5 Local Light Beers
The sun is out, the days are long, nothing sounds better than a beer, right? In preparation for the hot summer days that lie ahead, we’ve gathered five crisp and refreshing light beers that’ll keep you going through the heat. Stop by these local breweries and (responsibly) imbibe in these bubbly brews.
Anne Bonny Blonde Ale
Anne Bonny Blonde Ale: DarkHeart Brewing
Anne Bonny Blonde Ale
DarkHeart Brewing
4339 Auburn Boulevard, Sacramento, 916-333-1192, darkheartbrewing.com
“Bold and beautiful beer for a bold and beautiful pirate” is how self-proclaimed “Beer Wench” Cynthia Lee of DarkHeart Brewing describes their Anne Bonny Blonde Ale. Brewed with biscuit malt and presenting a “subtle hop character, Anne Bonny Blonde is a classic take on blonde ale.” They say blondes have more fun, so come walk the plank with a true pirate, Anne Bonny Blonde.
4339 Auburn Boulevard, Sacramento, 916-333-1192, darkheartbrewing.com
“Bold and beautiful beer for a bold and beautiful pirate” is how self-proclaimed “Beer Wench” Cynthia Lee of DarkHeart Brewing describes their Anne Bonny Blonde Ale. Brewed with biscuit malt and presenting a “subtle hop character, Anne Bonny Blonde is a classic take on blonde ale.” They say blondes have more fun, so come walk the plank with a true pirate, Anne Bonny Blonde.
Type III Squareback Pale Ale: Red Bus Brewing Company
Type III Squareback Pale Ale
Red Bus Brewing Company
802 Reading Street, Suite A, Folsom, 916-467-7790, redbusbrew.com
Combining the love of automobiles and beer with a taste of nostalgia, Red Bus Brewing Company’s Type III Squareback Pale Ale paves the road to California’s pale ale highway. “Generous use of crystal malts and assertive hopping yield an amber, assertively bitter pale ale. Hopped with cascade, centennial, and amarillo, this beer is like entering a time machine to 1995.” Stop by and take this Squareback for a ride you won’t forget.
802 Reading Street, Suite A, Folsom, 916-467-7790, redbusbrew.com
Combining the love of automobiles and beer with a taste of nostalgia, Red Bus Brewing Company’s Type III Squareback Pale Ale paves the road to California’s pale ale highway. “Generous use of crystal malts and assertive hopping yield an amber, assertively bitter pale ale. Hopped with cascade, centennial, and amarillo, this beer is like entering a time machine to 1995.” Stop by and take this Squareback for a ride you won’t forget.
Sea Thrift Kolsch: Moonraker Brewing Company
Sea Thrift Kolsch
Moonraker Brewing Company
12970 Earhart Avenue, Suite 100, Auburn, 530-745-6816, moonrakerbrewing.com
Treat yourself to Moonraker Brewing's Sea Thrift if you’re not familiar with a Kolsch-style beer that's brewed following the traditions and ingredients of Germany, Bavaria, and the Czech Republic. “Observe the bohemian floor malted barley with notes of biscuit and honey.” Typically fermented with ale yeast, but then finished in cold temperatures like a lager, Kolsch beer tends to be light with a hint of fruit. Expand your palate with this tasty, easy-drinking brew.
12970 Earhart Avenue, Suite 100, Auburn, 530-745-6816, moonrakerbrewing.com
Treat yourself to Moonraker Brewing's Sea Thrift if you’re not familiar with a Kolsch-style beer that's brewed following the traditions and ingredients of Germany, Bavaria, and the Czech Republic. “Observe the bohemian floor malted barley with notes of biscuit and honey.” Typically fermented with ale yeast, but then finished in cold temperatures like a lager, Kolsch beer tends to be light with a hint of fruit. Expand your palate with this tasty, easy-drinking brew.
Gold Rush Lager: El Dorado Brewing Company
Gold Rush Lager
El Dorado Brewing Company
6051 Enterprise Drive, Suite 102, Diamond Springs, 530-558-4188, eldobrew.com
El Dorado Brewing Company (EDBC) claims the roots of their Gold Rush Lager can be traced to an early California brewing process known as steam beer. An example of this can be found in Jack London’s memoir John Barleycorn. EDBC’s version boasts “sweet malt and bright hop flavors with a clean finish”. Sounds like EDBC has struck gold and all of us lager-style beer fans can too—just drop in and grab a pint!
6051 Enterprise Drive, Suite 102, Diamond Springs, 530-558-4188, eldobrew.com
El Dorado Brewing Company (EDBC) claims the roots of their Gold Rush Lager can be traced to an early California brewing process known as steam beer. An example of this can be found in Jack London’s memoir John Barleycorn. EDBC’s version boasts “sweet malt and bright hop flavors with a clean finish”. Sounds like EDBC has struck gold and all of us lager-style beer fans can too—just drop in and grab a pint!
Golden Eagle Mandarin Wheat: Loomis Basin Brewing Company
Golden Eagle Mandarin Wheat
Loomis Basin Brewing Company
3277 Swetzer Road, Loomis, 916-295-2739, loomisbasinbrewing.com
There’s more than one form of gold in the Sierra Foothills and Loomis Basin Brewing Company has captured some in their Golden Eagle Mandarin Wheat. Made with locally-sourced mandarin oranges (the “gold” in this brew), it’s effervescent and perfect for warm spring and summer days. Refreshing and full of the hearty flavor wheat beer brings, it’s also a favorite, so get some before it’s gone!
3277 Swetzer Road, Loomis, 916-295-2739, loomisbasinbrewing.com
There’s more than one form of gold in the Sierra Foothills and Loomis Basin Brewing Company has captured some in their Golden Eagle Mandarin Wheat. Made with locally-sourced mandarin oranges (the “gold” in this brew), it’s effervescent and perfect for warm spring and summer days. Refreshing and full of the hearty flavor wheat beer brings, it’s also a favorite, so get some before it’s gone!
by Lorn Randall