It has a nice malty sweetness up front, and you get a lot of caramel notes. 'The Summer Solstice is relatively unique for a summer beer, because it’s not a wheat-based beer.

'This appeals to such a broad section of craft drinkers, a broad swatch of drinkers,' Carson said. This isn't anything like Genesee's Cream Ale.Ĭarson, who has worked in beer for nearly 40 years, can say it even more eloquently. Don't let the cream ale label scare or fool you. It comes in at 5 percent alcohol and is a cream ale-style base. My favorite remains AVBC's seasonal flagship Summer Solstice. Here are a few of my canned favorites to enjoy this summer: Anderson Valley Summer SolsticeĪ number of Anderson Valley's canned options are perfect for summer, including its Briney Melon Gose (a sour German-style wheat beer with sea salt and watermelon). They are convenient, particularly in the warmer months when people are boating and camping and so forth. They keep it fresh longer, and the air is always lower in cans (to prevent oxidation). 'Some people have some preconceived notions of canned beers from the old days, but cans are just exceptional vessels for beer,' said Charlie Carson, AVBC's eastern regional manager.Īs Carson points out, cans protect the beer from sunlight and ultraviolet rays. California-based Anderson Valley Brewing, while not the first, was one of the first breweries to embrace cans. Many newer breweries are also using cans to get their beers to the thirsty public.Ĭans have a number of advantages over traditional brown 12-ounce bottles. Many craft pioneers, such as Bell's, Founders, Firestone Walker, Ballast Point and Sierra Nevada, are embracing cans. Canned craft beer is perfect, especially for backyard summer barbecues.Īs a beer receptacle, cans have come a long way, and are really now preferred by a lot of craft breweries.

Nimble giant alcohol percentage