Goose Island Summertime 12Pk Cans

Description

Goose Island Summertime 12Pk Cans is a Klsch-style ale brewed in Chicago at 5.0% ABV, available here as a 12-pack of 12 oz cans. Brewed with a traditional hybrid fermentation process and finished with whirlpool hop additions of Mt. Hood and Czech Saaz, Summertime stands out among American-brewed Klsch offerings for its faithful approach to the German style.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.0% | Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA | Style: Klsch | Brewery: Goose Island Beer Company

Production & Heritage

Goose Island Beer Company was founded in 1988 on Clybourn Avenue in Chicago and has grown into one of the most recognized craft breweries in the United States. Summertime uses a grain bill of 2-Row pale malt and White Wheat malt, hopped with Mt. Hood and Czech Saaz the latter a hallmark of traditional European lager brewing. True to the Klsch style, the beer undergoes primary fermentation at a cool 5560F using a hybrid ale yeast, then enters an extended lagering period at 40F for several weeks. This cold conditioning smooths out the body and delivers the clean, snappy character the style demands. Notably, Goose Island adds the final two hop charges in the whirlpool rather than during the boil, preserving delicate floral and herbal aromatics that would otherwise be driven off by heat.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Light and airy yeast character greets the nose first, followed by gentle lemon citrus and faint biscuity cereal grain. A subtle herbal note from the Saaz hops lingers beneath.

Taste: The entry is soft and malty without sweetness, almost juicy in texture despite the light body. Mid-palate, bready lemon-juice flavors take hold, supported by a delicate herbal hop bitterness that keeps things balanced. The wheat malt contributes a pillowy mouthfeel uncommon at this weight class.

Finish: Bright, crisp, and stingingly clean the lagering does its job here. A fleeting hint of lemon peel and cracker lingers briefly before the palate resets completely.

How to Drink Summertime

Serve cold, ideally between 4045F, straight from the can or poured into a tall, narrow Stange glass to concentrate the subtle aromatics. This is a beer built for straightforward drinking rather than elaborate cocktail work, but it shines in a few beer-forward mixed drinks. A Radler (half Summertime, half fresh lemonade) amplifies the citrus character into a thirst-quenching sipper. A Shandy made with ginger ale complements the bready malt and adds a spicy lift. A Michelada using Summertime as the base provides a lighter, more delicate version of the classic, letting the Klsch’s clean finish cut through the Clamato and lime.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and warm-weather gatherings where sessionability matters
• Introducing craft-curious drinkers to German beer styles without overwhelming bitterness
• Pairing alongside a seafood boil or grilled vegetables
• Stocking a cooler for a beach day or boat outing

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Goose Island Summertime taste like? Summertime delivers a light, bready malt backbone with lemon-citrus brightness and a faint herbal hop character, finishing remarkably clean and crisp thanks to its extended cold lagering.

How does Summertime compare to Reissdorf Klsch? Reissdorf is brewed in Cologne, Germany the only city where beer can legally be called Klsch under the Klsch Konvention and tends to be slightly drier and more minerally. Goose Island’s version leans a touch more citrus-forward and uses American-grown Mt. Hood hops alongside Czech Saaz, giving it a marginally fruitier hop profile.

Is Summertime good for beginners? Absolutely its 5.0% ABV, low bitterness, and clean flavor profile make it one of the most approachable craft beers available, especially for drinkers transitioning from domestic lagers.

Where is Goose Island Summertime made? Summertime is brewed by Goose Island Beer Company, which was founded in 1988 in Chicago, Illinois, and remains one of the city’s flagship breweries.

What foods pair well with Summertime? Grilled shrimp or fish tacos work well, as the beer’s citrus notes mirror a squeeze of lime. Light salads with goat cheese complement the wheat-malt softness. Bratwurst is a natural match given the German Klsch heritage. Sushi and sashimi pair nicely because the clean finish won’t compete with delicate fish flavors. Fresh summer fruit like melon or stone fruit echoes the beer’s subtle fruitiness.

What sizes does Summertime come in? This offering is a 12-pack of 12 oz cans; the beer is also commonly available in six-pack cans and on draft at select locations.

Is Summertime worth the price? Goose Island Summertime positions squarely in the accessible craft-beer tier, delivering a genuine Klsch-style experience at a price point competitive with other widely distributed American craft brands strong value for a sessionable warm-weather beer.

Why Summertime?

What separates Summertime from the crowded field of summer seasonals is its production fidelity to an exacting German style. The hybrid fermentation and extended lagering at 40F is not a shortcut it is the defining technique of authentic Klsch brewing, and Goose Island executes it faithfully. The whirlpool hop additions preserve Saaz and Mt. Hood aromatics that a standard boil addition would destroy, yielding a subtlety unusual in widely distributed American craft beer. For drinkers who want a low-ABV, high-drinkability beer with genuine style credentials behind it, this 12-pack delivers exactly that.