Now that we’re past Memorial Day and the summer beer drinking season is officially here, I’ll take a tour through all of the summer variety 12-packs that I’ve been sampling. Today’s featured 12-pack: Saranac 12 Beers of Summer.

The 2013 Saranac 12 Beers of Summer mixed 12-pack includes both annual favorites and and new offerings. The lineup:

• Wild Hop Pils (new) – This unique pils features a clean tropical taste (28 IBUs, 5.2% ABV).
• Session Ale (new) – I look forward to drinking one or more of these refreshing session brews on a 90° summer day (30 IBUs, 4.5% ABV).
• Pale Ale – I’ve been drinking this Saranac staple for many, many years and it never disappoints (32 IBUs, 5.5% ABV).
• White IPA – Orange peel and coriander pair with wheat malt and oats for a refreshing twist on the traditional IPA (50 IBUs, 6.0% ABV).
• Kölsch – An easy-drinking blonde German ale (20 IBUs, 5.0% ABV).
• Rye IPA – A selection of premium rye malt and a unique mix of spicy hops gives this IPA a wry twist [har har] (50 IBUs, 6.0% ABV)

Summer weather calls for light-bodied, refreshing, thirst-quenching beers, and Saranac’s summer mixed 12-pack delivers exactly what is needed. In addition to the mixed 12-pack, I’ve already bought several six-packs of Saranac Blueberry Blonde Ale, a traditional unfiltered Blonde Ale with “a kick of juicy blueberry” (5.0%). Beth has really enjoyed them.

The Matt Brewing Company in Utica, New York brews the Saranac line of beers. Congrats to the brewery on 125 years of brewing!

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