6 Easy-Drinking American Beers You Should Pack For Your Beach Trip

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3% Hails From: Brooklyn by way of Mount Pleasant, South CarolinaSummer Activity Pairing: Undisturbed sedentary sunbathingEvil Twin is a roving brewer that prepares its funky suds in 10 of the best breweries around the world. Brewed at Westbrook Brewing Co. in South Carolina, Sour Bikini is a tribute to summer’s most seductive style of swimwear. Light-bodied and intriguingly tart with a juicy, fruit-forward aroma, this wild ale is “anything but a sissy beer,” as Evil Twin asserts. Its crisp, sour quality makes it a natural thirst-quencher for long, hot afternoons.

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4.2% Hails From: Kansas CitySummer Activity Pairing: Epic sand-castle constructionAll hail the return of Gose. This German style of beer has roots in the 16th century, but has only recently caught on stateside—and it’s long overdue. A sour, slightly saline wheat ale, Gose is fermented with yeast and lactic bacteria and then spiced with coriander and salt (or brewed with salt water). Boulevard’s Gose takes a rosy turn with the addition of dried hibiscus flowers that add subtle tang and bright color. Pleasantly pucker-worthy, it’s a great intro to the world of sour beers and ideal for lazy sipping in the sand.

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4.4% Hails From: San FranciscoSummer Activity Pairing: Post-surf cooldownInfinitely crushable after shredding a few waves, Down to Earth is the “natural evolution” of Bitter American, 21st Amendment’s original session ale. Its inviting tropical aroma leads into flavors of orange and melon with a pleasantly bitter finish and light carbonation. Beach bums who lean towards the IPA’s intense hoppiness will appreciate this brew’s bitter, low-ABV drinkability and cooler-friendly cans.

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4.7% Hails From: Fort Bragg, CaliforniaSummer Activity Pairing: Beachside barbecuingPilsners aren’t usually known for their beach bodies, but this refreshing riff on the classic German style is a bit of a stud. Named for the delicate whale-bone engravings crafted by 19th-century seafarers, Scrimshaw is brewed with traditional Munich malt and Hallertauer and Tettnang hops. That nod to tradition results in a brew with a bright, clean body and subtle hop character that is endlessly sippable alongside char-speckled barbecue.

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5% Hails From: Mount Pleasant, South CarolinaSummer Activity Pairing: High stakes beach volleyballReady to hit the sand and spike some volleys like Maverick and Goose? Fortify yourself with this spicy twist on a Belgian Witbier. Inspired by the flavors of Southeast Asian cuisine, White Thai forgoes the traditional coriander and orange peel in favor of fresh lemongrass, ginger root and Sorachi Ace hops. What pours from the can is an earthy golden brew bearing layers of lemon candy, tart citrus and spicy ginger—a combo that will rev you up right quick.

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5.2% Hails From: Ocean Beach, New YorkSummer Activity Pairing: Impromptu clambakeYou know that magic dust that makes everything taste more vibrant? Turns out, salt is equally transformative in beer. This blonde ale proves that truth, thanks to the addition of real Atlantic sea salt, which gives the brew a subtle savory quality that leaves you craving more. Lightly effervescent with grassy citrus notes, Sea Salt Ale is a killer sidekick for all types of seafood like lobster, crabs and mussels.