American Craft Brews To Try This Summer

Summer is here, and it's brightening up every aspect of our lives, from the warm weather to the surge of energy the extra daylight seems to provide. The warm summer months inspire what we wear, do, eat, and even what kind of craft beer we sip.

American Craft Brews to Try This Summer

Craft brewers around the country have created beers to go with the food and activities associated with summer. These seasonal brews are lighter, crisper — often with strong hints of citrus — and, in some instances, tarter than they are sweet.

If you're not an avid beer-drinker, the lighter flavors of summer beers are the perfect introduction to some of the amazing craft breweries around the country. It's a great time to try something new and more flavorful than what you usually drink.

The flavors represented here range from sweet to dry, but are all crisper and lighter than most brews, not only in taste, but in color as well. The ideal food pairings include such lighter fare as  seafood and salads to grilled steaks and burgers for the slightly bolder ones.

It's easy to get excited about some of the innovative options, like Cigar City Brewing's cucumber saison, which has hints of cucumber and lemon zest. This Tampa, Florida, beer is a clean and refreshing sip that pairs perfectly with a variety of foods, from burgers to salad — and it's also a complementary drink for spicier dishes.

There are tons of summer brews to choose from. Some of these seasonal beers won't be available next year, while others are summertime favorites that return annually. If you're planning your summer vacation, you might even want to add some of these all-American breweries to your itinerary.

Bikini Blonde Lager, Maui Brewing Co., Lahaina, Hawaii

This one is bursting with floral hops and has a bold yet smooth finish.

Bumble Berry Honey Blueberry Ale, Fat Head's Brewery, Cleveland

This beer is brewed with spring honey and infused with fresh blueberries. It's a light, refreshing beer with a sweet finish and a strong blueberry aroma. It pairs well with chicken and salad.