Summer is here, and that means one thing. Every weekend, someone is walking in front of the beer cooler trying to answer the same question:
“What should I bring to the cookout?”
Spiriling into decision paralysis, you can’t just grab something you like and head out.
The best beer you’ve ever had is not necessarily the best beer for a cookout. A barrel-aged imperial stout might be incredible. A triple dry-hopped hazy IPA might have a 4.4 on Untappd. Neither is likely to be the first beer people reach for when it’s 92 degrees outside and your cousin or neighbor is flipping burgers.
Instead, a good cookout beer needs to do three things well…
It needs to be refreshing. The beer needs to pair well with food. And most importantly, people need to want a second one.
With that in mind, here are the beers I would bring to a cookout.
The Biggest Cookout Beer Mistake
Before we talk about what to bring, let’s talk about what not to bring.
Many beer enthusiasts make the mistake of treating a cookout like a bottle share. They’re completely different events. If you are having a two in one, SIGN US UP.
A bottle share is where you bring your rarest beers and talk about them. A cookout is where people are chasing their kids around the yard, playing cornhole, standing by the grill, and trying not to spill their drink while carrying a plate loaded with hot dogs and macaroni salad.
Not everyone wants to analyze tasting notes at a cookout. (you should absolutely go for it to be the cool aunt/uncle with the mysterious beer)
They want something cold.
The Best Beer for a Cookout Crowd
If you’re responsible for supplying beer for a large group, light lager is still king.
I know that isn’t the exciting answer.
It’s the correct answer.
Michelob Ultra, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Yuengling Flight, and Busch Light continue to dominate outdoor gatherings because they do exactly what they’re supposed to do. They’re refreshing, easy to drink, and they don’t wear people out after one can.
Beer enthusiasts sometimes underestimate how important that last point is. A beer can be excellent and still be a poor cookout choice. When the temperature climbs into the 80s and 90s, drinkability matters.
There is a reason so many people reach for light lager on the hottest days of the year. Mich Ultra is my personal pick, you can’t beat anything in a screw top aluminum bottle either.
The Best Craft Beer for a Cookout
If you’re looking for something with a little more flavor, I’d lean toward pilsners and pale ales.
Pilsners have quietly become one of the most exciting categories in craft beer. It has a refreshing bitterness, and enough complexity to keep beer nerds happy without overwhelming casual drinkers.
Likewise, a well-made pale ale can be a perfect middle ground. You get hop aroma and flavor without the intensity of a double IPA.
Victory Prima Pils, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Tonewood Freshies, and many of the modern lagers being produced by breweries across Pennsylvania all fit this category nicely. I’d say dry-hopped pilsners like Bier Beer, Lazy River, and Fresh Cut fit the description quite nicely.
These are beers that pair just as well with grilled chicken as they do with a conversation on the patio.
The Hot Dog Rule
I have a personal cookout rule.
If you can’t drink it with a hot dog, it probably doesn’t belong at a cookout.
That may sound ridiculous, however, I am completely serious. Cookout food tends to be simple. Burgers, hot dogs, chips, pasta salad, baked beans, and grilled chicken don’t require complicated beer pairings.
In fact, simpler beers usually work better. Besides, the best beer for a cookout should complement the food rather than compete with it.
The Wild Card Pick
Every cookout needs one conversation starter. Not an entire cooler full of them. Just a few.
This is where you bring something interesting.
Maybe it’s a Köstritzer Schwarzbier. Could be a Belgian ale. Maybe it’s a fruited sour that everyone tries once before returning to their lager. The key is moderation.
A cookout is not the place to force everyone to drink barrel aged goodness (unless the party goes late and it’s time for dessert). Bring one fun beer, then let the crowd decide whether they’re interested. And when they see you drinking it as well, then you’ve put someone on one of your favorites and can tell them all about it.
What Beer Should You Actually Bring?
I have 3 coolers. If I had to build the perfect cookout cooler, it would look something like this:
50% Light Lager
- Michelob Ultra
- Busch Light
- One full cooler
30% Craft Lager or Pilsner
- New Trail Bier Beer
- Human Robot lagers
- A Von Trappe Variety
- Shandys also belong in this percentage. It’s Summer!
15% Pale Ale
- Tonewood Freshies
- Dale’s Pale Ale
- Tired Hands Hop Hands
5% Wild Card
- Something unusual
- A Hudson Valley Sour (funky flavors, almost always good, shareable)
- The Warwick IPA
- A Cherry La Chouffe in the shade
- Sacred Profane Dark Lager
That mix keeps everyone happy. The beer enthusiasts get something interesting. Casual drinkers get something familiar.
And nobody gets stuck with a cooler full of beers that sounded exciting but don’t actually fit the occasion. After the party is done on the off chance everything isn’t gone, they are perfect fridge beers for the host to enjoy by themself or share at the next gathering. A good rule of thumb is the best beer for a cookout is the one that disappears first.
It’s lookin’ like a hot summer so far. As always… CHEERS!
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