Is blue craft beer what the cool kids will be drinking this summer 2023? Maybe. Blue beer is A Thing in certain quarters and it might be poised for a breakout. If you’re intrigued, we’ve curated a list of what makes beer blue and offers 10 of the best on-trend blue craft beer brands – including Line, Harlem and Widowmaker – to try this summer 2023.
what is blue beer and why is it on trend for summer 2023?
Beer has always been one of our first-choice summer drinks. It’s cold, it’s refreshing, and even though it’s familiar, it never seems to get old. And how could it, when breweries continue to put a fresh and creative spin on their latest beers?
A few months ago, French brewery Hoppy Urban Brew went viral when reports of their blue beer first surfaced. Yes, that’s right – the actual beer itself is blue, not just the can. And though it may sound a little unusual, there’s something about a bright blue beer that sounds like the perfect summer drink – like a glass of swimming pool.
Here’s what makes beer blue, and some of the top blue craft beer brands – including Line, Harlem and Widowmaker – to try this summer 2023.
Of course, if spirulina is not your thing (since that’s what makes the beer blue), we’ve also included plenty of algae-free beers we’re excited to try – and yes, they’re all blue. Some are blue in name and some in flavor, but all help to represent our color of the summer. And most importantly, any of them would be a great beer to throw in your cooler the next time you head down to the beach.
Here’s what makes beer blue, and some of the blue craft beer brands – including Line, Harlem and Widowmaker – to try.
10 of the best blue craft beer brands to try this summer 2023
1. Line Blue Beer
Of course, we have to start with the beer that was the inspiration for this post (though it is actually not the world’s first blue beer – we’re getting to that next). Made by French brewery Hoppy Urban Brue, Line Blue Beer finds its mesmerizing aqua hue from spirulina, which the brewery uses in partnership with Etika Spirulina. If you’re new to spirulina, we can tell you that it’s an algae often taken as a dietary supplement, and allegedly helps to bolster the immune system. And yes, it is blue, and so is the drink. Otherwise, the beer is described as light and fresh – sign us up.
BUY NOW – €3.00.
2. Abashiri Beer’s Ryuhyo Draft
Before there was Line Blue Beer, there was another blue beer – Ryuhyo Draft, made by Japan’s Abashiri Beer. Though it first came to the United States back in 2014, GrubStreet reported that it was available in Japan five years earlier. And unlike Line Blue Beer, this beer is said to achieve its unexpected color through gardenias – so you can expect an unusually sweet, floral flavor. The color is meant to represent the sea of Okhotsk. The beer is more difficult to find in the United States these days, but there is an online retailer where you can still order yourself a bottle.
BUY NOW – $29.00.
3. Blue Point’s Blueberry Ale
Okay, while it’s true that this beer may not look blue, its can is blue, its name is blue, and its flavor is blue – well, its flavor is blueberry, which as far as we’re concerned is kind of the same thing. Blue Point is a popular brewery in Patchogue, Long Island, and though they have a lot of great beers, we’re here today to talk about the Blueberry Ale. It’s one of their bestselling beers year-round, and once you try a sip of this bright golden ale – and catch that sweet scent of blueberry – you’ll understand why.
Blue beers for Summer 2023. Courtesy Photo.
BUY NOW – $12.00.
4. SweetWater’s Blue
This is a light, wheat ale that has – you guessed it – a subtle note of blueberry. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it addition, perfect for those who want just a gentle hint of the fruit, rather than the full flavor. SweetWater also refers to it as their “breakfast beer” and suggests pairing it with pancakes, so perhaps you’ll want to throw some blueberries into those as well.
BUY NOW – $10.49.
5. Harlem Blue’s Hectic IPA
If you want to participate in the blue-themed fun, but you do not feel like drinking a blueberry beer, this might be our number one suggestion for you. Local brewery Harlem Blue is making their mark on New York’s craft beer scene, and we can’t wait to try a can of their Hectic IPA. Described as smooth and hoppy, the beer is named for writer Roi Ottley, and for his famous column Hectic Harlem.
BUY NOW – $14.95.
6. Owl Farm Unique Fermentation’s Big Blue Sour
Owl Farm Unique Fermentation is known for their carefully concocted flavors of beer. And though we love all of their offerings, we are of course here to talk about the Big Blue Sour. This is an imperial sour ale made with blueberries, hibiscus, and vanilla beans, and yes – it’s exactly as summery and delicious as it sounds.
Blue beers for Summer 2022. Courtesy Photo.
BUY NOW – $5.49.
7. UFO’s Maine Blueberry
We’ve already brought you several blueberry beers, but UFO takes the idea one step further. Their beers are not made with just any blueberries – oh no, they are made with the best blueberries of them all. Blueberries from Maine. This beer was originally intended for Maine residents (after all, it does use real Maine blueberries), but is now available to a wider audience. And we’re so grateful, because no other drink compares.
BUY NOW – $10.99.
8. Nerdbrewing’s Blueberry Pie
Ok, we’ve talked about blueberry beers… but what about a blueberry pie beer? Nerdbrewing is a Danish company that specializes in dessert-themed beers – think beers that resemble pecan pie, milkshakes, and even fluffernutters – and we think their blueberry pie beer sounds like the best of them all. It’s a milk stout with the flavor of blueberries and vanilla – what a treat.
BUY NOW – $11.35.
9. Widowmaker Brewing’s Blue Comet
Widowmaker is a brewery in Massachusetts, and the Blue Comet is their number one beer. This is an IPA with a fruity aroma, and with its tall, blue exterior, we feel like it would be a prime addition to this summer’s blue beers. If you aren’t able to stop by the tap room, place an order online.
Blue beers for Summer 2023. Courtesy Photo.
BUY NOW – $17.20.
10. Charm City Meadworks’ Elderberry Mead
Of course, blueberries are not the only blue fruit. Elderberries boast a similar color, and Charm City Meadworks – who are known for their light, dry, carbonated mead – have turned the sour berries into this delicious drink. Described as having a “smooth, floral honey finish,” this bright blue can of elderberry mead screams summer to us.
BUY NOW – $13.00.
blue craft fdcxrfdtbeer brands to try this summer 2023
That’s everything you need to know about what makes beer blue, and 10 of the top blue craft beer brands – including Line, Harlem and Widowmaker – to try this summer 2023. What do you say, dear reader? Bottoms up?
