The Best Beers To Celebrate July 4th

Have you stocked up on your July 4 beers yet? If you haven’t, it’s all good: It’s still three days away. Plenty of time to get that bar up to speed and get the brews chilling. Before you head out to pick up your packs of beer, though, maybe take a beat to think about what you’re gonna buy. Sure, you can stock up on Coors Light and Budweiser (and why shouldn’t you, if that’s what you like?), but there are a bunch of different beers that we think need showcasing this year. And we’re gonna do it.

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So, category by category, here are our top picks for July 4 beers this year. Crack one open, sit back, and enjoy.

Best Lagers

There are a million different lagers out there, and not every one is made equally. This year, go for:

Brooklyn Lager: A Vienna-style amber lager, Brooklyn Lager has a maltiness to it that gives it more character. A flavorful choice.
Red Stripe: This Jamaican lager topped our list of the best lagers a couple of years back, and it’s still just as good. Great if slight sweetness is your thing.
Longboard Island Lager: Crisp, refreshing, and ever so slightly grassy, Longboard is firmly a lager, but with the presence of an IPA.
Asahi Super Dry: My personal favorite, with a light, citrusy edge. Ideal for hot weather.

Best IPAs

Want something a bit more full-bodied this year? We got you.

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA: Made with Northwest hops, Dogfish Head is a classic IPA, and honestly, it’s seriously drinkable. Taking second place in our round-up of best IPAs (and on a personal note, I was never a huge fan of Brewdog, which took number one), this one’s a hardy, reliable choice.
Founders All Day IPA: Let’s go, flavor! Founders All Day IPA is a complex beer with a malty undertone and a citrusy finish. It’s a great option for people who want their beers to have something going on – and it hits in warm weather.
Lagunitas IPA: There’s a touch of apple to Lagunitas, and personally speaking, I think it’s a good choice for people who don’t love IPAs that much. One to ease your friends in with.

Best Wheat Beers

Wheat beers can be an acquired taste, but there are a few out there that impress again and again.

Allagash White: We couldn’t not include our favorite wheat beer on this list, now, could we? This punchy American Belgian-style wheat beer has notes of citrus and spice, and in warm weather, it stays on the right side of refreshing.
Blue Moon: Readily available and with a signature note of orange, Blue Moon’s a wheat beer for people who don’t really like wheat beer.
Paulaner Hefeweizen: Want character? Paulaner’s got it. With notes of banana, clove, and maltiness, this beer’s far from unassuming.

Best Non-Alcoholic Beers

Gone are the days when non-alcoholic beers sucked. Now, there are loads of great choices out there.

Sierra Nevada Trail Pass: This one’s actually two beers – its IPA and its Golden beer – and both of them are excellent. Pick the IPA if you want a slight woodiness, and the Golden if you’re looking for something crisp.
Hoplark 0.0 Lazy Style: I personally love it when non-alcoholic beers take a risk, and Hoplark’s definitely does just that. This one’s almost like a malty fruit juice.
Corona Non-Alcoholic: A superlative July 4 pick. NA beer that tastes like beer, and which is right at home next to a barbecue.