Best Beers for Spring
Spring has sprung! For beer drinkers, that means that it’s time to put away those dark, heavy stouts, porters, and Christmas ales and reach for something a little lighter.
If you’re looking for the best beers for spring, you’ve come to the right place.
Best Beers for Spring
Saisons
Saisons, also known as farmhouse ales, tend to be lightly bodied, carbonated, fruity, and have a dry finish. The word saison comes from the French word for season. Traditionally, saisons were brewed using whatever was on hand for the season, whether that was barley, rye, spelt, or something else.
If you want to try a classic Saison, try the Saison Dupont, a blond saison with 6.5% alcohol.
American Wild Ale
American wild ales are so-called because they are introduced to “wild” yeast, bacteria, or microflora during the brewing process. Sometimes, those wild bacteria come from inoculated oak barrels, and sometimes from a brewer using sour mash techniques. No matter where the “wild” comes from, though, American wild ales tend to be tart, sour, acidic, or funky with medium to high alcohol content.
For a delicious spring treat, try Peach Apricot beer from Erosion Theories (a Wild Ale fermented with house saison strains), making for a beer that’s balanced, tart, and fruity.
Kolsch
If you want something light and simple like a lager, but still want to branch out a little, then a Kolsch is your beer. A Kolsch is a “hybrid” beer since its brewing process borrows some techniques from lagers and some from ales. Kolsches are super light and drinkable and have a super crisp, clean finish. In other words, the ideal warm-weather beer.
If you want to give an American Kolsch a shot, try the California Kolsch from Ballast Point. It boasts “smooth, bright notes of spiced honey, biscuits, and fruit.”
Hefeweizen
If you want a beer that can comfortably accompany you to the beach or to a barbecue, then Hefeweizen is a smart choice. German-style Hefeweizens are recognizable for their light color and distinctive, cloudy appearance. Hefeweizens are highly carbonated wheat beers that tend to be underscored by strong notes of banana and clove. Not only are they delicious, but their low alcohol content makes them easy to sip all day.
For a classic Hefeweizen, try Sierra Nevada’s Kellerweiss, a hazy wheat ale with a “full, fruity aroma and notes of spicy clove and banana bread.”
Barleywine
Don’t let the name fool you, barleywines are actually beers! Barleywines tend to be richly and boldly flavored, with dark fruit notes and a clear presence of alcohol. Because of their deep, rich flavors, barleywines may seem more suited for fall or winter, but a lighter spring barleywine can be perfect for the months leading up to summer.
A perfect example of a spring-appropriate Barleywine is Still Life with Hound from Forest & Main Brewing Company. Accentuated by flavors of caramel and sweet malt, it’s a great easy-drinking barleywine for the spring.
Grisette
Crisp, light-bodied, citrusy, and easy to drink, these are all characteristics of a great spring sipper, and they’re all characteristics of a grisette. A grisette is actually a subset of a saison, and, like many saisons, grisettes are often tart and refreshing.
Other Beers to Try
Our list grew! We found another 19 beers to drink in spring. Tick off every beer that you’ve already had before and be prepared to try the rest.
Allagash White
Style: Witbier
ABV: 5.1%
Brewery Location: Portland, M.E.
Orval
Style: Belgian Pale Ale
ABV: 6.2%
Brewery Location: Florenville, Belgium
Jester King Le Petit Prince
Style: Table Beer
ABV: 2.9%
Brewery Location: Austin, TX
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Style: Pale Ale
ABV: 5.6%
Brewery Location: Chico, California
Brouwerij Het Anker Maneblusser
Style: Belgian Blonde Ale
ABV: 6.2%
Brewery Location: Mechelen, Belgium
College Street Big Blue Van
Style: Fruit Beer
ABV: 5.4%
Brewer Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ, U.S.A,
The Alchemist Heady Topper
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 8%
Brewery Location: Stowe, VT
Birrificio Italiano Tipopils
Style: Pilsner
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery Location: Province of Como, Italy
New Belgium Citradelic
Style: Indian Pale Ale
ABV: 6%
Brewery Location: Fort Collins, CO, U.S.A.
Brasserie Thiriez Extra
Style: Saison
ABV: 4.5%
Brewery Location: Esquelbecq, France
Schlafly Hoppy Wheat Ale
Style: American Wheat Ale
ABV: 5%
Brewery Location: Maplewood, MO, USA
Brauerei Spezial Rauchbeir
Style: German Rauchbier
ABV: 4.7%
Brewery Location: Bamberg, Germany
Selkirk Abbey Infidel
Style: Indian Pale Ale
ABV: 8.2%
Brewery Location: Post Falls, ID, U.S.A.
Daisy Cutter Half Acre
Style: Pale Ale
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery Location: Chicago, IL
Ska Brewing Modus Mandarina
Style: Indian Pale Ale
ABV: 6.8%
Brewery Location: Durango, CO, U.S.
Hill Farmstead Citra
Style: Indian Pale Ale
ABV: 6.3%
Brewery Location: Greensboro Bend, Vermont
Kane Brewing Mexican Brunch
Style: Imperial Milk Porter
ABV: 9.2%
Brewery Location: Ocean, NJ
Perennial Abraxas
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 10%
Brewery Location: Saint Louis, MO
Schneeeule Brauerei Marlene
Style: Berliner Weisse
ABV: 3%
Brewery Location: Berlin, Germany
If you are looking to make the most of spring and want to enjoy a delicious beer, browse this list and see if you find a new favorite!
