This is the time of year when I have trouble choosing between an ice cold beer and a refreshing white wine.  Summer weather helps me make the shift from my love of red wines to something cooler and satisfying.  Father's Day gatherings are a perfect time to sample beers you haven't tried.

There are so many great beers these days several which are local brews.  Check out Tutto Bene Lowell's newest additions from Offshore Ale.  Offshore is a small craftbrewer on Martha's Vineyard.  They produce small batch beers including my personal favorite amber ale.  Golden color, not to hoppy, crisp and clean.  In total they make 5 different types including a darker, heavier brew which is awesome with summer grill foods.

Now shift over to Pretty Things Beers produced in Cambridge, MA.  Pretty Things is emphatic to say they don't produce particular "style" beers.  I am not sure how else to describe them because they have at least 12 with a distinctly different name, label and recipe!  Two that I have tried are Jack D'or and Baby Tree.  Each with their own combination of wheat, pils, oats and so on.  An incredible value at $5.99 a bottle.  Check out their website for an entertaining read on every beer they make:  www.prettythingsbeertoday.com

Have fun and Happy Father's Day!