This year’s Summer Patio Pack may be Schlafly’s best grouping yet

I am lucky that I have a patio. I built it in 2014, but six years later as we live during this pandemic, it has become a refuge. I recently added some comfortable furniture, and now it’s like a second living room, just feet away from the beer fridge.

So, now that the patio is set, my only concern continues to be what beer to drink while sitting on it. My choices this summer have been wide:

• 21 new St. Louis beers to try this summer

• St. Louis beers, 5.0% ABV and less that are suited for summer | Part 1

And now, more choices, as Schlafly’s annual Summer Patio Pack is back, and maybe my favorite grouping yet. Looking back, the Summer Patio Pack from 2016 had my favorite featuring Grapefruit IPA, Summer Lager, Raspberry Hefeweizen, and Yakima Wheat Ale. But, my passion for my first craft beer, Pale Ale  may push the 2020 edition to the top.

The Patio Pack includes three bottles for each of these four styles:

• American IPA (6% ABV): A hoppy ale with bitterness and prominent aromas of citrus and fruit. Dry-hopped to perfection, this AIPA is a great pair for al fresco dining.
• Raspberry Hefeweizen (4.1% ABV): A true fruit beer fermented with real raspberries for a flavor that’s tart, low in bitterness and full of citrus aromas.
• Pale Ale (4.4% ABV): As Schlafly’s flagship beer, this English-style beer is a mild session ale with a refined balance of hops and malt. An approachable classic, especially for summertime sipping.
• American Lager (5% ABV): The smooth, crisp flavors puts this lager on the lighter side of craft beer. American Lager is a beer that appeals to the masses with a craft brewer’s care and attention to detail. A crushable choice for all beer drinkers.

“During warmer seasons, beer drinkers gravitate towards lighter, sessionable beers. The Patio Pack gives us the opportunity to showcase that we brew a number of lower ABV beers across a variety of styles. The Patio Pack is a summer staple that our customers look forward to, and we try to keep it interesting by offering different selections every year,” explains Schlafly’s Founding Brewer Stephen Hale.

Now, the reason I’m so amped about this grouping is having my Pale Ale with the Raspberry Hefeweizen, my wife’s favorite Schlafly beer.  While Fruit beers are not for everyone, please consider this a solid gateway option to open your mind and your beer palate. Known as “brewers’ summer water” around the brewery, this unfiltered wheat beer is perfect for warm weather sipping.

Once the fruit’s sugar ferments out, the aroma and flavor of raspberries remain, making this a delightfully drinkable beer. With citrus aromas from the wheat and a desirable tart flavor, Raspberry Hefeweizen is low in bitterness and not overwhelmingly sweet, but refreshing and balanced.

You’ll find the Dry Hopped APA, to be solid, balanced, and easy to drink. And, while I’ve not had the American Lager just yet, it appears to support the group nicely, based on the brewers’ notes.