When it comes to beer, we're not messing around. We're looking for a crisp, refreshing glass of the best craft beer to enjoy time and time again while soaking in those stunning rays of sunshine - but most importantly, we don't want to fork out a fortune just for the pleasure.
We've picked out some particularly pleasant beers ranging from IPAs, APAs, German Weiss beers, and English ales, so there's something to tingle the taste buds of anyone thirsting for their post-work pint.
Not everyone likes to drink beer, we get that, they can be heavy and are loaded with carbs, and that malty flavour just isn't for everyone. If you'd prefer something a little stronger, try our guide on making your own perfect gin - with flavours you can decide on.
What's the difference between ale and beer?
Beer is a broad term for an alcoholic drink made from yeast-fermented malt flavoured with hops, there are two types of beer; ale and lager, the primary difference between lager and ale is the fermentation process, each uses a different yeast suited to different temperatures.
What makes a beer a craft beer?
Craft beer isn't mass produced by a manufacturer and isn't watered down to cut costs, the best craft beer companies tend to be small and independent brewers that use local and often unique ingredients in the fermentation process to create exciting flavour.
Best craft beer 2022
Best value IPA
About the beer:
Bottle size: 500ml glass bottle
Alcohol content: 4.6 per cent
Type of beer: IPA
Our thoughts:
Out of the gate we've started with a pubgoers classic - Oakham Ales Citra which is certainly near and dear to our hearts. This IPA has a wonderful citrus taste that bursts with flavour, but isn't overpowering as some hoppy ales often can be. The slight bitterness from the zesty hops is exciting, moreish and perfectly refreshing for a sunny summer's day. And what's more, it's price is totally reasonable - fantastic.
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Customer review: "Absolutely LOVE this ale, beautifully refreshing citrus single hop. Oakhams Ale's best IMHO. And at £1.70 a bottle its cheaper than buying direct from the brewer."
Best multipack gift beer set
About the beer:
Box contents: 12 x 330ml cans
Alcohol content: 3.8 to 5.4 per cent
Type of beer: IPAs
Our thoughts:
BrewDog isn't likely to need an introduction, it's a fairly well-known brand across the UK right now with their own pubs even cropping up in some cities, but how's their beer? We've picked this mixed gift pack of 12 simply because each flavour is so moreish that you'll probably want a decent selection for your summer get-together.
Each multipack contains four unique IPAs; there's the classic Punk IPA, Hazy Jane, Dead Pony Club, and Elvis Juice. We're going to give you a quick rundown of each IPA real quick.
Punk IPA (5.4 per cent) - A favourite in British pubs, you'll find a Punk IPA tap in most places these days, and rightfully so. Punk is a classic IPA through and through, it's incredibly bold and is packed with citrus and grapefruit flavour to dazzle your tastebuds - this isn't a pint you'll want to pass on.
Hazy Jane (5 per cent) - Hazy Jane is a smooth, fruity, yet slightly heavier IPA that is far less bitter than our other picks, with strong notes of pineapple, mango, and tangerine, all the while remaining true to its roots as a hoppy IPA, so there's plenty of zing in the finish. What may be off-putting to daytime drinkers is the lack of filtration used in the brewing process, giving the beer a thicker, oatier and wheaty taste than our other selections.
Dead Pony Club (3.8 per cent) - BrewDog's Dead Pony Club is another instant classic IPA with a strong citrus character, even more so than Punk, giving you a particularly strong, bitter finish. This is a light beer with fine bubbles so without noticing you'll have finished 3-4 cans guaranteed. A great garden party, sun-basking beer that anyone can enjoy.
Elvis Juice (5.1 per cent) - Hops, hops, hops - Elvis Juice is full of them. This IPA might knock you off your feet with its huge citrus notes, giving you a lot of bitterness from its huge pithy grapefruit flavour, but is it ever refreshing on a summer's day.
Customer review: "BrewDog make some fine beers and this gift box (for yourself or another beer lover) contains a great selection of them. If you want to start to explore their range, you will find it contains beers that contrast with each other but provide full-on flavours that are very tasty, but be warned that some are a little strong in terms of the alcohol content. Recommended. Enjoy!"
Best blonde ale
groceries.aldi.co.uk
About the beer:
Bottle size: 500ml
Alcohol content: 4 per cent
Type of beer: Blonde ale
Our thoughts:
ALDI has a tantalising range of tasty beers, ales and wines that are all perfect for a summer's day, and this Suffolk Blonde ale is far from the exception. A far more subtle ale than your standard, hoppy IPA, Suffolk Blonde has characters of caramel and grain, with a slight dryness in the finish. While it doesn't deliver the fresh, bitter zing of Citra or BrewDog's Elvis Juice, its milder taste and smoky aroma is equally refreshing.
