Wednesday, July 21, 2004 Summer suds MEAGAN POLLNOW | CIN WEEKLY
Very drinkable.
That's how a summer beer should be, according to Tim Rastetter, a brewmaster at Hofbrauhaus, which brews a variety of seasonal summer beers. This week, Bohemian Pilsner made its debut.
"A summer beer is very drinkable and refreshing," he says. "It's something you can quench your thirst with."
Pilsners, pale ales and wheat beers are all on tap at local breweries during the summer. These are all fresh and light, often with a hint of citrus and less alcohol than thick winter lagers.
Wizen Hofbrauhaus
3rd and Saratoga at the Levee, NewportThere are two types of pilsners - Bohemian and German. Bohemian is a bit maltier, or sweet, Rastetter says, and is the more familiar variety. Hofbrauhaus' Bohemian Pilsner is a good summer beer because it's not too bitter, and it's a little more malty or sweet than regular pilsner - but still light.
If you'd like to continue tasting the summer after it's gone, Rastetter suggests the brewery's Wizen (pictured), which is wheat beer available all year long.
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Indian Pale Ale Rock Bottom Brewery
10 Fountain Square, downtownThe Colorado-based chain nestled in downtown's Fountain Square offers three beers fit for warm-weathered chillaxing. Indian Pale Ale, Hefeweizen and Rock Bottom Summer Ale are all on tap until the leaves start to change. All are popular, according to the brewery.
"People stay away from the heavier beers, the lagers and stouts," says Brion Boyer, senior brewer at Rock Bottom. "They don't want to be weighed down."
Boyer describes the mildly sweet Summer Ale as "clean and crisp" with a hint of lemon. The Hefeweizen, an unfiltered German wheat beer, contains hints of clove and banana and is "light and dry," while the IPA is "very fruity and minimally sweet."
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Kolsch Ale BarrelHouse Brewing Company
22 E. 12th St., Over-the-RhineOver at BarrelHouse, the Kolsch Ale is the summer brew of choice. This citrus-flavored beer is very popular - that is, until the Strawberry Ale comes out in August. Brewmaster Rick DeBar describes the Kolsch as "light bodied" with a "citrus characteristic."
The summer just lends itself to a good beer, and BarrelHouse can deliver, DeBar says.
"People go nuts for our summer beers, especially the Strawberry Ale," he says. "It's the dryness in the beer - it's not as sweet as others."
Both beers are lower in alcohol content, which makes for easier drinking, he says.
The beer is always fresh at Hofbrauhaus, and summer varieties are no exception. The brewery produces many different beers during the summer, including the Bohemian Pilsner.
A pilsner is what Britons like to call a "session beer" because it has a lower alcohol content and many can be consumed in one sitting, according to Rastetter.