A Beer Skeptic's Guide To The Best Summer Ales

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If you haven’t cracked a cold one in a while, it may be time to reconsider this whole “I’m not a beer person” thing. Whatever your qualm about Canada’s national dockside beverage (too bloaty? too hoppy?), this list of summer suds has something for everyone.

Crisp and clean: Like jumping into a lake!

Side Launch Mountain Lager, $4, lcbo.com

It’s lighter and crisper than a lot of the German-style lagers, with notes of apple and honey. “It’s what I would call a crushable summer lager—it’s not going to make you feel bloated,” says Lauren Richard, certi ed cicerone and a recent champ on Viceland’s Beerland competition show. Pair with: Nachos

Coors Banquet, $3, lcbo.com

The cool older cousin of Coors Light is “the ultimate ‘I just want a beer’ beer,” says Crystal Luxmore, advanced cicerone and co-founder of the Beer Sisters event company. It’s got a little more flavour but is still super crisp with zero aftertaste. Plus, the retro cans look great in a cooler. Pair with: Salad with croutons or grilled cheese

Phillips Bottle Rocket, $15/pack of 6, thebeerstore.ca

This India session ale delivers a punchy aroma of fruits and citrus but isn’t super bitter. Pair with: Chips and guacamole

Beau’s Lug Tread Lagered Ale, $17/pack of 4, lcbo.com

Often referred to as a gateway to craft beer, this is going to pass muster with your beer-snob friends and your Bud-loving gramps. Pair with: BBQ chicken

Cream Ale By Frank Brewing Co., $4, lcbo.com

This golden, slightly sweet but still crisp cream ale is the kind of beer you reach for after a long day of work—or lounging on the dock. Pair with: Spicy Asian ribs

Light and fruity: If you’re more of a cooler type

Ace Hill Radler, $4, lcbo.com

The latest from Toronto’s trendiest brew shop “doesn’t taste like a Jolly Rancher, which is the trouble with a lot of the radlers,” says Luxmore. It’s made with real fruit juice (orange, lemon and peach) and a low alcohol content of 2.5 percent. Pair with: A fruity dessert

Collective Arts Dry Hop Sour With Passion Fruit & Peach, $5, store.collectiveartsbrewing.com

“Fruit sours have been a big hit with people who don’t tend to love beer,” says Richard. This one is more tart than bitter, and light in the hops department. Pair with: Ice cream or summer salads

Duxbury Dry Hopped Cider, $4, lcbo.com

More apple-y than beer, more beery than cider, this is a “perfect mash-up of the two— crisp and fresh and not at all sweet,” says Richard. Pair with: Pasta salad

For oenophiles: No more wine-ing! Grab a brew

Rodenbach Fruitage, $7

Beer avours mixed with dark fruits and subtle balsamic avour. “If you love red wine you will loooove this beer,” says Luxmore. Pair with: A lamb burger, or anything gamey

Burdock Tuesday Saison, $6, burdockto.com

Notes of pineapple, spice, clove and fresh straw provide plenty of fodder for discussion if there’s a white-wine-lover in the group. Pair with: Mussels

The dry option: Because hangovers never take a vacation

PC Lemonade Radler, presidentschoice.ca

This booze-free option is equal parts lemonade and (de-alcoholized) lager, which gives it an authentic beery-but- not-too-beery taste. And zero hangover. Pair with: Spring rolls