With the dog days of summer in full sweltering swing around here, it’s time we turn our attention to backyard cookouts, and drinks that go great with them. With broad flavor profiles and thirst-quenching capabilities, beer is perhaps the best possible partner for grilled meats, fish and vegetables. Below check out some of our favorite local beers for sipping by the grill.

Yards Brewing Company
Saison
When it comes to pairing food with beer, you simply can’t go wrong with saisons. They go well with practically everything edible. Yards Saison is no different. The golden, hazy unfiltered ale marries a subtle Belgian yeast funk with citrus, malt sweetness and hints of spice. All of which should pair perfectly with your cookout’s spread.

Philadelphia Brewing Company
Schwarzinger
This dark and deceptive lager packs the bold roasted and toasted flavors of black beers into a relatively light-bodied brew. Its roasted malt character, hints of chocolate and coffee and dry finish makes it a perfect match for grilled meats.

Victory Brewing Company
Dirt Wolf Double IPA
Copious amounts of whole flower, American-grown hops brings a powerful combination of citrus, pine and earthy characteristics to this heady and hoppy Double IPA, while two-row German malts balance all that bitterness with a sweet, almost caramelly backbone. Those traits make it a perfect sipping partner for burgers, hot dogs, and barbecue.

Troegs
Dreamweaver
This crisp and refreshing light-bodied wheat beer comes bursting with yeasty and fruity aromas and flavors backed by hints of spice. Though it may get lost in mouth-coating barbecue sauces or heavily spiced dishes, it works rather well with most grilled vegetables and meats.  

Sly Fox
Pikeland Pils
The critically acclaimed Northern German-style Pilsner has the thirst-quenching capacity of a typical macro-brewed production lager, but with real German malts and Czech hops, it packs enough complexity in aromas and flavors to please the snobbiest of beer snobs. It also pairs wonderfully with a variety of cookout staples from salads and grilled fish to barbecue pork and screaming hot chicken wings.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Yards Brewing Company, Victory Brewing Company, Sly Fox