Summer demands a cold pint. Heat hits the pavement. Sweat forms. You crack a beer. It matters that it is light, crisp, and actually tasty. Not all of them are created equal. I asked three professional chefs to cut through the noise. No corporate jargon. No marketing speak. Just what they buy for their own fridges when they’re off the clock.
Here is the list.
The “Champagne of Beers”
Stacey Mei Yan Fong. She wrote 50 Pies, 50 Pies for a reason. Her pick is obvious to her. When asked about her go-to summer brew she basically laughed.
“Is there any answer besides Miller High Light?”
She calls it the champagne of beers. It fits that bill. She drinks it all day long. Sometimes straight. Sometimes with a splash of Aperol. She makes a “Spaghett.” You should try that combo if you haven’t. In her house the fridge always holds at least six. It is an all-rounder that never fails.
Buy it here. $11.99 for a 12-pack at Target.
The Marinade Hero
Ashia Aubourg lives in Lisbon now. She runs Asha’s Place. But her palate was formed in a heavily Mexican neighborhood. There is only one rule there. You order the Modelo Oro Light. Order anything else? Social faux pas.
She insists it is one of the lightest, crisiest beers out there. It serves a dual purpose for her. It tastes good ice-cold. But she also uses it as a marinade for flank steaks. The alcohol evaporates. The flavor stays. Two birds one stone.
Pickup info: $18.39 at Instacart for 12.
The Grill Staple
Jill Devlin runs private gigs in Los Angeles via InHouse Provisions. Her loyalty goes to Coors Light. There is one non-negotiable rule though. It has to come from the can.
She keeps these on ice for concerts and outdoor parties. The texture matters. She also uses the can in the most old-school way possible. Beer can chicken. You shove a whole bird onto the opened vessel. Grill it or smoke it. The meat stays juicy. It’s a party trick that works every single time.
Total Wine & More has it. $23.99 grabs you 24. That’s a lot of cans.
Your Turn
These are their choices. What sits in your fridge? Do you stick to the big names or hunt down a local craft lager? Comment below. Tell me what I’m missing.