Customer review: "I used to live in Germany and got to taste a wide range of Bavarian wheat beers. This compares very favourably indeed - it would be fascinating to include this beer in a blind-tasting of a panel of Germans! I'd certainly buy this again, it's leagues more interesting and drinkable than big-brand generic lagers in the UK, AND it seems a pretty good value too at this price".
If beer isn't your thing, we've compiled a list of the ultimate gin tasting sets for the perfect summer evening.
Best craft wheat beer
About the beer:
Bottle size: 500ml
Alcohol content: 4 per cent
Type of beer: Blonde ale
Our thoughts:
Germany is the undisputed champions of beer-brewing, and Franziskaner, one of Germany's oldest and most respected brewers. It does not fail to disappoint when it comes to delivering flavour. Delicious, sweet, light, malty - all the incredible flavours you'd expect in a proper Weiss beer are here in droves. We can't recommend it enough.
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Customer review: "This is an excellent, well-known Weiss bier that tastes great and is easy to drink."
Best APA
About the beer:
Can size: 330ml
Alcohol content: 6.2 per cent
Type of beer: APA
Our thoughts:
Our first true APA (that's an American Pale Ale) brings all the delicious summer flavour you could wish for. It's bold and light with big punchy flavours of mango, lime, and grapefruit that are followed shortly by a nice malt finish. This is a perfectly refreshing drink for a summer's day which we'd be happy to recommend any time.
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Customer review: "For me, one of the best Pale Ales you can buy."
Best gluten free beer
About the beer:
Can size: 330ml
Alcohol content: 4 per cent
Type of beer: Lager
Overview:
Jubel's been gaining some popularity recently as an incredibly refreshing lager packed with fruity flavour, all the while being relatively low-calorie, gluten free, and vegan. Jubel's made with real fruit, so those bold peach flavours that'll dazzle your tastebuds aren't artificial whatsoever. We'll be the first to admit, they don't really taste very much of beer - that peach flavour (which is delicious) takes away any wheat or malt character, making it taste a lot more like a cider than a beer.
However, if you're not a beer-drinker, and don't like the often overpowering sweetness of cider, Jubel is a wonderful middle-ground and is sensational on a summer's day.
Finding a great beer while being vegan can be a tough challenge, we thought we'd help you out with our comprehensive guide to vegan alcohol.
Customer review: "Sampled the Peach down London, was so good I thought I'd try the rest, didn't disappoint, lovely smooth lager with just a subtle hint of flavour! Well worth a try."
Best craft beer
About the beer:
Can size: 330ml
Alcohol content: 5.4 per cent
Type of beer: English hazy pale ale
Our thoughts:
Our final pick is from one of the UK's best brewers. Northern Monk's Faith is a delectable hazy English pale ale that delivers tropical, sweet, yet subtle flavour with a fresh, light citrus finish to keep you coming back for more. Faith is a slightly thicker pale ale than our other choices, so it isn't quite as moreish, but that doesn't stop this hazy pale from being incredibly refreshing.
This is the perfect beer for after a long day's work, and pairs well with some quality time in the garden, or nearby a pool.
Customer review: "Pours hazy pale yellow with a white head. Aromas & tastes of mango, lemon, orange, pine & hops. Moderate body. Light bitter finish. Highly enjoyable"
Verdict: the best craft beer 2022
Yours has crowned Oakham Ales Citra Beer as the best craft beer for 2022. Why? The wonderful citrus taste bursts with flavour, for starters. We like that it isn't overpowering as some hoppy ales often can be and how budget-friendly it is compared to other options on the market.
Are there any health benefits of drinking beer?
Beer and most alcohol is bad for you if not consumed in moderation. That being said, there is some scientific evidence that an occasional beer can have benefits similar to drinking a glass of red wine. There are small amounts of essential minerals in beer such as potassium, calcium, thiamine, iron, and zinc as well as vitamin B derived from yeast and grains.
When was beer invented?
Beer has been an age old companion to humanity for a long time. Evidence for the production of beer has been found that is from 4,000 BC in Mesopotamia (a western region of Asia).
Are beer bottle caps recyclable?
Beer bottle caps can be recycled, but because they are small they are often lost during the recycling process, leading to a lot of potential waste.
Looking to cut down on household waste and energy? Here's 20 easy ways to be more eco friendly