pls suggest a summerbrau

[mwill07]

I know...snowmageddon is still upon us, but I've been thinking about what kind of beer I want to drink this summer. Here's what I'm looking for:

* low calorie - I have a pretty aggressive weight loss goal that I need to maintain throughout the summer; I want to keep the cals and carbs low.
* low alcohol - I want to be able to drink beer all day and not get loopy.
* high flavor - otherwise I'd be drinking Coors Light. I'm not looking for a tasteless lager.
* refreshing: I want something that will quench a thirst after a long day of mowing the lawn.

Generally, I prefer malty vs hoppy but I'm thinking that something with great hop aromas could make up for what is missing in a scaled down grain bill, so hoppy is good, but it's got to be the right kind of hoppy.

a sessionable IPA would fit the bill I think, but I'm open to other low-test styles.

not a fan of wheat beers, but I'd be open to considering them.

possibly something with fruit (i.e. cherries, strawberries, blueberries, etc)?

Thoughts?

ETA: all grain preferred. Thanks!

 

[aiptasia]

1) Pilsners. Fresh hopped pils with noble hops are great summer beers.

2) APA's. APA's are the lower calorie versions of IPA's. They don't need quite as high of a malt profile to stand up to the IBU's in an IPA, so balance is the key. A nice cream ale works well as a lawnmower beer.

3) Fruit beers lend calories so if you want to add fruit flavors, consider using fresh extracts.

4) German lagers. For the same reason as pilsners and they brew better during the winter months.

5) English Standard Bitters. Don't let the bitters throw you. Using maris otter malt adds some nice backbone to a beer and British hops like EKG.

 

[Damoxemus]

I am sort of on the same page as you - planning on some lighter, lower abv beers for summer. I plan on doing the Honey Ginger Ale again this year (4%, can't remember the calroies but they weren't too high) as well as an Early Riser Irish Red (3.5%).

Both can be found in the Recipe database.