Best Summer Beers Brewed In LA

Summer and beer go together like, well, any other season and beer – it's always a good time to drink beer, people! But when you're next BBQ rolls around, resist the temptation for grabbing that cheapo 60-pack of yellow fizzy water and shake things up (not literally, of course) with these refreshing beers that just so happen to be brewed and bottled in our backyard.

Smog City – Unity
Smog City
1901 Del Amo Blvd
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 320-7664
www.smogcitybrewing.com
Tart Saison – 5.3% ABV

If you're like us and still recovering from LA Beer Week withdrawal, Smog City's Unity is the perfect antidote. This farmhouse saison, which so just so happens to be the official beer of LA Beer Week, offers a little bit of everything: it's sour, it's hoppy, a little funky. Unity is a beer that anyone could enjoy.

MacLeod – The Session Gap
MacLeod
14741 Calvert St
Los Angeles, CA 91411
(818) 631-1963
www.macleodale.com
Ordinary Bitter – 3.5% ABV

A trek to Van Nuys is no longer necessary to enjoy MacCleod's classic British-style offerings. While craft beer's low-alcohol "session" craze has mainly centered on Indian Pale Ales, MacLeod put their efforts into crafting a light bitter, which despite its name, lacks the bitter qualities of an IPA. Instead, The Session Gap combines a pleasant roasty flavor with subtle floral tones for refreshing pint that won't get you blotto but will leave you thirsty for more.

El Segundo – Hammerland
El Segundo
140 Main St
El Segundo, CA
(310) 529-3882
www.elsegundobrewing.com
Double IPA – 8.6% ABV

You'll be tempted to drain your wallet after trying the crown jewel of El Segundo Brewing Company's stellar lineup. Utilizing simcoe and mosaic hops, Hammerland is everything you want in a west coast IPA: dank and juicy with a bitterness that doesn't overwhelm.

Eagle Rock – The Yearling
Eagle Rock
3056 Roswell St
Los Angeles, CA 90065
(323) 257-7866
www.eaglerockbrewery.com
American Sour – 6.6% ABV

Don't even think about for that Lame-a-Rita or whatever new fruity abomination the big boys have concocted. Instead, give The Yearling, Eagle Rock's ambitious flanders-style anniversary beer, a try. This wine barrel-aged sour certainly packs a punch which is balanced out by a smooth oakiness. The Yearling isn't a beer you'll want to pound, but it's an ideal sipper for the summer months.

Beachwood BBQ & Brewing – System of a Stout
Beachwood BBQ & Brewing
131 Main St
Seal Beach, CA
(562) 493-4500
www.beachwoodbbq.com
Imperial Coffee Stout – 11.2% ABV

If you've found yourself caught up the cold brew coffee craze you'll be sure to go nuts for System of a Stout. With an ABV of 11.3%, this coffee stout definitely brings the heat, yet it drinks like a beer with a much lower alcohol content. But don't expect any weak tea, because this baby is a coffee bomb. Fun fact: the coffee, courtesy of Costa Mesa's Portola Coffee Lab is Armenian-style, a nod to the beers namesake System of a Down's lead singer Terj Tankian who happens to be of Armenian heritage.

Article by Dave Klein.