Summertime means a lot of things, specifically sunny days spent poolside with a cold brew in one (or both) hands. To help you stock your cooler full of the best that Little Rock breweries have to offer, we’ve rounded up their summer beer recommendations for you to try at your leisure. Here’s to finding your new favorite brew.
Lost Forty
Try: “Logger Rita” Mexican-Style Vienna Lager
What it’s like: “It’s a crisp, thirst-quencher brewed to beat the Arkansas summer heat,” says Brittany Hallmark of Yellow Rocket Concepts. “Aromas of toasted malt, zested citrus fruit, and baked bread lead into a balanced, light body that finishes smooth and dry. Squeeze a wedge of fresh lime into each pint for a refreshing post-hike, campfire-side, or back-porch-sitting pint.”
Try: Snake Party Double IPA
What it’s like: “On Monday, June 26, we’re re-releasing Snake Party Double IPA (back by popular demand!),” Hallmark says. “Snake Party is double dry hopped, double IPA brewed and dry hopped with citrusy, tropically delicious Azacca Hops. Look for juicy citrus fruit flavor balanced by a soft malt body and finishing slightly bitter and dry.”
Rebel Kettle
Try: “Swimmin’ Hole” Summer Saison
What it’s like: “Swimmin’ Hole is a light, drinkable Farmhouse-style ale that has aromas and flavors of tropical fruit and spice with a crisp balanced finish,” says John Lee, head brewer at Rebel Kettle.
Try: “Summer Jam” Raspberry Sour Ale
What it’s like: “Summer Jam pours a beautiful red from the copious amount of real raspberry puree that we use,” Lee says. “It’s light, and tart with a touch of sweetness from the fruit making it the perfect complement to hot Summer days.”
Blue Canoe Brewing Co.
Try: GrapeApe Fruit IPA
What it’s like: “It’s a Summer Session IPA with 5 percent ABV and 35 IBUs,” says Patrick Cowan, co-owner of Blue Canoe. “A light malt backbone with maybe the tiniest bit of caramel or sweetness, moderate grapefruit aroma and finish. Meant to be a drinkable/summer/session IPA so it finishes clean, with hardly any hop bitterness. There’s no actual grapefruit in this beer — it derives all of its grapefruit flavor and smell from the blend of hops we use.”
Try: Double Rapids IPA
What it’s like: “This is my favorite beer we do,” Cowan says. “Despite the 100 IBUs, this beer is still extremely approachable even for people who don’t like hops/IPAs. It uses over three pounds of hops per barrel of beer, but most of those are late additions that add aroma and flavor rather than bitterness. Tropical fruit (mango and guava) aromas, followed by orange/citrus flavors and the slightest hint of cherry in the finish. We released this beer June 9 and already ran out of the first batch. We’ve got another batch going and will likely be running constant batches of this one all summer.”
Pro tip: Keep an eye out for Blue Canoe’s summer blonde and fruit wheat beers on tap later this summer.