The Lighter Beers of Summer

I'm usually a dark beer (or hoppy beer) kind of gal, but I make a few exceptions when those beers start to feel too heavy in the summer.

Curious Traveler is a fun shandy that comes together more naturally than other beer-lemonade hybrids. Too many shandies have an odd yeasty, bitter aftertaste, but Traveler somehow concocted a lemon beer that finishes clean and doesn't taste like someone spilled super sweet lemonade in a beer.

Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ might actually be my favorite summer beer, because it's hoppy and light, somehow. I always think I taste grapefruit in there somewhere, but that may just be wishful thinking. (By the way, Traveler makes a nice grapefruit beer if you're into that sort of thing.) It finishes dry, so it's easy drink through the whole bottle on accident. I think Little Sumpin' Sumpin' is technically an American pale wheat ale, but it definitely has an IPA feel.

OKAY. We're in untested waters now. I haven't tried these next two beers yet, but they are on my "to try" list. I think I'm going to love them. 

Stillwater Artisanal describes Of Love & Regret as a saison brewed with heather, chamomile, lavender, and dandelion. Let it be known that I'm a sucker for anything floral tasting (especially lavender). Stillwater Artisanal also says this beer is "like a fresh meadow in spring," which sounds pretty much perfect.

Deschutes Brewery touts this beer's awards on their website (Gold Medal, Bitter Category in the 2005 North American Beer Awards; World's Best Seasonal Pale Ale in the 2012 World Beer Awards). One reviewer says, "It’s for those long hours of summer sunset when you need something a little more than a basic thirst-killing lager but not quite ready for a full on hefty ale in the darker hours. So, yeah, calling it Twilight about nails it." I'm intrigued.

Any summer staples missing from this list? Please shout 'em out!