I believe my first taste of the beer I would later describe as my âbeer of summer 2016â came on April 7th of that year, when I was taste testing the new Summer Patio Pack from Schlafly. There were two highlights from that pack, the Raspberry Hefeweizen, a sessionable wheat ale brewed with real raspberry purĂ©e, and Summer Lager.
Summer Lager wasnât just a simple name of a seasonal beer, no it was so much more. See, Iâm a simple beer lover, and I have simple ways of defining my feelings towards a brew. In the summer it can go one of two ways. Do I want to drink this beer at the beach in Seaside, Florida or do I want to drink this beer after I cut my lawn and that of my neighbors? Rarely do I find the same beer for both, but that is what Summer Lager came to be. My perfect beach lounging grass-cutting beer of summer.
This past week, Schlafly released  Summer Lager (4.5% ABV) in 12-packs of 16-ounce cans. That math equals 48-ounces of additional suds.
“Summer Lager is a warm-weather favorite, so weâre excited to offer it in larger format cans,â says Founding Brewer Stephen Hale. âIâve always found cans to be ideal for summertime drinking, and with folks heading safely to parks, pools, and beaches this year, Summer Lager can be enjoyed as it was intended – outdoors with friends and family.â
The Beer
The differences you’ll find with Summer Lager, and more traditional lager is that it’s a bit smoother, maltier, and hoppier. It pours bright and golden as a summer beer should. The malt imparts a fresh grain character, while the German hops lend notes of spice and lemon.
âWe use German hops to brew a true light lager and create an easy-to-drink beer thatâs refreshing with subtle notes of citrus. You can drink this beer while basking in the summer rays, and now with its return in cans, Summer Lager will be the ultimate portable pint for summer activities,â continued Hale.
