Read more from Chatelaine's guide to summer — including style picks, a guide to must-see tv and movies, and a toolkit for sweaty gals, all starring the women from Baroness Von Sketch Show. (All services and products recommended by Chatelaine staff and experts).
If you haven’t cracked a cold one in a while, it may be time to reconsider this whole “I’m not a beer person” thing. Whatever your qualm about Canada’s national dockside beverage (too bloaty? too hoppy?), this list of summer suds has something for everyone.
It’s lighter and crisper than a lot of the German-style lagers, with notes of apple and honey. “It’s what I would call a crushable summer lager—it’s not going to make you feel bloated,” says Lauren Richard, certi ed cicerone and a recent champ on Viceland’s Beerland competition show. Pair with: Nachos
The cool older cousin of Coors Light is “the ultimate ‘I just want a beer’ beer,” says Crystal Luxmore, advanced cicerone and co-founder of the Beer Sisters event company. It’s got a little more flavour but is still super crisp with zero aftertaste. Plus, the retro cans look great in a cooler. Pair with: Salad with croutons or grilled cheese
This India session ale delivers a punchy aroma of fruits and citrus but isn’t super bitter. Pair with: Chips and guacamole
Often referred to as a gateway to craft beer, this is going to pass muster with your beer-snob friends and your Bud-loving gramps. Pair with: BBQ chicken
This golden, slightly sweet but still crisp cream ale is the kind of beer you reach for after a long day of work—or lounging on the dock. Pair with: Spicy Asian ribs
The latest from Toronto’s trendiest brew shop “doesn’t taste like a Jolly Rancher, which is the trouble with a lot of the radlers,” says Luxmore. It’s made with real fruit juice (orange, lemon and peach) and a low alcohol content of 2.5 percent. Pair with: A fruity dessert
“Fruit sours have been a big hit with people who don’t tend to love beer,” says Richard. This one is more tart than bitter, and light in the hops department. Pair with: Ice cream or summer salads
More apple-y than beer, more beery than cider, this is a “perfect mash-up of the two— crisp and fresh and not at all sweet,” says Richard. Pair with: Pasta salad
Beer avours mixed with dark fruits and subtle balsamic avour. “If you love red wine you will loooove this beer,” says Luxmore. Pair with: A lamb burger, or anything gamey
Notes of pineapple, spice, clove and fresh straw provide plenty of fodder for discussion if there’s a white-wine-lover in the group. Pair with: Mussels
This booze-free option is equal parts lemonade and (de-alcoholized) lager, which gives it an authentic beery-but- not-too-beery taste. And zero hangover. Pair with: Spring rolls
Subscribe to Chatelaine!
Want to streamline your life? In our Spring 2025 issue, we’ll show you how—whether it’s paring down your wardrobe, decluttering your messiest spaces or spending way less time cooking thanks to an easy, mostly make-ahead meal plan for busy weeknights. Plus, our first annual Pantry Awards.