8 Beers Even Hardcore Wine Lovers Can Get Behind This Summer

We all know a steadfast wine drinker who insists they don’t like beer. Blow some minds with these savvy swaps to satisfy winos of all kinds.

By 

John Holl

Published on June 17, 2025

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There’s an old saying among vintners that it takes a lot of great beer to make a great wine. It’s a heartening phrase that reminds us that there is joy to drinking well-made beverages and to get out of comfort zones now and again. 

“I’ve never looked at beer and wine as being ‘at odds’ or felt that anyone should have to choose one over the other,” says Anne Becerra, Certified Cicerone, beverage director and founder of Quenched by Anne, who will be hosting panels on Beer for Breakfast and Suds & Snacks at this year’s Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. “I frequently use wine as a tool to get people interested in the amazing and diverse flavors of great beer. Even though golden lagers and India pale ales are the most popular styles, there are countless others that I believe a lot of people — wine lovers in particular — would enjoy even more.”

Much like wine, proper service is critical for beer. The right storage, temperature, glassware, and presentation only adds to the overall experience. 

Find your new summer favorite with these suggestions. 

For Cabernet lovers, try a red wine barrel-aged stout

Creative brewers in wine regions or with reliable winery relationships have taken to aging stouts in red wine barrels. The result is a coffee roast-forward ale with undertones of dark berries and woody tannin, things that all Cab lovers know and love in their favorite pours. The style also often boasts a double digit ABV, making it ideal for evening patio firepit enjoyment. 

Seek out: Sierra Nevada Trip Thru the Woods Barrel-aged Stout

For the Sauvy B fans, look for a Berliner weisse

Refreshingly tart with a touch of acidity, the Berliner Weisse style is sometimes called a kettle sour, meaning this lively style is a no-brainer for those that seek a bright and mouthwatering sip. A naturally low-ABV ale, some brewers add fruit purée or flavorings to their selections, while unadorned versions have a zippy tang and light graham cracker flavor. Traditional brewers may also offer a splash of raspberry or woodruff syrup in the glass to subtly temper the tartness. It’s best enjoyed poolside on the hottest of days. 

Seek out: Carton Brewing Monkey Chased the Weasel 

For the “rosé all day” crew, consider a raspberry lambic

Lambic is a traditional, spontaneously fermented Belgian-style ale that combines pale malt and wheat and is inoculated with ambient yeasts for fermentation. A raspberry lambic, or framboise, is lightly acidic and flavored with fresh raspberries before being aged in oak for added layers of complexity. Tart and sweet with just a little pucker and good funk, its vibrant color stands out in the glass much like your favorite rosé, and low ABV means it’s suitable from brunch ‘til dusk. 

Seek out: Lindemans Framboise

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For the terroir hunters, seek out an estate beer

With a growing number of craft maltsters, small hop farms, and native yeasts, more brewers are creating unique, hyper-local “beer from here” than before. From rustic lagers to saison-style ales and even mixed-culture offerings, each one will showcase place and brewer passion in every pour. Brewery fresh bottles make a great road-trip or day-trip souvenir. 

Seek out: Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery Violetta Estate Single Field

For the buttery Chard peeps, pour a Czech lager

While not every Czech-style lager will have diacetyl, or the chemical compound known for its buttery flavor and aroma, some versions will offer light aromas of it, meaning familiar wafts of that decadent Chard goodness. If present, it should not be overwhelming, but this refreshing, hot-weather ready thirst quencher will have enough to scratch any churned itch. Stock up for the concert tailgate. 

Seek out: Pilsner Urquell 

For the Pinotphiles, stash an English barleywine

When it comes to depth of flavor, a showstopper in a glass, and the ability to age well in a cellar, English barleywine can’t be beat. Prized versions have lush aromas and flavors of raisin, fig, plum, and toffee, which mature masterfully into a harmonious and satisfyingly complex sip with time. Sweet and bold, and often perfect for a nightcap, this is the style that has a loyal following for a good reason. 

Seek out: Thomas Hardy’s Ale

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For the natural wine fan club, go for a mixed culture saison

While there are many easygoing versions of this wheat-forward farmhouse-style ale, the funky ones that lean heavily into Brettanomyces are the ones the natty bunch should seek out. With appealing aromas of spicy pepper, leather, and earth, finding versions that have been well aged in foudres are worth the wild hunt. Bonus points if it is packaged in green bottles. 

Seek out: Yazoo Brewing Embrace the Funk Brett Saison

For the Barolo boys and girls, grab a Flanders red

Sometimes polarizing by beer fans, the Flanders Red is a tart, slightly funky aged ale with a reddish hue. A blend of older and younger ales, and aged in oak, the result has undertones of balsamic vinegar combined with dark stone fruit. An exercise in balance and layered complexity, like the king of Italian wines, it finishes long and dry and pairs sublimely with grilled lobster tail. 

Seek out: Brouwerij Verhaeghe Duchesse de Bourgogne