By Aimee Hirsch
There’s nothing more satisfying on a hot summer day than a cold, refreshing beer. But why settle for mass-produced suds when there are so many top-quality brews made in and around Westchester County?
One place to find gallons of craft beer in one is the Big Brew NY beer festival in Tarrytown on July 11, where there will be more than 200 brews available. Or you can dig your way through the shelves at Mamaroneck’s Half Time beer warehouse (the largest in the world!). But if you’re looking to be more selective, here are seven choices, perfect for summer, from nearby breweries. And since they’re all 5.5 percent ABV or lower, have a few. Start slideshow »
photo by HappyAlex / Fotolia; following photos courtesy of their respective brewing companies
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Yonkers Brewing Company
4.2% ABV
Is there anything more summery than honey blonde ale? Yonkers Brewing Company offers this American light ale that has fruit notes and a dry finish—it’s even made with Hudson Valley honey. To try it, head to the brewery’s tasting room near the Yonkers Metro-North station. And if you’re heading to a Yankee game soon, check out their free growler program.
Captain Lawrence Brewing Company
4.5% ABV
When you think “summer beer,” an IPA probably isn’t the first style that comes to mind, but Captain Lawrence may have solved that. “Our session IPA has all the citrus and hoppy flavors of our normal IPA but at a lower ABV, so it’s easier to drink on those beautifully hot summer days or evenings,” says Aaron Pozit, Captain Lawrence tasting room/event manager.
Newburgh Brewing Company
4.2% ABV
You can head up the line to Newburgh, New York, for a sip of Cream Ale, but since this sessionable brew is canned, you can probably find it closer to home. And even though Cream Ale is available all year long, Newburgh Brewing Company CEO and Brewmaster Chris Basso says this beer’s portability and “great balance of malt and hops” make it perfect for summer.
Broken Bow Brewery
5% ABV
Let’s not let ales get all the attention—how about a summer lager? Broken Bow Brewery in Tuckahoe brews Broken Auger Lager, a crisp, light, and refreshing choice complete with a malty backbone and Santiam hops. If its golden color and creamy head don’t convince you that this lager is worthy of summer, just taste it.
Brooklyn Brewery
5% ABV
In the summer, Brooklyn Brewery’s Summer Ale gets all the attention. But there’s a new kid in town: Greenmarket Wheat. To make this weisse, Brooklyn Brewery teamed up with GrowNYC to source wheat, hops, and malt from New York State. The result is a beer with light fruit flavors and a zesty palate; pair it with summer eats like salads and burgers.
Peekskill Brewery
4.5% ABV
If you’ve never tried sour beer, a tulip of Peekskill Brewery’s Simple Sour in the summer is a great place to start. “It’s tart and refreshing, brewed with malted and unmalted wheat, corn, and our wild yeast Brettanomyces,” says Head Brewer Matt Levy. “There’s nothing I enjoy more on a hot summer day.”
Half Full Brewery
5.5% ABV
You can’t have a summer beer list without mentioning a fruit beer. Half Full Brewery, just over the border in Stamford, Connecticut, brews Peach Wheat, a summer special. This ale is light-bodied, and it balances the flavors of peach and wheat, without either overpowering the other. And it smells as good as it tastes.
