Dream summer beer sixer

(Credit: Frank Espich / Metromix)

Four craft beeristas in Indy assemble their seasonal dream team of local and national brews. (Yes, some are draft-only ... we did say it was a dream).

Gina Rakers, HoosierBeerGeek.com, @bitchesbrewIN
Sun King Osiris (Indianapolis): Packs a hoppy punch; convenient can is handy for places where glass isn’t allowed.
Three Floyds Gumballhead (Munster): Definitely a “desert island” beer. Excellent hop-malt balance.
Bee Creek Hoosier honey wheat (Brazil, Ind.): Locally sourced honey adds a kick to the flavor and body.
Founders Cerise (Grand Rapids, Mich.): Summer seasonal, brewed with Michigan cherries, pours bright pink and tastes sweet and tart without one flavor overpowering the other.
Bell’s Two Hearted (Michigan): Bright citrus and pine flavors; dry finish makes you long for another.
Crispin Cider (Minneapolis): Crisp and refreshing. Delicate flavors work well with food or even as an ingredient of a marinade or salad dressing.

Carla Truex, Girls Pint Out
Thr3e Wisemen Two Lucy’s blackberry wheat (Broad Ripple): It’s a purple beer ... why wouldn’t you drink it? Seriously, it has a nice bite, like a new puppy nipping at your toes.
Bee Creek blonde ale (Brazil, Ind.): Cold-filtered, carefully hopped, light, refreshing ... perfect for a craft-beer beginner.
Upland Dragonfly (Bloomington): More satisfying than squashing a mosquito. Its seven-hop additions create a powerful hoppy taste that complements its malty base.
Sun King Osiris (Indianapolis): Semi-aggressive American pale ale has a dry-hopped finish. My go-to cookout or poolside beer (especially since they sell it in cans!)
Flat12 Bierwerks American wit (Indianapolis): An American spin on a traditional Belgian wit.
Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale (Kansas City, Mo.): Traditional Belgian-style farmhouse ale may seem cloudy and clueless, but the fruity/grapefruit/hoppy notes make it a perfect reward for a day’s work in the yard, or for just judging your neighbor’s weeds/tall grass.

Amy Crook, Maverick PR account specialist; MacNivens host; homebrewer
Upland wheat ale (Bloomington): Swirl the last quarter of the bottle as you are pouring to grab those oh-so-awesome flavors of coriander, chamomile and orange peel.
North Coast Red Seal amber ale (Fort Bragg, Calif.): Slightly spicy finish; great beer to pair with grilled meats.
Barley Island Dirty Helen brown ale (Noblesville): Imagine drinking this over an evening campfire. Perhaps even with a s’more. ...  Full malt body and slightly caramel and nutty aftertaste.
Founders Cerise (Grand Rapids, Mich.): Tart, sweet and everything nice — good for both beer novices and ladies still seeking a craft beer to call their own.
Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial India pale ale (Munster): A hop lover’s dream, with a great deal of citrus hop aroma and perfectly balanced bitterness.
Jever Pilsener (Germany): They say, “The secret lies in the water, which is still taken from the same well used well over 100 years ago.” You can usually find this on draft at Brugge Brasserie.

Amy Bartner, Metromix online editor; experienced drinker of beer
Sun King Sunlight Cream Ale (Indianapolis): One of the few beers I prefer from the can, because nothing pushes the power of suggestion like a cream-colored can of beer labeled “Cream Ale.”
Three Floyds Gumballhead: Tough-looking exterior ... fruity deliciousness inside.
Oaken Barrel Razz-Wheat (Greenwood): Usually, tart raspberry isn’t what I want in a beer. But when I crave it, it’s serious enough for me to drive the 25 minutes south for a pint.
Upland Dragonfly IPA (Bloomington): There’s no better go-to beer in this city. Bonus: I recently discovered the Double Dragonfly Imperial IPA. Good, good stuff.
RAM Big Horn Hefeweizen (Indianapolis): I’m going to lose any manly beer street cred, but I don’t care. Tastes like a banana split of malty happiness.
Brugge Tripel de Ripple: With 11 percent alcohol, you can’t help but be attracted to this limit-two Belgian-style beer. And so what if it’s served in a goblet? That’s manly.