What's your favorite light bodied, light colored beer?

[fretlessman71]

I'm starting this because I have always gravitated towards the kind of beer that I could stand a spoon up in the middle of it even after the head is gone. The sort of beer where, if I had knocked it over, I would have a couple of seconds to grab the glass before any spilled out onto the table.

Problem is, summer's coming up, and I've only lived through one Tennessee summer... and the locals tell me that it didn't count unless I had to wade through the August afternoon air. My favorite beers aren't sounding too good in the expected climate for the next 4 months.

So I'm on the search for light body, low alcohol, and REEEEEEEEEALY good taste! The kind of beer that would go well with a soufflet or something. THAT light, and THAT tasty. I'd love to see your favorites posted here.

And, as if I even had to mention it (but I will anyway): If it's North American, and it has the word LIGHT or LITE in it, or even if it's brewed overseas and INTENDED for Americans to think that it's Light or Lite, IT DOESN'T COUNT. Start your own thread about lite beers and see how many people here enjoy them. I'm sure you'll be in for a roasting over a slow flame while someone drinks a homebrew to honor the occasion.

And to the other side of the coin, the purists: Chances are, if people are lite beer fans, they're not members of this community, right? So standing on your soapbox here is doing little more than preaching to the choir. You can have your own thread as well about how lite beer SUCKS. I'm sure I'll add my own post to it agreeing with you.

The point of this thread is to have FUN, folks... not start arguments off topic and lose the reason why the thread was begun in the first place.

Now, I'LL get off of MY soapbox, and ask again... what's your favorite light bodied summer beer? The lighter, the better... so long as it's NATURALLY light! (No, not "Natural Light".... JEEZ! Have the macrobrewers stolen every adjective I wanted to use?...)

[brewmonkey]

How about an English style Mild? One of my favorite "session" beers. Great any time of the year, thrist quenching (IMHO) and just damn good if done right!

[threecb]

flm71, i dig your good spirit and cool wit!
always the peacekeeper in these threads...

i don't think you can get these in TN, but my 3
favorite "lightish" beers are:

Flying Fish Farmhouse Summer Ale
Brooklyn Pilsner
Victory Whirlwind Wit

all three are usually available in bottles
in my neighborhood (NJ), but the Farmhouse
is a limited production, goes quick, and I buy
a couple-few cases as soon as I see it's available...
now THAT is a lawnmower beer!

[S.F.B.]

An IPA can make the hot weather more bearable. I also like a pilsener for the warm months. A couple that come to mind are, Pilsener Urquell (of course) or Spaaten Pils.

As for the IPA's, can't point you to any one in particular. I brew my own and don't drink any other.

[Redbird Fan]

In the midwest -

Boulevard unfiltered wheat is pretty light and very good cold.

and while it might not seem too light - I have found O'dells 90 shilling is a very good summer time thirst quencher (especially on tap!)

Perhaps a good IPA would work! they are usually pretty light (but hoppy)

or - Red Ales are fairly light (and hoppy).

[brewmonkey]

Boulevard is good beer and if you are ever in KC on a Saturday make sure you stop by and tour the brewhouse and try some samples. They generally have one or two brews on that are "test" batches. In the past they have done a Pils, Belgian Dubble, Tripple and a Barrel Aged porter (Bourbon barrel from the McCromicks distillery).

Very friendly bunch!

[hopjack13]

well it's been warm and sunny down here in socal and my favorite light bodied beer would be bridgeport i.p.a.
(thnx batkins!) light , crisp ,clean and well hopped!

[Fast_Eddy]

Maybe a medium to light bodied, low alcohol bitter would work. Or how about a Duvel thrown in every now in then?

[steveh]

I can't guarantee low alcohol, but here are some fave, light colored, light bodied summer quenchers:

1. Bell's Oberon
2. Dinkel Acker CD Pils
3. Spaten Helles (I enjoy their Pils too FSB)
4. Capital's Fest
5. Pete's Summer (yeah, it ain't bad - 'course, I haven't had this year's batch)
6. Goose Island Summer Kolsch
7. Sam Adam's Summer
8. Sam Adam's Spring ale
9. Any of the Czech Pils'
10. Goose Island Honker's ale - It's just a little less assertive than Sierra Nevada's Pale ale, and therefore more quenching - IMO.

Of course, there are too many brew pubs around me with their own special summer brews - I'd sample one of them before anything else if visiting the pub.

S.

