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Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/685968
www.cheersonline.com 31 June 2016 • W ith summer months come long, hot days of bright sun and breezy patios—the perfect time for easy-drinking beers such as lights. While light beer may refer to reduced calories or lower alcohol, which are often directly related, drinkers don't have to compromise on fl avor or quality when lightening up. Light beers can and should be quaffable and refreshing. The spectrum of light brew styles varies broadly. Light beers range in color from pale straw to pale gold; somewhere between two and four on the Standard Reference Method (SRM). Hop bitterness should be low to moderate, malt sweetness should not fatigue the palate. Alcohol should likewise be low, from 2% to 6% alcohol by volume (ABV). Maintaining these qualities results in highly drinkable lighter beer. Major brands such as Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Lite often come to mind fi rst when stocking light beers. They're not the only domestic lagers that reign in popularity—Schlitz and Pabst Blue Ribbon, often served in a can, are default options for many bars and restaurants. But think outside the typical six -pack and look for styles such as a dry and herbaceous Czech pilsner, a cold -fermenting ale hybrid like kölsch, and the increasly popular session IPA. A NEW LIGHT LANDSCAPE Tyler Ott, beverage director of farm- to- table restaurant Ox & Son in Santa Monica, CA, is energized by available styles of light beer. "Gone are the days when cheap adjunct lagers ruled the landscape; instead a new crop of amazing pilsners and blonde ales have fl ooded the scene," he says. With 12 beers on tap priced from $8 to $12, and Schlitz for $5, Ott thinks light styles have an important place at the restaurant bar or table. "I'm actually a big fan of pilsners, as they pair well with so many great summer dishes, and when made well can exhibit some truly amazing fl avors such as cornbread, honeysuckle and malt," he says. "I defi nitely promote lighter beers going into summer," Ott notes. "The crisp, light fl avors not only help to fi ght the heat, but pair perfectly with lighter seasonal or warm-weather fare. Santa Monica is very much a beach town, and nothing says the start of the season like sipping a Smog City Little Bo pilsener on our patio at sunset." Providing light options is also an important strategy for Dan Cook, general manager of Craftsmen Kitchen and Tap House in Charleston, SC. The casual bar and restaurant devotes considerable real estate to light beer, Cook says. "I run 12 lines [out of 48 draft beers] dedicated to lighter, lower-ABV beers," he says. Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden in Austin, TX, has 104 draft beers, most priced from $5 to $7 per pint. The choices can be daunting, so Banger's beer broker Courtney Strange will provide guidance to guests. TODAY'S LIGHT BEERS OFFER HIGH QUALITY AND BOLDER FLAVOR By Erika Bolden "I defi nitely promote lighter beers going into summer…the crisp, light fl avors not only help to fi ght the heat, but pair perfectly with lighter seasonal or warm-weather fare." —Tyler Ott, beverage director of farm- to- table restaurant Ox & Son in Santa Monica, CA Far left, Craftsmen Kitchen and Tap House in Charleston, SC, has 12 lines out of 48 draft beers dedicated to lighter, lower ABV beers. Left, guests at Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden in Austin, TX, can choose from a list of 20 different sausages; the spicy varieties pair well with pale lagers. PHOTO: ©ISTOCK.COM/STUDIOTHREEDOTS