If you're getting into drinking hard cider, you might be able to get Strongbow. Tastes more like a drink than a confection.

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Dogfish Head's 60 min or 90 min IPA - both are just stunning beers, and despite it being hoppier and more alcoholic, I actually think the 90 is a bit smoother. Their 120 is good too, but that's a totally different beast. Also, for Hefeweizen, try Flying Dog's In Heat Wheat - it's a good'n.

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Um...cider isnt beer.

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Am I the first one to point out that cider is not BEER. It is cider, aka, made from fermented fruit not hops and barley et all, kthx. Also, if you can stomach Woodchuck and other American ciders, you will be in love with Canadian and GB ciders, they are far superior.

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Favorite summer beers:

1. Sam Adams Summer (so crisp and easy to drink)
2. Negro Modelo (oh man, I love to drink this outside with my friends)
3. Motor City's Summer Ale (a Detroit thing)
4. Smithwicks (mmmmm)
5. Hoegaarden (the Bud of Belgium, but infinitely better than Bud)
6. Westmalle Tripel (a bit heavier, but still worthy for summer)
7. Rodenbach (mmm sour Flemmish ale)
8. Chimay blue (a good substitute for a picnic wine, goes well with cheese and crackers)

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I agree, even the hardest of cider ain't beer.

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I do not like Stella, and have never heard of those other beers. However, pretty much any beer is good for a relaxing afternoon. Particularly if it comes in a pitcher and is drank on a patio.

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I would drink most of these except for the hefeweiser only in the fall or in the evening. For a cold beer on a hot summer day, ladies and gentlemen, may I present (ta tarah) Anheiser Busch's Budweiser.

A simple, honest beer for a simple time of day. A mildly sweet beginning, a somewhat gassy middle, and a long grainy finish. Not at all heavy, won't repeat on you a 3:00 p.m., and perfect with Mexican or Indian food (chiles make you perspire, and cool you down).

Also Tecate or Leon (from Yucatan, we can't get it in the US), but not Corona. If you need a lime in your beer, you have the wrong beer. Also Singhai, and any number of blonde microbrews.

But Bud is okay. Simple has it's place.

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As someone who is allergic to hops, I tend to drink a lot of Cider on hot summer days.

I like Hornsby Hard Cider which I find isn't to strong but not to sweet. I'll have to go looking for the Strongbow.

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cider's not beer!!! egch!

love my own homebrews
unibroue - don de dieu
weihenstephaner's normal hefe and their dunkel
magic hat - hocus pocus
allagash - white
something good from smuttynose (old brown dog ale maybe)
victory - hop devil

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I relax with a nice Gumballhead wheat ale or Alpha King from Three Floyds or a Bell's Oberon wheat ale.

Try a Bloody Beaver. Woodchuck with a splash of framboise. Looks like you might like it.

goodbeershow.com

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I am sorry to say, but that list SUCKS! The "beers" listed (and we will use that term loosely)is something a girl or non beer drinker would make up. It is all beverages my girlfriend or sister would drink, when they were at a place that only serves beer. First off, Lindeman's is not a real lambic, its more of a wine cooler. Its as much a real lambic as woodchuck is a real beer. Try Cantillon next time you want a lambic and see what they are really like. Of course, as you will find out after trying, most people do not like to drink pickle juice/vinegar by the glass.

Also, when looking for a wheat beer, what about the old standby, hoegaarden? I think Schneider also makes a nice wheat beer. I have been digging the Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse and Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse recently. They are a collaboration between brooklyn and schneider breweries. One brewed in the US and the other in Germany. If you want a stronger wheat beer, try the schneider eisbock.

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The old Wife Beater is awful and gives you one hell of a hangover.

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Oh, and while not really a summer beer, I wanted to give a shoutout to Bell's Brewery in Michigan where I live.

Bell's Brewery was awarded the Gold Medal at the World Beer Cup 2008 for their Brown Porter. I'm pretty excited being a fan of Porters, and have been drinking theirs for years. Sadly, Bell's doesn't offer direct shipping, but they do have a nifty beer-finder map thingy.

http://www.bellsbeer.com/index.php/beerfinder.html

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A lot of bashing of Glick's list. Glick, in the past you have professed to be a beer snob. Judging by your list it seems that you have just started to get into "better" beers. There have been some good suggestions that you look into. While I don't drink cider, you should look into Strongbow. It is better than woodchuck.

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My favorite cider (Not Beer!!!) is Ace Pear Cider.

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I'm a huge Guinness fan. It's good at all times and occasions.

Woodchuck is great, it's not beer, but who cares. It comes in a bottle and will get you drunk on a good weekend afternoon.

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Thanks for all the suggestions. I realize that cider isn't beer, but close enough in my book.

jcurtis: I do like Strongbow, thanks! I like to try different beers all the time, but I can never remember any of them because I only have them once. Those are a few beers that I drink on some kind of regular basis.

B: I am a girl, thanks very much. I also like a good hoegaarden.

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OK, I clicked on the comment link to chime in with 'cider not beer' but that's been done.

Instead I'll put in a plug for Magner's Cider.

If you've been to Ireland and loved Bullmer's Cider there, this is the same thing, renamed Magner's for silly trademark reasons.

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