Summer has finally arrived!
And that means the coolers are coming out, and the BBQ is 
heating up. People aren’t just switching stews and casseroles for burgers and brats, they are also switching out their beers. Beer and summer have become a synonymous duo once the temp starts rising, and there are many great summer beers throughout America.
There are a variety of summer beers from many craft brewers, with a wide range of ingredients. There is no magical formula for what makes a beer a true ‘summer brew’ – The main descriptor of a Summer Beer is that they are only available during the summer months, and are a refreshing experience when sipped.
Summer Beers
Now, there is much debate on what the ‘Best Summer Beers’ are within the United States, but to give you an idea of what people like and tend to find quite tastey (especially for the summer of 2013), check out these lists put together through different publications.
A wide range of beers fro a variety of breweries, all sound tastey. But don’t worry, there are far more amazing summer brews across the country, just have to go out and find them!
MBEC Customer Summer Beers
Our current customers have some amazing summer beers, for those in the Twin Cities and Denver region, and can snag Knee Deep at various locations in both the Midwest and west coast. All worth venturing out to try, and are sure to be a refreshing break on those hot summer days.
612Brew – Tequila Mockingbird – 4.5% ABV
“A welcome accompaniment to those hot summer days in Maycomb, or Minneapolis, a beer to put the ‘geek’ back in beer geek. This seasonal ale is brewed with roasted wheat, organic blue agave, and just enough hops to poke through to your palette and say “Hey Boo”.” (612brew website, BEER)
Bigwood Brewery – Bark Bit IPA – 6.6% ABV
“Check out the chompers on this one. He doesn’t quit. Long after your day is done, Bark Bite is still working hard, bringing the bite. Because where Bark Bite’s from, you don’t stop until the last drop. And then you kick back, relax, and say things like “See this lake? It was a babbling brook before I got here.” Brewed with citrus hops, its front loaded for a big refreshing bite.” (Bigwood Brewery website, BREWS)
Caution – Honey Matrimony Brown Ale – 5.9% ABV
“What goes better with honey than bread? Well, have you tried honey with malted barley, perfectly balanced with American hops for a refreshing twist?
Honey Matrimony is made with wildflower honey from Clark’s Honey Farm in Evans, Colorado, and base malts from Colorado Malting Company in Alamosa. By starting with a well balanced American brown ale, our proprietary techniques allows the delicate aroma and flavors of honey to come through perfectly. So raise your glass and give a toast to the perfect marriage of ingredients from the best place on earth.” (CAUTION: Brewing Co. website, BREWS)
Knee Deep – Citra Extra Pale Ale – 7.0% ABV
“A single hop, west coast style American Pale Ale with intense hop flavor and aroma’s. This is a citrus bomb that has grapefruit and passion fruit aroma’s with citrus lime flavors.” (Knee Deep Brewing website, BEERS->YEAR ROUND BEERS)
Beer and Food Pairings
Another great part about summer and summer beers is pairing these refreshing brews with food, as well as cooking with beer to create some amazing dishes. Beer and food go hand 
in hand harmoniously, and there are some spectacular recipes out there for incorporating beer into a dish or pair with certain food.
Some great guides for food and beer pairing come from the Beer Advocate, and Craft Beer online that could prove as a useful guide in finding that perfect beer to match your upcoming BBQ food, or dinner for tonight.
Recipes with Beer!
Lets not forget about cooking with beer. Adding beer as a main ingredient in many dishes is a great way to bring out the wonderful flavors, and have more fun with your summer beers. Tons of amazing recipes out there, for a wide range of foods. There are a lot of great websites to find recipes that incorporate beer into the mix, including the Food Network and allrecipes.com Cooking With Beer section, so check them out and give something a try!
Our very own Dan the Brewman also provides a summer chicken recipe (provided below) that incorporates a summer wheat brew, and is sure to be yummy!
CHICKEN BREAST WITH WHEAT BEER AND GOAT CHEESE SAUCE
1 ½ boneless, skinless chicken breast
MARINADE:
1 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs lemon juice
1/3 cup summer Wheat beer
2 Tbs chopped basil
2 large minced garlic cloves
salt and pepper
1 Tbs olive oil
½ cup chicken stock
¼ cup Wheat beer
3 oz goat cheese
1 # asparagus, trimmed and steamed
½ cup orzo
1 cup chicken stock
1 minced garlic clove
1 tsp fresh thyme
1 Tbs butter
Zest of one lemon
Pound out chicken breast ½” thick and cut into palm sized pieces. Combine the next 5 ingredients to make a marinade, and cover the chicken pieces with this for at least 30 minutes.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter and lightly sauté orzo, garlic and thyme until garlic is soft. Add ¼ cup of warm chicken stock, and stir. Continue to add stock ¼ cup at time as liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently and keeping at a low simmer. When all liquid is absorbed, cover and keep warm.
Heat 1 Tbs olive oil in large sauté pan, and cook chicken breasts until golden on each side. Lightly salt and pepper each side when they are turned. Remove breasts to a platter when done, and cover to keep warm. Deglaze the pan with 1/2cup chicken stock and reduce by half. Add ¼ cup Ooba, and when foam subsides, add goat cheese and swirl until sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
Top cooked orzo with asparagus spears and chicken breasts, and top with the sauce.
Garnish with lemon zest, and serve with more beer!
Minnetonka Brewing and Equipment Company 