Summer brings with it many things: high temperatures, parties, barbecues and weather appropriate beers. These beers are characterized by crisper, lighter bodies. Wheat beers are dominant and some add citrus or other ingredients for flavor. Ciders are also great for summer with their lower alcohol and crisp flavors.

The Traveler Beer Company provides beer drinkers with two lovely summer options. The Curious Traveler is a year round shandy brewed with lemon and lime that is light, crisp, and has a touch of sweetness. The Time Traveler is a wheat beer brewed with real strawberry that is also light and has delicious fruit sweetness, but is still well-balanced. Both are great for picnics, pool parties or barbecues.

Sam Adams Porch Rocker is a Helles lager brewed with lemon that provides a nice tartness. This radler provides a change of pace from a shandy, which tends to have some sweetness. It is still a crisp, lighter, refreshing beer for heat relief. Breckenridge Summerbright is a wheat beer brewed with both lemon and orange peel. Loaded with citrus and a nice little hop flavor, another nice summer brew.

Ciders were naturally made for the hotter weather. Refreshingly light, crisp, some sweet, others dry and easy to drink. They come in flavors ranging from apple to raspberry to pear and beyond. Woodchuck offers a wide variety to satisfy almost anyone. Strongbow and Crispin are great choices if you want a drier, crisper cider. Magners and Magners Pear are for those who like some sweetness. One of the most amazing ciders I have discovered comes from Sweden. Rekorderlig Strawberry Lime cider is a strawberry field in a bottle. Upon opening the bottle you are hit with the aroma of fresh strawberries and the flavor reinforces that fact.

Summer provides opportunities for a lot of enjoyment. Thankfully there is a beer to match almost every moment and every palate.

Patrick Miller, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits beer consultant

Follow me on Twitter @abcbeerpatrickm