Summertime is in full swing, and nothing goes down better on a hot day than a nice cold beer. If you are headed to a pool party or to the beach, canned beer is definitely the way to go. Cans are lighter than their bottled counterparts, they pack easily in a cooler and you don’t have to worry about broken glass creating a mess poolside.
Canned beer has gotten a bad rap because many think the product is inferior to bottled beer. This couldn’t be further from the truth, explains PA Eats’s own Kerry Watson. Because of a water-based polymer lining, canned beers no longer have a metallic taste. This ensures that you will taste the beer as the brewer intended. Additionally, cans don’t let in dreaded sunlight, which can cause harm to the hops and change the flavor profile.
I tapped Greg Ramirez, owner of Exton Beverage, to name his favorite summer canned beers. Greg knows beer—he’s been running Exton Beverage since 1996 and has been the owner of this Chester County beer institution since 2007.
Also, Pennsylvanians received fantastic news earlier this year. It was determined that distributors like Exton Beverage could sell 12-packs of beer instead the previously legally required case of 24 cans or bottles. The good news came when a loophole in the Pennsylvania liquor code was discovered. Luckily for local beer drinkers, Exton Beverage now stocks an entire wall dedicated to 12-packs!
Troegs Perpetual IPA
This year-round beer brewed in Hershey, Pa., features Bravo, Chinook, Mt. Hood and Nugget hops in the boil and is further dry-hopped with Citra and Cascade hops. It has an ABV (alcohol by volume) of 7.5%. The bitterness of all those hops is subdued by notes of citrus and malt, making it a deceptively refreshing summertime beer.
Troegs Sunshine Pils
Sunshine Pils is released from April–July, so get it while it’s fresh! It is lower in alcohol content (4.5%) than Perpetual IPA, so it’s perfect if you want to have a few while lounging by the pool.
Victory Summer Love
Downingtown’s own Victory Brewing Company was commissioned by Visit Philadelphia to create a beer that “captures the essence of a city that is rich in history and in flavor.” This summer seasonal is light-bodied and refreshing while packing a lot of flavor.
Sierra Nevada Nooner
If you are looking for a beer for mid-day drinking, Nooner should be your go-to beverage of choice. Nooner is easy drinking and has the big flavors of spicy and floral whole-cone hops. This crisp, hoppy beer is 5.2% ABV.
Oskar Blues Pinner Throwback IPA
Visiting the Jersey shore but wish you were on a Caribbean Island? Pinner has a taste profile of tropical fruits, citrus juices and pineapple, but it’s bitter enough for hop-heads. Clocking in at just 4.9% ABV, this is a beer you can enjoy all day long.
Brooklyn Summer Ale
This English-style pale ale is full of flavor without being too heavy. It tastes of citrus and malt and will pair perfectly with traditional BBQ foods like hamburgers and summer salads.
Find Exton Beverage at 310 E. Lincoln Highway in Exton; phone: (610) 363-7020.
