description: Drink these craft beers keep cool this summer.
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author: Sarah Grieco
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article:published_time: 2014-06-20T12:00:06.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:48:35.958Z
og:title: 10 of the Best Beers for Summer
og:description: Here&#x27;s TIME&#x27;s list of light beers to keep you cool this season
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twitter:title: 10 of the Best Beers for Summer
twitter:description: Here&#x27;s TIME&#x27;s list of light beers to keep you cool this season
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
---

# 10 Craft Beers to Kick Off Your Summer


by 

[Sarah Grieco](https://time.com/author/sarah-grieco/)


## Sarah Grieco


Jun 20, 2014 12:00 PM UTC

by 

[Sarah Grieco](https://time.com/author/sarah-grieco/)


## Sarah Grieco


Jun 20, 2014 12:00 PM UTC

Summer officially begins this weekend, meaning it’s time to relax and kick off the season with a nice, cold beer. But don’t get weighed down by a heavy brewsky; you need some lighter options to stay buzzed all summer.

We enlisted some help from the bar finding website [Taphunter](http://www.taphunter.com) to round up a list of beers you can stock your fridge with all summer. Cheers!

### White Rascal, Avery Brewing

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8f8902e9933b4a83/6986988113c79f62cb192be5/white-rascal-single-can1.png?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

Avery Brewing Co.

If you need to cool off after a long day in the sun, this is your beer. It’s light, sweet and can be found at just about any bar.

### Windansea, Karl Strauss Brewing Company

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte76218a239cf1fd8/6986986006f2c145a632f8aa/wwsix_hi.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

Karl Strauss

Perfect for poolside sipping, this Hefeweizen will make you feel like you’re on a tropical vacation. Even non-beer drinkers will appreciate the banana and vanilla undertones, giving it a sweet finish.

### RAD, Sixpoint Brewery

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt92fb127219ace0d1/6986985fcd684812450954be/sixpoint-rad-print2.jpg?branch=production&width=384&quality=75&auto=webp)

Sixpoint Brewery

A combination of fruit juice and ale, this lower-alcohol beer is great for the lightweights in your crew. It’s almost like a beer cocktail, so feel free to put a little umbrella in your glass.

### Bombshell Blonde, Southern Star Brewing

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt13e0937395ebec71/69869882cd68485cd609550e/dsc_5554ebsb-can122.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

Southern Star Brewing

The Lone Star State’s sticky weather served as a good excuse to concoct this light, smooth beer. Enjoy on a hot summer day with your cowboy boots on.

### Summer Love, Victory Brewing Company

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt25030adb34c5a5f5/6986986113c79f7d8a192bb1/summerlove-12ozbottle.jpeg?branch=production&width=1440&quality=75&auto=webp)

Victory Brewing Company


When you’re barbequing on the roof, this lemony beer will keep you cool as you’re getting ready to enjoy a summer night. The tangy finish makes it a great addition to almost any meal.

### Blonde Ale, Diamond Knot Craft Brewing

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7ed14cdc0da92654/69869862810bbb298dc92409/20140429_161012.jpeg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

Diamond Knot Craft Brewing

Don’t be fooled by the light color–this blonde ale packs a punch. The makers used their grandfather’s pre-Prohibition recipe to make it into a modern day, light drinking option.

### Summer Honey Ale, Big Sky Brewing Company

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt57e67dac5045d53b/69869860f983e772eb04e7b5/sh_btl14.png?branch=production&width=256&quality=75&auto=webp)

Big Sky Brewing Company


You can taste the difference of the clear, crisp Montana water in the Summer Honey Ale’s seasonal suds. It’s got some spices to kick up the flavor — but not too many, keeping it very drinkable.

### Festina Peche, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3177c47791c0c891/6986985e13c79f55c4192bac/2-dfh_festinapeche_bottleshot.jpg?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

Dogfish Head

Hailed by critics as one of the best additions to the summer season, this tart beer was made for the beer geeks. It’s a little sour, but fruity, and would probably taste great with ice cream.

### Honey Kolsch, Rogue Ales 

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2c3085ecb0141dac/69869882e8524b75626038cd/750ml-farms-honeykolsch1.jpg?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

Rogue Ales & Spirits


The honey in this beer will have you buzzing for more. Made with honey from the brewery’s local farm, it’s got a special taste you won’t find in standard fizzy yellow beers.

### Big Wave Golden Ale, Kona Brewing Company

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt03473e2d24ce1929/6986985e13c79fcac3192ba8/rs4827_bw_pour-with-bottle.jpg?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

Kona Brewing Company

Take a sip of this Hawaiian-brewed beer for a taste of the islands. All you need to complete the pint is a surfboard and some major waves.

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