Rising temperatures and endlessly sunny days -- it must be summer in Texas. Locals know staying cool is the name of the game, whether that means heading for a pool, frozen treat or cold craft brew. With more than 30 independent craft breweries in North Texas, there are more choices than ever when it comes to seasonal releases. Summer-specific beers tend to be lighter in style and body to combat the heat.
Here are 23 local brews we're excited to try this season. You can find them on-site at the breweries and retail stores such as Total Wine or Spec's, as well as beer-focused bars like the Flying Saucer, the Blind Butcher, Holy Grail Pub and East Side Denton.
Bishop Cider Strawberry | Bishop Cider Co.
This semi-sweet cider (pictured above) is infused with -- you guessed it -- a healthy helping of strawberries, which give it a stunning red color. At 6 percent alcohol content, brewers warn it's also extremely tart. Try it for yourself on draft now through July 31.
We Are Hellfire | Chimera Brewing Co.
This brew goes honors supporters of Fort Worth's semi-pro soccer team, the Vaqueros, who call themselves the Panther City Hellfire. It's an English summer ale brewed with cucumbers and serrano peppers, giving it a cool backbone but vivacious finishing bite. We Are Hellfire will be available on draft exclusively at the brewpub through the Vaqueros season, which ends July 24.
Easy Peasy IPA | Deep Ellum Brewing Co.
Dallas' Deep Ellum Brewing Co. is debuting a new session India pale ale (IPA) in mid-June that will be available year-round. But brewers say it will be a summer go-to because of its low, 5 percent ABV and fruity notes, courtesy of the tangerine and lemon peel added to the recipe. It will be sold in six-packs of cans and as part of a "pool pack" with six cans of Easy Peasy IPA and six cans of Neato Bandito Mexican lager.
Citra on Top | 903 Brewers
Sherman-based 903 Brewers may have changed the name of their summer offering to showcase the Citra variety of hops used in this IPA, but they didn't change the recipe. The beer, which is brewed with brown sugar and clocks 7.9 percent ABV, starts sweet and finishes with a hoppy kick. It will be available in six-packs of cans as well as on draft at the end of June.
Sundial Session IPA | Community Beer Co.
This might be the summer of the session IPA. Community Beer Co. has one out too -- a hop-forward IPA brewed with four different hop varieties. It comes in at 4.5 percent alcohol content, but maintains the full-bodied citrusy punch you'd expect from a higher ABV. Find it on draft and in cans now through early fall.
A-Sake-Son | FireWheel Brewing Co.
Ever tried a sake ale? FireWheel gives you the chance this summer with its newest blonde ale brewed with Mosaic hops and sake yeast. Expect something light, fresh and fruity from this 5.3 percent ABV brew, which will be available on tap beginning July 4.
Northbound 75 | Tupps Brewery
This new brewery is ready to turn up of the heat this summer with the release of its Northbound 75, a light pale ale infused with roasted peppers and spices that give it a rich, smoky flavor. The beer is a sessionable 5.4 percent alcohol content, and even good for cooking, according to brewery founders. Find it on draft now through the end of the year.
Pecker Wrecker | Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.
Rahr & Sons adds an imperial twist on the classic pilsner with Pecker Wrecker, an 8 percent alcohol content brew boasting 70 International Bitterness Units (IBUs), which is pretty substantial for a pilsner. The beer has a bready, malty backbone and finishes with herbaceous and spicy flavors. It will available through August in 22-ounce bottles and on draft.
Better Horizontal | Texas Ale Project
This newish Dallas brewery will debut Better Horizontal, an extra pale ale brewed with Lemon Drop hops, June 12. Extra pale ale in this case refers to an especially light beer, though Texas Ale Project's hits 6 percent ABV and 48 IBUs. It may help you beat the heat, but Better Horizontal will also be available year-round on draft.
Thrilla in Brazilla | Peticolas Brewing Co.
If one thing compares to brewer Michael Peticolas' love of beer, it's his love of soccer. In 2014, he brewed Thrilla in Brazilla as an ode to the World Cup tournament and it was so popular, he decided to bring it back for a victory lap. This IPA is citrusy on the nose and palate with hints of orange before the hop bitterness rounds out the flavor. Find this 7.5 ABV brew on draft in June and July.
Zomer | Lakewood Brewing Co.
