It’s been an absolute scorcher this year, and we can only imagine that the heat will continue to ramp up in the coming years, so we plan on spending far more time in the pool during the summer seasons. Nothing accompanies floating in the pool after a morning of yardwork better than an ice cold beer. Most would agree though, having something heavy like a Guinness just doesn’t fit with the heat and pool lifestyle. With the abundancy of fantastic breweries in the sunshine state, we’re going to recommend some Floridian local beers that fit perfectly with a dip in the pool.

1.) Jdubs Brewing Company – Sarasota – Poolside Kolsch

This one is a personal (and local) favorite. A German-style Kolsch that is clean and crisp with subtle lemon flavors. Served ice cold it’s light enough to quench your thirst and offer the palate much more than a typical light beer can.

Notable Ingredients:
Pilsner Malt: High-quality German base malt. Has a distinct honey-like sweetness.
Wheat Malt: Classic wheat flavor with improved head retention
Hops: East Kent Goldings- Mellow hop used for bittering this brew
German Tettnang- A noble hop used to add complexity in the flavor and aroma of the beer

2.) Cigar City Brewing – Tampa – Jai Alai

It would be a culinary crime to exclude this notable IPA from the list. An intense bouquet of tangerine and candied orange peel entices the nose while flavors of clementines, Valencia orange, and subtle caramel provide counterpoint to an assertive bitterness and rich malt character. Bold hop flavor and aroma from six different hop varietals is front and center in this flavorful American IPA.

While most wouldn’t recommend an IPA on a hot day, Jai Alai, with its notes of orange peel and caramel, blends the beer perfectly to be crisp and refreshing when served ice cold. Tread carefully though, this bad boy sits at 7.5% ABV.

3.) Funky Buddha – Oakland Park – Floridian Hefeweizen

Hefeweizen is German for “white beer”. Made mostly from wheat, weiss beers have a presence of vanilla and banana, which is right on the nose for a South Florida brew. Don’t be fooled, this is an authentic German hefeweizen using yeast from Germany. In Germany, beer production is strictly regulated, and beers must be brewed according to their traditional ingredients.

There’s a reason the recipe hasn’t changed in hundreds of years – it’s a fantastic summer brew. You will find this recipe in abundance along the Rhine river during the summer cruise season. It’s full on flavor yet light on the palate with the color of a golden Florida sunset.

 

4.) Coppertail Brewing – Ybor City – Florida Special Lager

A light lager with just slightly more flavor than the initial taste betrays. A straw yellow color with a good foam on top after a pour. Weighing in at just 3.2% ABV, this is an all day drinker. It pairs extraordinarily well with Cheeseburgers, Onion Rings, Spare Ribs, or Brats. If you’re throwing a BBQ on the pool deck, toss a pack of these in the cooler so you can sip on it all day and not crash too early!

As Coppertail says themselves: “A beer for the Florida life. Beaches, boats, pools, BBQs, you name it. “. They pretty much nailed the description!

 

5.) Oyster City – Apalachicola – Mill Pond Dirty

A gold medal winner in the US Open Beer Championship of 2020, this Blonde Ale is very well-balanced with a crafty malt structure. It’s quite tame, with a light hoppy profile. But while it is a slightly one dimensional beer, we are going for something crisp and refreshing on a hot day, which this most certainly accomplishes.

This beer pairs extremely well with scallops, oysters, and white fish.

 

6.) Orange Blossom Brewing – Lakeland – Orange Blossom Pilsner

Step aside previous contenders! We have a unique entry into the category. There are 2.3 teaspoons of pure Orange Blossom Honey in every can, but that doesn’t mean that it’s sweet. The sugar in the honey is fermented into alchohol, which removes most of the sweetness. You’ll be getting mild citrus and honey sweetness notes with a refreshing clean and light consistency. This makes it a perfect, refreshing, summer daytime beer by the pool.

Plus, since this is one of Florida’s oldest craft beers, you can find it all over the state!