Beer column: These easy-drinking pale ales are made for summer drinking

People have different preferences when it comes to what the best beer is to beat the summer heat.

Some people love a good sour, others swear by a fruity wheat beer, and some, like myself, will live and die with an easy-drinking, sessionable pale ale.

The Nelson Brewing Company, one of my personal favourites and one of British Columbia’s most underrated breweries, always seems to knock it out of the park with this kind of beer.

The Valhalla Hazy Pale Ale and Joyride Juicy Pale Ale, old and new creations from Nelson, are two perfect examples of that.

I’ll start with the long-time staple in Nelson’s taproom in Valhalla, a well-balanced pale ale that comes in at 5.2% ABV (alcohol by volume).

Mosaic, Simcoe and Citra hops give this beer tropical fruit and floral aromas, while malted wheat and oats provide a smooth, creamy mouthfeel.

It’s a bit dryer than the typical hazy you might be used to, but that makes it a perfect sessionable option to kick back with after a long day.

If you’re looking for something a little juicier, Nelson has you covered there with Joyride.

While Valhalla has been around for years, Joyride is a new creation from the Kootenay brewery that has replaced the Pop Top Hazy Citrus Pale Ale in their lineup.

This one has a slightly lower ABV at 4.5% and it quite literally tastes like a very popular summer treat.

“This pale ale combines bright peach and orange creamsicle flavors with vibrant hop notes from HBC 1019 hops,” the brewery explains. “It offers a smooth, fluffy mouthfeel and a light, refreshing finish.”

I’ve enjoyed many Valhallas in recent years, but lately I’ve been almost obsessed with Joyride and have already consumed my fair share early in the summer, and expect to consume many more over the next couple of months.

One great thing about these two Nelson beers is that they’re widely available in four packs at BC Liquor Stores across the province.

They’re also quite affordable at $14.79 for a four pack at BC Liquor Stores, and Joyride is on sale for a dollar off until July 26!

Josh Duncan is the NowMedia news director and a craft beer lover. Reach him at [email protected]. His beer column appears every Saturday afternoon in this space.