Schlafly skipping Spring, head straight for Summer with new beer pack

I just heard the weatherman say that the St. Louis region will be under a freeze warning in the second weekend in April.  Oy.  This is supposed to be Spring, but clearly mom nature has other plans.

So as we continue to “chill” out here in the MidCoast, it warmed my heart and my beer gut to learn that Schlafly Beer, has decided to just skip Spring and just move right into Summer with news they’ve assembled their newest Summer Patio Pack.

The 12-pack sampler offers four varying styles of beer to appeal to every beer drinking occasion as warmer weather draws near. The variety pack features Grapefruit IPA, the newest addition to Schlafly’s year-round lineup; Summer Lager, a summertime staple and part of the brewery’s Lager Loop series; Raspberry Hefeweizen, a sessionable wheat ale brewed with real raspberry purée; and Yakima Wheat Ale, returning to bottles this year.

“As we approach summertime, we wanted to offer beer drinkers our top-performing seasonal beers in a new variety pack,” Ambassador Brewer Stephen Hale says. “The Summer Patio Pack offers sessionable options across different styles that appeal to both beer connoisseurs and casual craft drinkers—for instance, if you like fruit-forward Raspberry Hefeweizen, you might also like Grapefruit IPA.”

The Summer Patio Pack features three bottles for each of the four styles showcased, including:

Grapefruit IPA (5% ABV)

Dry-hopped with American-grown Citra hops, this brisk and approachable IPA is brewed with a special grapefruit purée made with whole fruit, presenting layers of refreshing aromas and tart flavors. Grapefruit IPA’s 40 IBUs make for a distinctive and boldly flavored India pale ale with a crisp hoppiness that can be enjoyed year-round. The beer makes its first appearance in a sampler pack after debuting on the market in January 2016.

Raspberry Hefeweizen (4.1% ABV)

This unfiltered, true fruit beer exemplifies Schlafly’s approach of using real ingredients and innovative processes for a distinct version of traditional beer styles. Schlafly’s Raspberry Hefeweizen includes a raspberry purée during the primary fermentation process, and with 16 IBUs, the resulting brew pours hazy pink with citrus aromas on the nose and mildly tart flavors in each sip.

Summer Lager (4.5% ABV)

The popular German-style Helles lager, part of Schlafly’s Lager Loop series, is brewed with Mittelfrüh, a German noble hop that lends mild lemon and spicy flavors. Pale, Europils, and Carapils malts impart a fresh grain character reminiscent of European lagers. Summer Lager pours golden, features 17 IBUs, and is light-bodied for easy-drinking throughout the warmer months.

Yakima Wheat Ale (5% ABV)

Returning to bottles for the first time in four years, Yakima Wheat Ale is brewed with American hops from the Yakima River Valley in Washington State, with a blend of wheat and barley that imparts notes of toffee sweetness. Marynka and Mosaic hops bring the earthiness, with Challenger hops contributing to the spiciness of pepper and juniper. The result is a crisp, refreshing wheat ale with 25 IBUs and a hoppy bite.