Expect a light color, bright body and grassy finish from this traditional pilsner from Lakewood Brewing Co. Brewed with pilsner malt and Noble hops, Zomer is a clean and crisp beer that leaves the drinker feeling refreshed. Grab it in six-packs for bottles or on tap until early fall.
Anodyne Wheat Wine | Revolver Brewing
Contrary to most suds on this list, Revolver's summer offering is a powerful wheat wine clocking 9 percent alcohol content. Hops from Germany and New Zealand provide tangerine and grape aromas that manifest in the flavor profile before the notes from oak-aging leave a vanilla finish. Get a taste on draft from now until mid-July.
Kristallweizen | Franconia Brewing Co.
If you're looking for an easy-drinking light beer, Franconia's Kristallweizen is poised to satisfy. This filtered wheat beer is a traditional German style that offers fruity aromas and light citrus flavors. It's a sessionable 4.8 percent alcohol content, too, so you can have a couple to cool off. From mid-June to September 1, Kristallweizen will be available in six-packs of 12-ounce bottles and on draft.
Oatmeal Hef | Martin House Brewing Co.
Martin House adds a unique twist on the traditional German Hefeweizen by adding oats to the mix. This provides a silky mouth feel and extra body to an otherwise light style. Notes of banana and clove also come through in this 5.4 percent beer, available on tap for the month of June.
June Bug Summer Wheat | Nine Band Brewing Co.
Nine Band named this light and crisp wheat beer after one of the summer's notorious insects because of its glowy hue, according to the brewer. It clocks in at 5.3 percent alcohol content, and will be available on draft and in cans until September.
Single-hopped saison series | On Rotation
East Dallas brewpub On Rotation loves to experiment, and this summer that entails a new series of single-hopped saisons. The first is called Cyclical Saison (Nelson), distinguished by a white wine-like fruitness courtesy of Nelson Sauvin hops. The second is Cyclical Saison (El Dorado), which will have notes of watermelon, apricot, and pear. On Rotation brews are available exclusively at the brewpub for about one to two weeks.
Rude Jester | Rabbit Hole Brewing
Rabbit Hole's newest IPA is a bold and hoppy, with notes of pine, tropical fruit, resin and citrus in the aroma. The malty backbone on this 6.5 percent ABV brew balances a bitter finish. Find it on draft beginning in July.
Shannon Summer Lager | Shannon Brewing Co.
Keeping in line with Shannon Brewing's foundation as an Irish brewery, its summer offering is an Irish lager with a light straw color and delicate hop aroma. The addition of Europeans malts give it a sweet start before finishing with a dry hoppiness. Expect to find it on draft in mid-July.
Homie Brew | Four Corners Brewing Co.
Four Corners is jumping into steam beers with the release of Homie Brew, named in honor of Kelly Harris, owner of Homebrew Headquarters in Richardson. Steam beers are American lagers brewed with a specific yeast. This one is toasty and malty, but also fairly hoppy. Get a taste on draft from mid-June through July.
Ten Gauge | Grapevine Craft Brewery
Grapevine's summer offering is a Belgian IPA boasting 7.2 percent alcohol content and a hearty 60 IBUs. Though the brew is hop-forward, it finishes clean and smooth like a Belgian white ale. It's slightly malty with a medium body, and yours for the sipping on draft and six-packs of bottles beginning in July.
Blackberry Shandy | Audacity Brew House
Denton's Audacity Brew House describes it's forthcoming seasonal as a light wheat-based ale sweetly flavored with blackberries. Perhaps the best part -- it's purple. Find this 5.2 percent alcohol content brew on draft circa Fourth of July.
Labor of Love 2 | Intrinsic Smokehouse and Brewery
This Garland brewpub won't be operational until the fall, but because its honey basil Hefeweizen won Deep Ellum Brewing's Labor of Love homebrew competition last year, it will have a beer to market this summer. Expect fresh basil scents on the nose and sweet banana and honey flavors on the palate. It's an easy-drinking 5 percent ABV, and will be available on draft in mid-July.
Pretty Fly | Bearded Eel Brewery
Many may not count on their beers to be salty, but that's what makes the Gose style special. This one (5.7 percent ABV) is brewed with pink Himalayan sea salt, which balances the beer's tart and citrus characteristics. Since Bearded Eel is a nano-brewery, this will only be available through mid-summer on-site at the brewing facility.
