7 Best Beers for Summer

By Sasha Levine

There's something about popping open a cold one that smacks of summer the way no spirit or glass of wine can. And while watermelon cocktails and chilled rosé both make a good impression, it's beer that has our vote for the perfect summer refreshment.

"When I think of summer beer, I don't only think of beers that I like to drink during the summer, but beers that are evocative of quintessential summer experiences," says Christopher Toia, New York brewery representative at Duvel USA. For him, a beer should remind the drinker of "the salt air of the beach, the transformation of any outdoor space into a lounge shared with friends, air heavy with smoke carrying the promise of barbecue."

With that in mind, we asked him to pick the seven best beers to drink right now. Check out the slideshow above to get a taste of what the season has to offer. Bottoms up.

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