[paul84043]

I guess to me a "light" beer would be lighter cleaner flavor and low(er) alcohol.
I personally don't think that IPA's qualify, but they sure are damn good!
A Kolsch hits the spot but still has hints of hoppiness.
A real Pilsner is about as light as you can get without drinking straight water. Depending on where it comes from, it just may taste like water, but it doesn't have to, it can be just as flavorful as a full bodied ale, just in a different way.
I can't really pick between one. If I have them available, I will typically find myself drinking one of each in a sitting.

[b3s]

not the biggest fan of the style, still prefer heavier beers (even in the heat of summer)...however, leinenkuegels honeyweiss doesn't suck. i also had a brew called hoppy pilsner from ironworks brewpub which actual made me change my mind about pilsners in general. blue moon is pretty good as well...and of course, i'm itching to try my honey wheat which still has not racked to my secondary yet (heh, and it's about 15 IBUs over norm and way darker than most wheats...go figure).

[hops99]

Bell's Oberon keeps getting better every summer...In addition, here in the Great Lakes, GL Dortmunder Gold is a terrific summer beer. And, I'm excited to have a few cases of Celis White in the basement, which I just picked up from the Michigan Brewing Company a few weeks ago. Hallelujah!

[hnrblbrbrn]

Right now I'm starting to get into Boddington's and Flying Dog's Road Dog. Sam Adam's light surprised me by not tasting like a lite.

[fretlessman71]

I've had Sam Adams Light; I was mildly disappointed (something somewhere made me want to drink the second one out of the bottle for some reason... I resisted)...

Bridgeport I haven't had for many years, but I miss...

O' Dells 90 Shilling was my favorite draft beer in CO (nice and fresh... WOW! What a great balance of flavor; unfortunately it's popularity is undermined by those who think that "Fat Tire" is a really cool name for a beer)...

I'm willing to give Pete's another chance on a recommendation from someone on this thread, but since I remember what Pete's Wicked Ale USED to taste like before they ruined it, I'm still a little wary...

I've got a 6 of Sam Adams Spring Ale in the fridge right now; still not sure what to think of it - certainly quenching, but a little on the sour side for me. Is this characteristic of a Kolsch Ale?...

Saw Dinkel Acker in the store the other day; remembered that someone had recommended it but didn't buy it because of the DAMN GREEN BOTTLE (it never fails; no matter how much I try to keep mine from the light, it always tastes like the damage has already been done no matter what temp. I serve it - and where did I read that the chemical created by light hitting beer through green glass is IDENTICAL to the one that skunks produce when they're trying to get your attention?)...

Is there such a think as a Czech Pils that ISN'T in a green bottle that is indicative of the style? I have a friend that's a Miller Lite fan, and I'm trying to convert him by picking beers in a similar style that actually have some TASTE.

Thanks for the help guys! Keep 'em coming!

[hurk]

Dinkel Acker is fine if bought fresh right off the truck (it loses its lemony hop character very quickly) and if packaged in the fully-enclosed 12 packs.

I'm a big fan of Helles and Dortmunder Export--the best Dorts I've had are Victory and Dominion Lager. Both are superb, but I'm not sure they are available in Tenn.

Hacker-Pschorr and Ayinger Helles cannot be beat and are widely available.

For Pilsners, I like Pinkus Ur-Pils, Herold Svetle, Troegs Sunshine Pils, Tupper Hop Pocket and Victory Pils. I've also had some good experiences with St. George Pils, from a Virginia brewery (and perhaps available near you).

And Hoegaarden and Allagash make excellent Witbier.

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Thanks for the help guys! Keep 'em coming!

Okay, an answer attempt from the top...

Sam Light? Blech.

Bridgeport, haven't been there in a long while either - cool pub.

Pete's Summer - so far, the 12 pack consumed by a big-fan friend of mine is in question of its vintage - may have been left over from last year...I'll keep you posted - and I know what you mean about the Wicked Ale.

Is Sam's Spring Ale touted as a Kolsch? Never found it to be sour, although German ales aren't as clean tasting as their lagers - having flavor accents from the yeasts used and the warmer fermentation.

Dinkel and green bottles - I agree with Hurk, stick to the fully enclosed 12 packs. AFA "always" having the skunk problem - maybe you're hypersensitive to it because of expectation?

As for chemicals and skunkiness? I once bottled a home-brew in a clear Sam Smith bottle for fun (just one bottle out of the batch). At a picnic it sat in a tub of ice in the sun - and not direct either - for about 10 minutes. It skunked just from that, but cleared up after "breathing" in the glass a bit. No chem's there.

Czech Pils' - Doesn't Golden Pheasant come in a brown bottle? And there's always draft!

