Whether you like to get your beer from niche microbreweries or big-name brands, one thing’s for sure: there’s nothing like a cold one during the height of summer. Here are 12 you’ll be finding in our coolers this August.
Jelly King Spicy Margarita,
Bellwoods Brewery
Back by popular demand: Bellwoods Brewery’s dry hopped Jelly King sour ale spiked with lime, habanero and salt. The Jelly King Spicy Margarita was launched in May, but quickly sold out – although August has brought a restock.
$6.50
Yes Sour,
Slake Brewing
PEC’s Slake Brewing refers to their Yes sour ales as “the siren song of summer.” They’re available in Mango or Pink Guava, and are heavy on the fruit juice – they’re not too sour and make easy sipping.
$6
Craft Lager,
Muskoka Brewery
Muskoka Brewery’s all-malt craft lager is dry and lightly flavoured with cereal, wildflower and light hop flavourings. You can use it to make these Steamed Mussels with Beer and Thai Basil, or just grab a pack on your way to the lake.
$3.50
Border Run Cream Ale,
Dawson Trail Craft Brewery
This delicately balanced cream ale from Thunder Bay’s Dawson Trail Craft Brewery is light and smooth, made with 100% malted barley to make the flavour as full as possible.
$3
Meerkat Grisettle,
Avling Brewery
From the brewery at Toronto’s Avling comes the Meerkat Grisette, with flavours of melon, pear and passionfruit with subtle yeast notes. An adorable mascot certainly doesn’t hurt.
$4.50
Peroni Nastro Azzuro 0.0,
Peroni Brewery
The zero-proof edition of this iconic Italian beer is as clean and refreshing as the regular alcoholic version, achieved by using the same ingredients – namely, Italian maize.
$13/6
La Blonde De St. Jean,
Lagabière
The Laganière brothers brew a range of creative beers at their microbrewery in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. This blonde ale is meant to be as thirst-quenching as possible, and is made for pairing with nachos.
$4.50
Moosehead Chelada,
Moosehead
Moosehead unveiled the Chelada this summer to great fanfare – a brew made with the classic Moosehead lager and a kick of lime and salt. This one is made for sipping in the sunshine.
$17/6
Sleeman Clear 2.0 Flavour Pack,
Sleeman
Sleeman Clear 2.0 is a light and easy-to-drink lager, and you can now buy it in low-calorie, fruit-flavoured variety packs. Peach, grapefruit, pineapple and lime cans are included in each.
$30/12
Gimme Shelter Blonde Ale 6-Pack,
Bogside Brewing
This beer gives back: PEI’s Bogside Brewing donates $6 from every sale of their Gimme Shelter 6-packs to the PEI Humane Society. The beer itself is a classic North American blonde.
$19
Hunky Dory Pale Ale,
Boxing Rock Brewing Co.
This Nova Scotia ale is made with added citrus zest and green tea, which perfectly finishes off a fruity and floral brew. This one is made for sipping with seafood, but also pairs great with Thai and Indian cuisine.
$16/6
Lupo Beer,
Birroteca by Indie Ale House
Birroteca by Indie Ale House is a brewpub at Eataly Toronto, and you can buy canned beers (with a food purchase) to take home. The Lupo is nicely balanced with a lightly hopped flavour.