One day you’re in a parka, craving a barrel-aged imperial stout; the next, the sun comes out and leaves you dreaming about a crisp Mexican lager. Welcome to spring. It can be a confusing time for any beer lover’s palate, but our team is here to help with a list of the best beers for early spring.
At The Growler Guys, we call this “Shoulder Season.” In our experience, you’re not quite ready for the light, refreshing beers of July, but the heavy winter warmers are starting to feel like a bit too much. That’s where the spring transition beer comes in. It has enough body to stand up to an evening chill, but it’s bright enough to celebrate the coming bloom. Keep reading as we guide you to our top picks for early spring beers.
What Are Spring Transition Beers?
Spring transition beers are specific styles that bridge the gap between heavy winter ales and crisp summer lagers. These shoulder-season brews provide a warming malt foundation balanced by bright, floral hop flavors or refreshing carbonation. Common examples include Maibocks, Saisons, Schwarzbiers, and Pale Ales, which offer enough complexity for chilly evenings while remaining light enough for sunny afternoons.
The Best Styles to Broaden Your Palate This Spring
When the weather shifts, these brews provide the perfect balance to help you savor the season. Based on our first-hand knowledge of tap rotations, here are the styles we recommend right now.
Maibock and Helles Lager
We can’t talk about spring seasonal craft beer without talking about the Maibock. This pale German lager is traditionally brewed to celebrate the arrival of May. It has the sturdy, malty backbone of a winter lager but is lighter in color with a more pronounced floral hop profile that mirrors the blooming world outside.
If a Maibock still feels too heavy for an early spring beer, try a Munich Helles. This brew is the gold standard for drinkability. With just a touch more bready malt sweetness than your standard pilsner, it’s perfect for a 50-degree afternoon.
West Coast IPAs
Cold IPAs and heavy double IPAs rule the winter. But as spring blooms, there’s a shift toward fruity and floral West Coast IPAs. It’s not quite juice-bomb hazy territory yet, but hoppy beers are perfect for spring. The hops bring a sunny aromatic profile, while that classic piney bitterness provides a crisp finish to cleanse the palate. It’s a refreshing wake-up call for your taste buds after a long winter of dark malts.
Porters and Black Lagers
The sun may be staying out past 5:00 pm, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep living on the dark side. Schwarzbiers (black lagers) and robust porters are perfect transition beers for early spring. Think of Schwarzbier as a wolf in sheep’s clothing—it may look like a stout, but it drinks like a lager. There are notes of chocolate and roasted coffee, but it has a light body and a dry, snappy finish. It’s perfect for chilly spring evening fire pits.
Saisons
If there’s one beer style that screams spring, it’s the Saison. These brews are carbonated, spicy, and incredibly complex. Their refreshing profile is why they were historically brewed by Belgian farmers for the warm spring and summer months. Saisons use yeast strains that produce phenols and esters that taste like cracked black pepper and citrus zest. They’re bone-dry and effervescent, which makes them perfect with light spring fare like asparagus and lemon-herbed chicken.
Gose and Berliner Weiss
Also on the list of great beers for early spring? Gose. This traditional German sour is brewed with coriander and sea salt. That saltiness adds a refreshing mineral quality, making the brew so incredibly crisp. Meanwhile, the tart flavor adds a zesty brightness that matches the season’s energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a transition beer?
A transition beer is a beer style that balances the heavy, malty characteristics of winter brews with the high carbonation and crispness of summer lagers. They’re designed for days where it may be 60°F in the sun but 50°F in the shade.
Why is the Maibock considered the official beer of spring?
The Maibock (or Heller Bock) was traditionally brewed by German monks for the month of May. It’s brewed with lighter-colored malts than a traditional winter bock, giving it a deep gold color. With an ABV of 6.3% – 7.5%, it’ll keep you warm, but it also has a more pronounced floral hop presence to match the spring air.
Should I still be drinking dark beer in April?
Absolutely! Instead of a thick, syrupy Imperial Stout, though, you may want to try a Schwarzbier or a dry Irish stout. These brews have those roasted, chocolatey notes you’re looking for, but with a much lighter body and drier finish, so they don’t feel quite as heavy.
Take a Fresh Sip of Early Spring Beers at The Growler Guys
Don’t leave your beer fridge out of your spring refresh. Whether you’re basking in the first rays of sun or huddled around a backyard fire, there’s a perfect early spring beer for that—and we have it at The Growler Guys. Not sure which early spring beer is right for you? Ask our certified Beer Stewards to curate a flight—it’s the best way to find a fresh sip for spring. These seasonal specialties won’t stay on tap forever, so stop by your local Growler Guys for a pint, flight, or growler fill today.
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