All this hot weather means it’s time to sit back, kick up your legs and enjoy your favourite summer beer. Styles of beer range from heavy and bitter to light and sweet, but which one will keep you satisfied on these long, hot days?
Peterborough’s bottle shop, Bottle & Board on Wentworth Street is a treasure trove of unusual brews coupled with some quality advice. Gina and Eddie Baines are experts in their field and always on hand to help you find the perfect brew for you to take home, even down to what food it goes well with.
ESP asked them to give us Bottle & Board’s Guide to Summer Beers…
IPA
West Coast IPAs are traditionally known for their bold hop aroma, high bitterness, citrus and piney notes and flavours. They're typically brewed with higher amounts of hops which leads to the high bitterness, and a mid-palate hop flavour.
NIPA
New England IPAs are beers that are purposely hazy or cloudy, which can give these brews a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, utilizing hops that impart a tropical, juicy sweetness.
Wheat or Weisse
The light flavour and high effervescence that a wheat beer offers makes it a popular summer beer. Typically cloudy, flavours you should expect are banana, cloves with a slight hoppy bitterness.
Blonde
The light and simplistic taste that a blonde ale offers is one of the reasons why it’s become one of the classic summer beers. For an easy-drinking ale try the classic Bruges Zot Blonde, La Chouffe or St Feuillien.
Fruit Beers
Fruit Belgian beers can’t be beaten. That fresh, fruity taste with hints of sweetness and each fruit determining the colour, aroma and taste. Offering, cherry beer (Kriek), raspberry (Framboise), peach, coconut, and a whole host of even more fancy fruit concoctions, we have something for everyone, most of these beers are low in strength and high in flavour.
We have a wonderful selection available – the Boon Kriek is one we would definitely recommend. Other breweries available are Lindeman’s, Timmermans and Mongozo.
For a long cool summer drink try Liefmans on the rocks!
Lager
You can never go wrong with a cold, crisp lager - if all you want is to quench your thirst there are some great German Pilsners, Helles and Lagers available.
White Beers
Belgian-style Witbier is brewed using unmalted wheat, sometimes oats and malted barley. Witbiers are spiced with coriander and orange peel. Some examples available at Bottle & Board are Vedett White, Blanche de Bruxelle, or Cigar City Frost Proof.
Radler
Radler beer is an ideal low alcohol summer beer, common in Germany it consists of either a wheat beer or lager and fruit juice mixture. This offers the perfect combination of sweet and bitter for every taste bud. A very popular radler is Schoffenhoffer Grapefruit.
Drop by Bottle & Board on Wentworth Street in Peterborough and get some great advice from Gina and Eddie, sample a few brews and choose from their great selection to take home and enjoy. Cheers!