Hey Fretless - you're west of Milwaukee, right? If you ever get south-bound (I know, the signs say East) on I-94, right at Hwy 50 in Kenosha is a great little Czech restaurant called Little Europe. They have some great beers on tap, including Pilsner Urquell and Golden Pheasant. Or head the other way and check out the great selection at Madison's Essen Haus - no light-striking through the kegs!

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by steveh
Czech Pils' - Doesn't Golden Pheasant come in a brown bottle?

D'oh!! There's the GP ad right on the forum home page - in a brown bottle!

S.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by steveh
Is Sam's Spring Ale touted as a Kolsch?

As for chemicals and skunkiness? I once bottled a home-brew in a clear Sam Smith bottle for fun (just one bottle out of the batch). At a picnic it sat in a tub of ice in the sun - and not direct either - for about 10 minutes. It skunked just from that, but cleared up after "breathing" in the glass a bit. No chem's there.


Hey Fretless - you're west of Milwaukee, right?

Sam Adams has this to say about their Spring Ale: http://www.samadams.com/beer/styles/spring_ale.html

We opened a bottle of Pilsner Urquell a few nights ago, and the skunk flavor didn't go away at ALL. It mellowed after about 20-25 minutes, but that was all. Even my wife, who doesn't care for beer at all, said "skunk" the first time she took a whiff. I've had a bottle of EKU 28 that didn't have the same problem (of course, there's so much alcohol in one of those that you're not going to get much of anything except alcohol and brandy in the nose). Are there different types of green bottles? Some darker than others, maybe? In any case, the risk is far too great in my opinion to even try selling beer in green bottles. It is nothing more than a marketing ploy to get americans to buy more of that beer because they think it's SUPPOSED to be better if it's in a green bottle. The same people who think that light beer is a good idea seem to think that drinking green bottled beer makes them suffistuhkaytid and deb-a-nair. No wonder the Europeans refer to us as "those stupid Americans..."

No, I'm about 800 miles SSE of Milwaukee... in Nashville, TN. Not too much in the beer world here, but I'm going to try to go to the Beer Sellar when I come back from the road in 2 weeks. I'll let you know what I find then!

[Chango]

i just tried the new Anchor Summer Beer last night and it was mighty good. crisp, clean, light, etc., etc.
i'm like you, i like heavier beers, but when the temperature skyrockets, something cold and crisp hits the spot. seeing as i live in the Phoenix area, i'm down with cold and crisp on hot days.
other great summer beers:
Caracole Troublette
Shiner Summer Stock
New Belgium Loft
Almost any Hefe (duh)

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
We opened a bottle of Pilsner Urquell a few nights ago, and the skunk flavor didn't go away at ALL. It mellowed after about 20-25 minutes, but that was all. Even my wife, who doesn't care for beer at all, said "skunk" the first time she took a whiff.

No, I'm about 800 miles SSE of Milwaukee... in Nashville, TN.

Okay, I took one for the team last night - one of my friends had left a bottle of Heineken in my cooler after a fishing excursion last weekend - it had been in my fridge until last night. I capped and poured it into a 1/2 liter tall, German made glass - still as cold as the fridge, so not the suggested temp on the bottle (if Heinies even does that anymore). Took a huge wiff from the glass - no skunk. 'Course, no malt or hops either - but that didn't surprise me. I drank about half the 12 ounces, got bored and opened a Dinkel - no skunk there either. Dunno - maybe yer gettin' old beer?

Geez - sorry for the mis-location - dunno who I was thinkin' of. :P

S.

[b3s]

well, i just had my first ever bottle of red stripe. i wasn't going to, but the review at the opinionated beer page (http://www.tobp.com/) caused me to reconsider. very nice hop bouquet and a nice, light, crisp flavor. definitely a good summer beer.

[Brewdepest]

I've never witnessed this Pilsner-Urquell phenomena. Odd.

[fretlessman71]

Maybe I just need to find a fresh bottle of it. I do see a few 12 packs around and they seem to be reasonably well light protected, so maybe I'll get brave and try them again. If I get a 12 and I still don't like it, anyone near Nashville who wants to buy the remaining 11? ;)

[b3s]

just bought a sixer of a beer i had completely forgotten about...lakefront brewery cream city pale ale.

very crisp, hoppy flavor...for a company that normally only does lagers this is a damn fine brew; nice and light, good hops, quite refreshing.

[steveh]

Originally posted by b3s
very crisp, hoppy flavor...for a company that normally only does lagers this is a damn fine brew; nice and light, good hops, quite refreshing.

They have an ESB, a Wit and a new ale called Cattail - that I need to try, but looks good.

