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Summer is the ideal season for outdoor barbecues with delicious grilled dishes and fresh sides such as creamy potato salad, corn on the cob, and simple potato chips. The perfect pairing for these salty and savory treats is a refreshing cold drink, and for adults, a cold beer is often a favorite choice. However, choosing the right beer can be daunting for a busy host.

With hundreds of beer varieties worldwide, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. While it might be tempting to opt for a standard case of light beer, what if you or your guests prefer something with a bit more complexity? Felipe Diaz, Bar Manager and Somelier at Zingerman’s Roadhouse, shared some insights with Daily Meal about selecting the best beers for summer gatherings. Diaz emphasized that beer choice should focus less on matching the food and more on complementing the overall atmosphere of the event.

Felipe Diaz mentioned that understanding your guests’ preferences is crucial when selecting beer. For a group of gourmet food enthusiasts, Diaz might choose a beer that pairs well with the main dish, like a classic IPA such as Bell’s Two Hearted. IPAs, known for their hoppy and often bitter flavors, which might include notes of citrus, earth, and herbs, are refreshing choices for a summer barbecue. Not a fan of IPAs? Explore different types, like dry beers, which might suit your taste and enhance the event’s enjoyment.

On the other hand, sometimes you’re dealing with groups that are more laid-back and perhaps aren’t as familiar with specialty beers. “If the crowd is more casual,” Diaz says, “I’ll bring along an easygoing American lager, like Short’s Local’s Light Lager.” While you can go more upscale with a craft lgier, some of the most popular beers in America are in this style — take Miller High Life, a balanced beer with plenty of bubbles. Other crowd-pleasing beers include Corona, which is a smooth Mexican lager, or Heineken, which is a European-style lager.

Once you’ve selected the right beer for your barbecue, it’s time to think about the temperature, too. Most of us know that a beer that’s too warm can wind up tasting flat, and loses some of its hoppy flavor. At the same time, if you serve it too cold, you’ll mute some of the beer’s taste and aroma, as well. Typically, you’ll want to keep your beer between 33 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the type of brew you’re serving.

With hot summer temperatures, this range can be tough to maintain, but Felipe Diaz has a suggestion: “For keeping beer cold over a long period of time, I use science. Add some salt to your ice; it’ll lower the freezing point, which means your ice melts more slowly, and keeps your drinks colder for a longer period.” Beer left on ice can reach as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit, putting it right on the cusp of the ideal drinking temperature. It should warm up by at least one degree while your guests enjoy mingling with a bottle or can in hand.

Read the original article on The Daily Meal