5 cans to keep in your cooler all summer long

The only thing better than drinking beer is drinking beer outside. Grab a koozie, a cooler full of beer and find a sunny spot to get down with some of these outdoor-friendly cans.

1. When Uinta Brewing Co. Lime Pilsner came into the market a few years ago, I refused to try it because in my immature craft beer brain, I thought I wasn’t going to like craft beer’s take on Bud Light Lime. I was wrong, and I’m happy to admit it. I loved it, and I still love it. This thirst-quenching brew is best ice cold to enjoy the character of this crisp pilsner with just enough lime to keep every sip uber-refreshing.

2. Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. added another option to its Big Shark radler brand this year with a Grapefruit edition. They mix a pale lager with a house-made grapefruit soda to create a fantastically made radler. While the fruit is apparent, it’s not overly sweet or tart and it tastes like legit grapefruit. 

3. Perennial Artisan Ales Prism: Mosaic combines two of my favorite things in craft beer: straightforward, yeast-dominant saisons and Mosaic hops. Perennial consistently knocks out a standard saison, and what better way to accentuate the subtly earthy, fruit notes from the yeast than with the berry and tropical fruit awesomeness that comes from Mosaic? Or maybe you’ll taste something else due to mosaic’s ubiquitous nature stemming from how a range of palates experience it differently.  

4. In April, 4 Hands Brewing Co. entered the pound-able lager game with the release of Full Life Lager. The 4 Hands team has always done a great job keeping St. Louis beer drinkers on their toes, but this brew is a wonderful take on a “no-fuss” volume drinker. It’s a pre-Prohibition lager made for easy drinking, and the Noble hops addition keeps the finish crisp.

5. St. Louis was long in need of a full-time cider producer, and Brick River Cider Co. has come to the rescue. Produced from Midwestern apple juice, this local gem is all about showcasing the fruit. The Homestead is smack-dab between sweet and dry and is available in 16-ounce cans. With a full mouthfeel, this blend will make you feel as though you’re falling face first into an orchard.

Jon Whitaker is a certified cicerone and beer program director at iTap.