A company? That sounds so formal for a place I know to be run by two brothers and a small handful of help. ;)

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
If I get a 12 and I still don't like it, anyone near Nashville who wants to buy the remaining 11?

If you wanna ship it north... ;)

Be sure that you aren't mistaking the flowery hop nose, which is pretty intense with Urquell, with skunkiness. Saaz hops are distinctly different from Fuggles or Cascades - if you're used to drinking ales.

If you don't have a nice Pilsner glass, or one of the tall glass half-litre glasses very common of Germany and Bohemia, be sure to get one. They've been engineered to help bring out the nose and flavor of the beer. Pilsner in a pint glass just doesn't cut it.

Oh yeah, enjoy!

S.

[fretlessman71]

Yeah, we have two pilsner glasses here that I use for such occasions. Everyone who had a taste and a whiff said the same thing: skunk. Wish I could get this stuff right off the truck, you know? I'll have to become friends with the grocers around here....

[steveh]

I don't understand it, unless it's just really old stuff. I was sampling a glass of Dinkel Acker last night (albeit, definitely less hoppy than Urquell) and I was trying to see if I could pick out something similar to skunkiness in the nose. All I could smell were hops and malts.

Here's an experiment - take a bottle of Heineken, get it reeeaaaly cold, cap it, pour it, wiff - that's true skunkiness! I was always tasting Heineken (when it was the best I could find) too cold and always got the skunk nose.

I guess I'm going to have to get some more Urquell (twist my arm) for experimentation purposes. Hard to believe you're getting so many bad batches. The bottles were fully covered by the 12-pack packaging, right?

S.

[fretlessman71]

Actually, they WEREN'T... there's a cool beer store here that lets you make your own 6 pack. It's a great way for me to try a whole lot of different beers without being too upset if I don't like one. So, I'll just have to bite the 12 pack bullet pretty soon....

[chazwicke]

Those damn green bottles again! The flourescent cooler lights can certainly affect it. Try to at least pull one from the back. And shipping it here takes time too. from the brewery to the docks, to the deck of a ship, time at sea. back to the docks here and then to distribution points and then to stores so time can takes it toll. If it sits too long at the store. Wonder how long it actually takes in days to get from brewery to retailer here in the states.

[Richard English]

Welton's brew a very good 2.7% draught called Pride and Joy. It is full of flavour and drinks like a 3.9% but doesn't make you squiffy. Sadly you won't be able to get it unless you live in the south-east of England.

Hop Back Summer Lightning is a bottled beer (bottle-conditioned, of course) that is widely available even in the USA and is very light in character but still full of flavour. It's around 5%.

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Actually, they WEREN'T... there's a cool beer store here that lets you make your own 6 pack.

Hmm...separate, single bottles - smells like old beer to me! And as Chazwicke says, all the more chance to be light-struck. Makes me worry about the large, single bottles of Pilsner Urquell available.

I agree, those do-it-yourself six packs are a good deal...sometimes.

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Richard English
Welton's brew a very good 2.7% draught called Pride and Joy. It is full of flavour and drinks like a 3.9% but doesn't make you squiffy. Sadly you won't be able to get it unless you live in the south-east of England.

Richard, Three Floyds Brewing of Munster, Indaiana, USA also makes a mild called Pride and Joy (I'm sure it's an homage to Welton's) - it's 3.9, light amber in color, and hopped with American Cascade hops. I was able to enjoy it on draft (alas, not cask conditioned - but I'll bet it's available closer to the brewery) a few weeks ago and it's delicious.

http://www.threefloyds.com/3floydbeers.html

The Hop Back Beers are always a good pick. They sent a few of their cask-conditioneds to Chicago's Real Ale Fest.

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Yeah, we have two pilsner glasses here that I use for such occasions. Everyone who had a taste and a whiff said the same thing: skunk. Wish I could get this stuff right off the truck, you know? I'll have to become friends with the grocers around here....

Well, I threw myself on a 12 pack of Pilsner Urquell last night (well, two bottles of it anyway). I poured both bottles (one at a time) into a tall, German 1/2 litre glass - let the head build, took a big wiff, took a big gulp. No skunk at all. I did notice that the Saaz hop nose didn't seem as strong as the last batch I'd had.

I did my best to try to find what might be misconstrued as skunkiness, but the closest conclusion I could come to was the floweriness of the Saaz hops - but that wasn't at all offensive or overpowering. There was also the slightest of diacytel in the nose but, again, not offensive - I had to take a real deep sniff to find it.

I think you need to find some good, fresh Urquell - and enjoy!

S.