It’s a weird observation, but summer is one of the best smelling seasons. Burgers on the grill, the saltwater from the ocean, flowers in bloom and the sweet, decadent fruit tray being passed around at the summer picnic. The fruit salad is one of the most underrated, but highly appreciated item at every summer party. There’s nothing better than taking a bite into a slice of watermelon on a 90-degree, humid day. And in the summer months, fruit is the second-most refreshing summer snack (after beer, of course). So, why not have some fruit beer salad?

While fruit beers are present all year round by a lot of breweries, you can’t get enough of their endless refreshment during the sweltering months. They give you an opportunity to deviate from your traditional style to enjoy a fruity, thirst-quenching beverage. Bearing that in mind, this Ultimate 6er focuses on fruit forward beers that are perfect for all summer activities.

21^st Amendment Brewery | Hell or High Watermelon

4.9% ABV | 17 IBU

Watermelon is my personal favorite and the star of the fruit salad in summer months. It’s the one that everyone reaches for first and the one that kids actually enjoy eating. 21^st Amendment Brewery’s Hell or High Watermelon takes a fun spin on the watermelon beer. It’s a perfect beer for those who aren’t entirely into a fruit style beer because it smells like a fresh-cut watermelon but tastes like an enjoyable wheat beer. Its low carbonation won’t leave you feeling full and finishes with a slight dry feel.

Ballast Point Brewing Co | Aloha Sculpin IPA

7% ABV | 70 IBU

Fruit salad medleys are the best in the summer heat. You can always find something in the mix that you want to munch on. The sweet, fruit aroma just feels right in the summer. Aloha Sculpin IPA by Ballast Point Brewing Co. has you covered when you want a variety of fruit. They take their award winning, traditional Sculpin IPA and add Brux Troist yeast to create a tropical oasis. Aloha Sculpin offers refreshing notes of mange, pineapple and guava with a smooth finish. It is light-bodied with perfectly balanced flavors. You’ll almost forget you aren’t sitting oceanfront while sipping it.

Bissell Brothers Brewing Co | Seed

6% ABV

Berry picking is a popular summer activity. It’s even better when the berries get brewed into a beer. Once a year, Bissell Brothers Brewing Co. in Portland, ME produces a beer called Seed. This wild ale combines over 2,000 pounds of fresh strawberries and raspberries from a local Maine farm and hops from across the globe. It is conditioned on berries for 6 months and then bottle conditioned for 4. But trust me, it is a beer that is worth the wait. It’s tart, a little dry and very fruit forward.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery | Sixty-One

6.5% ABV | 50 IBU

One of the most fun, poppable fruits is the grape. They are easy to eat on the go and can be a deliciously healthy, frozen treat. One normally associates grapes and wine going hand-in-hand. Well, the people over at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery brewed a beverage to prove that beers can have fun with grapes too. They started with their well-known 60 Minute IPA and added Syrah must. Syrah is a very dominant grape that asserts itself well into the beer. Because of the additional ingredient, they named this beer, Sixty-One (sixty plus one more ingredient). Just like a grape, you won’t be able to have just one of these beers.

Evil Genius Beer Company | I Love Lamp Pineapple Hefeweizen

5.5% ABV | 12 IBU

How does a pulled pork sandwich with a side of pineapple spears sound? If you came here for the pineapple, you are in luck! Evil Genius Beer Company has you covered with their German style Hefeweizen, I Love Lamp. It mixes flavors of pineapple, banana and a slight note of clove to perfectly capture summer in a bottle.

I Love Lamp. I Love Summer. I Love Beer.

Anderson Valley Brewing Co | Briney Melon Gose

4.2% ABV | 12 IBU

Summers are made for the beach, outdoor concerts, hiking, really anything. And with so many activities to try to fit into a few short months, you need a sessionable ale that pairs perfectly with any occasion. Cue Anderson Valley Brewing Co.’s Briney Melon Gose. This tart, refreshing ale is expertly balanced with subtle watermelon flavors and a pinch of sea salt to delivery a clean, dry finish. It’s a refreshingly lively beer that’s perfect for those hot summer days.

Summer beers are sweet and refreshing and are sure please even the harshest beer critics. Now, could someone please pass the watermelon?

Header photo provided by Total Shape

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