July is National Grilling Month and in case you haven’t left your house since February we’re smack in the middle of a decent (albeit rainy) summer.

When we think about firing up a grill – whether it’s propane or charcoal – we think about all of the delicious, mouth-watering dishes we can make.

We also think about beer.

For whatever reason, the connection between grilling and beer is a strong one. Is it really grilling if you don’t have tongs in one hand and an ice cold beer in the other?

Whether it’s an all-time favorite porter, IPA, or a refreshing summer beer you really can’t go wrong.

However, after a long day of yard work or just some fun in the sun catching some rays, a nice, crisp summer beer is oh so nice. They’re truly refreshing on a hot summer day while standing in front of 400°+ of delicious meats and vegetables.

So before you melt in the sun, stop by your friendly Beltsville beer shop and pick up some of these!

Wheat-based local brew: Port City Optimal Wit – A local favorite and a great take on the style.

Fruity summer seasonal: Dogfish Head Festina Peche – This off-centered brew has the aroma of peaches but the peach taste isn’t as strong.

Big name summer ale: Samuel Adams Summer Ale – An easy crowd pleaser for your next barbecue.

Local summer ale: Heavy Seas Smooth Sail – This smooth summer ale hails straight from Baltimore.

Hops with a pinch of fruit: Victory Summer Love – Coming to us from Philly, this summer beer has a bit more hops than other summer beers.

Hoppy: Ballast Point Sculpin IPA – One of the best IPAs on this planet. This is a MUST try.

Approachable hops: Stone Go To IPA – This is meant as a sessionable and easy-to-drink IPA.

Sessionable hops: 21^st Amendment Down to Earth Session IPA – A fantastic choice that truly delivers on being a session IPA that’s also delicious.