You’re sitting on your beach chair down the shore. It’s a hot sunny day, but your umbrella casts just enough shade to keep you perfectly cool. Could this afternoon get any better? Perhaps the ice-cold beer in your cooler would have something to say about that.
Few things hit the spot in summer quite as well as a beer from one of the breweries around the Jersey Shore and Main Line region. With the heat of summertime at its fullest, summer shandies, fruity lagers and crisp IPAs are at their most refreshing. So skip the liquor store and pick up a four- or six-pack from one of the area’s beer hotspots instead. After that, the only thing left to do will be to sit back, relax and pop the top on a cold one.
The Bog at Cape May Brewing Co.
Cape May
View this post on Instagram
Cape May Brewing Co. has exploded in popularity over the last decade. Offering craft-brewed classics like the Cape May IPA or Honey Brewed Porter, it specializes in seasonal offerings, too. One of our favorites is The Bog, a cranberry shandy with a low 3.9% ABV that’s only available in summer and fall. This tart cranberry wheat beer is blended with lemonade and packs tons of flavor.
Island in the Sun from Conshohocken Brewing Company
Conshohocken
Aside from Conshohocken Brewing Company’s standard core beers, the seasonals are some of the best-loved. Blueberry-flavored Philly Vice is always a favorite, but for our money, the Island in the Sun is the best beach beer. Available only in summer, this double hazy IPA is conditioned on pineapple for a distinctly tropical flavor above a lighter grain. This one is fruity and smooth all the way through.
Dragon Fruit Found a Scythe from Tired Hands Brewing
Ardmore
Tired Hands’ inventive brews never cease to delight. This double IPA has a high ABV at 8%, so be sure to drink responsibly and enjoy the hyper-pungent Nelson Sauvin from New Zealand conditioned atop dragonfruit puree. Dense and sticky, with tropical notes of pear and kiwi popsicles and Welch’s white grape juice, this unique IPA is perfect for summertime.
Peach Preserves from Locust Lane Craft Brewery
Malvern
This fruited sour from Locust Lane is a two-year lambic-style beer brewed exclusively with Deer Creek malt. Its sweet flavor owes to PA-grown peaches from Big Hill Ciderworks. Married with a well-conditioned blonde tart beer, this peachy brew is a local canned favorite.
Par Punch from Workhorse Brewing Company
King of PrussiaÂ
View this post on Instagram
This beer features aromas of mango, pineapple and citrus juices combined with tropical punch. It tempts the palate with a smooth body of wheat and pilsner malts supporting fruit juice scents, creating a juicy, sweet flavor that’s not overpowering.
Auto Rock from Bald Birds Brewing Company
Audubon
View this post on Instagram
Auto Rock is a delicate lager with a gentle, malt-forward taste and a clean finish brewed with floor-malted German pilsner malt and Saaz hops. After you give this beer a try, make sure to take some home for the rest of your summer adventures.
Go To from Root Down Brewing
Phoenixville
View this post on Instagram
Root Down Brewing has a host of unique brews, but the Go To is sure to be the true crowd-pleaser. It leans into Americana beer vibes with a distinctly local touch. Fresh hay, a slightly earthy spice and a dry finish make for what Root Down Brewing calls “Beer flavored beer!”
Related: 6 Summer Cocktails to Sip at the Jersey Shore
