Beer and Summer = Peas in a Pod

I don't know about the weather in your neck of the woods, but here in mine--it's been stellar. These hot sunny afternoons have reminded me why I like summer so much, and have made me long for more summer days to come!

That being said, I noticed when I was in Okinawa that some dirty bastard had snuck into my apartment, taken my swim-trunks, shrunk them, snuck back in and replaced them without my knowing. That, or my ass is getting fatter.

In order to be fully ready for the summer (read: drinking) season, I've had to cut back a bit these days on both good food and drink. Not too much mind you, but just enough so that when the summer gets in full swing the locals won't call GreenPeace when I jump in the river here in town.

Which brings me to my next question: What is the best beer drinking season? I know that some like the colder months when stouts and porters taste best and some like spring and fall when we have bocks and Oktoberfests--respectively.
But for me, there's no better beer drinking season than the summer. Friends, you've never lived until you've drank a few good brews on the lake after a long day of fishing, or until you crack open a few on the front porch as you watch the sun set or watch a summer storm blow in across the hills.

What beer is best in summer? Some will say that weizens and fruity beers are a good way to relax and beat the heat. Others want a nice lager or pale ale to down with the days get hot. I've even met those who prefer a good dark beer in summer. But for me, there's only one type of brew to drink in summer. Whether you are by the pool, fishing, boating, hiking, relaxing, tanning, hanging out with old friends, cleaning a catfish*, meeting new friends, playing cornhole, watching a baseball game, throwing things off the bridge (a popular past time in KY), or just sitting by yourself--there's no better beer in the summer than this:

C O L D

This is Cornhole.

Cold Beer and summer just mix. In KY, you might be surprised to know that the term "Cold Beer" is used in place of just the moniker "beer". For example, if you came to my house in the summer I might ask, "Would you like a cold beer?" Or my friend Ryan may say, "Let's go home and drink a few cold beers." Sometimes, "Cold Beer" can be referred to in a singular sense, as in the phrase, "DH really enjoys drinking THE cold beer." When beer is referred to as, "The Cold Beer"--it is a term of both respect and endearment.

Once, while spring breaking in Miami, my friend The Birdman asked a few young ladies from the north (I don't capitalize on purpose) if they would like to sit down and have a few "Cold Beers"**. After explaining to them what "Cold Beer" (Kobeer) was, Birdman dismissed them as "Yankee Bitches" and moved on. Nicely done.

I'm toasting to summer!! "Come Quickly!"


"Nothing ever tasted better than a cold beer on a beautiful afternoon with nothing to look forward to than more of the same."--Hugh Hood

* Just wanted you to know how Country I am.

** "Cold Beer" is pronounced "Ko-Beer" when said quickly and in a Kentucky accent. This can lead those who are not from The South being confused and asking, "What is Kobeer?"