Sips & Tips

The best beer styles to drink this summer

Read Time 11 Minutes

Posted 07 Jul 2023

It’s that time of year – hot sunny days, balmy nights and two weeks of sizzling action at the Australian Open to look forward to. Here’s a beer hitlist for quenching your thirst this summer.

It’s the height of summer and whether you’re at centre court or tuning in at home, watching the Australian Open is thirsty work. Beer and tennis are always a winning double act, so we’ve rounded up the best summer beer styles – think light, crisp and clean ales and lagers – that will go down easily as the mercury rises and the tennis action ramps up. From a finals day barbecue, to a sessionable Saturday, or even a few cold ones solo on the couch as you catch some me time, our guide has got you covered.

Ginger beer

One of the hottest beer trends this summer, ginger beer takes the refreshment of an ice-cold beer to the next level with its zesty, sweet-spicy flavour combo.

Brewed with fresh ginger for extra zingy refreshment, James Squire Ginger Beer tastes great alone, but can also be mixed into a summery cocktail smash. Try the Rosemary Gin-Ger cocktail: pour 30ml gin and 15ml lemon juice over ice, top with ginger beer and garnish with lemon, rosemary sprig and peppercorns.

The tangy hit of ginger in Brookvale Union Ginger Beer can also be counted on to give you a big flavour boost. Serve straight from the can, or pour over ice with a lemon garnish for extra tang.

Pale ale

With things heating up both on and off the court – a little Kyrgios showboating perhaps? – a cool pale ale is never a bad call. The darling of the local craft brewery scene, pale ale has extra hops that create a delicate citrusy profile, and a bitterness that contrasts beautifully with both smoky and aromatic flavours.

Full flavoured 4 Pines Brewing Pale Ale has fresh aromas of pine and grapefruit and a smooth bitter finish that will pair beautifully with pork, apple and walnut burgers. For vegetarians? Ace it every time with this super easy smoky veggie burger salad.

Feeling nostalgic for the glory days of tennis – Borg and McEnroe belting it out on grass at Kooyong? Match the mood with a malty Tinnies Classic Pale Ale – a contemporary Victorian craft beer inspired by simpler times.

XPA

Onto one of the most exciting sub-genre of the pale ale categories. The X generally stands for extra pale and extra hoppy. In the case of Coopers XPA, it also means extra colour and alcohol, plus fragrant citrus undertones and fruity aromas of grapefruit and mandarin.

Another winner, Balter XPA is the beer of champions – literally. Launched in 2016 by surf legends Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Bede Durbidge and Josh Kerr, Balter set the standard for XPA in Australia and still packs a punch with its fruity palette and tropical aroma.

Full hopped but easy to drink, XPA goes particularly well with roast pork. For gourmet summer gatherings try pairing it with pork belly with roast pear and rocket salad. Something simpler? Crank up the barbecue for a quick sausage sizzle in between matches.

Lager

While bolder beers have been favoured by the Australian craft beer industry, lager is having a moment. Generally lower in ABV, lager is ultimately sessionable – a worthy consideration with epic five-setters looming (and the cricket and Australia Day to think of, too). Easy going by name, and by nature, Spill Easy Going Lager is low carb with a zesty aroma and short quick finish. It pairs particularly well with Mexican food like cheesy quesadillas, tacos and spicy nachos.

Brewed in Queensland with hot summer days (and nights) in mind, Great Northern Original Lager is barely bitter with a super clean and crisp finish. Try baking spicy chicken wings for an easy match.

And if you’re counting carbs after an indulgent festive season, Brick Lane Hi-Fi Dry Japanese No Carb Lager has zero. It’s also light and delicate in flavour with subtle notes of red apple and a hint of fresh hoppy aroma. Try it with teriyaki beef, tofu and asparagus skewers.

Fruity beer

Looking for a beer to crack when you don’t feel like traditional beer? Fruity beers go down easily in the heat and with more Australians looking for something sweeter and less bitter in their beer choices, fruity beer is set to be the taste of summer. Ultra-low in bitterness and brimming with the tropical taste of sweet mango, Sungazer Mango Fruity Beer is delightfully refreshing and just 4.2% ABV. Serve ice cold from the can and explore other options made with watermelon, passionfruit and other classic summer fruits.

Sips & Tips

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Sips & Tips

The best beer styles to drink this summer

Ginger beer

Pale ale

XPA

Lager

Fruity beer

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