NJ beer: 6 Jersey Shore craft beers to drink this summer

Every summer, the Jersey Shore is the place to be — and that's especially true for craft beer lovers.

While craft beer is booming across the Garden State, this summer will be a mighty fine time to sample some of the best ales and lagers being brewed in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

Here are six we recommend you sample before Labor Day arrives:

1. Yacht Juice, Icarus Brewing, Lakewood

In less than two years, Lakewood's Icarus Brewing has become a formidable power player in the New Jersey beer landscape. When you get a taste of Yacht Juice, it's easy to tell why.

An imperial India Pale Ale introduced in Summer 2017, Yacht Juice is brewed with Citra, Columbus and Mosaic hops, clicking in at 8 percent ABV.

This juicy-yet-mellow ale seemed to anticipate the current explosion in popularity being experienced by so many thick, hazy pale ales, and it's an incredibly inviting summer sipper.

Icarus Brewing, 1790 Swathmore Ave., Lakewood, http://www.icarusbrewing.com.

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2. Head High, Kane Brewing Company, Ocean Township

Since opening its doors in 2011, Kane Brewing Company in Ocean Township has been a standard-bearer in Jersey beer, and for as long as there's been Kane there has been Head High.

The company's take on a classic American-style India Pale Ale, Head High flows year round from taps at bars across the state and can be found in cans.

Utilizing five different hops, this 6.5 percent ABV ale is crisp, complexly flavorful and incredibly refreshing — essentially, it's the perfect beer for a summer afternoon.

Kane Brewing Company, 1750 Bloomsbury Ave., Ocean Township, http://www.kanebrewing.com.

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3. A-Frame, Last Wave Brewing Co., Point Pleasant Beach

The laid back beachfront vibe of highly agreeable Point Pleasant Beach operation Last Wave Brewing Co. is found in full effect in A-Frame, the company's hazy wheat India Pale Ale.

Weighing in at a mellow 6.1 percent ABV, this IPA blends fruity notes with a bit of hop sharpness to concoct an incredibly chill beer.

Last Wave Brewing Co. is less than a mile away from the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk, and this beer is as beachy as they come.

Last Wave Brewing Co., 601 Bay Ave., Point Pleasant Beach, http://www.lastwavebrewing.com.

4. This Town, Carton Brewing, Atlantic Highlands

Holding things down in Atlantic Highlands since 2011, Carton Brewing has become known far and wide for its hoppy brews, particularly its signature Boat session ale.

That's why This Town is so delightfully surprising — introduced late last year, the new permanent addition to Carton's roster is arguably the friendliest and most approachable beer the Bayshore institution has ever offered.

A classic, no-frills neighborhood lager that's just 4.9 percent ABV and utilizes Opal hops, This Town is a beer you'll be happy to hang out with this summer. It's available on tap and in cans, but only in Monmouth County.

Carton Brewing, 6 East Washington Ave., Atlantic Highlands, http://cartonbrewing.com.

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5. Sea Dragon, Asbury Park Brewery, Asbury Park

The folks at Asbury Park Brewery had a pleasant surprise up their sleeves at Asbury Park Beerfest in January when they unveiled Sea Dragon, a full-bodied, unfiltered East Coast-style IPA with 7 percent ABV.

Sea Dragon has since become known as one of the Asbury Park Brewery's "core four" offerings, and it pleasingly blends the brewery's accessibility with an enjoyable level of depth.

"A lot of our customers like those big, full IPAs for the huge nose and high ABV, so we wanted to make a product that catered to them," Brewey owner Jeff Plate said earlier this year.

Asbury Park Brewery, 801 Sewall Ave., Asbury Park, www.asburyparkbrewery.com.

6. Not a Schooner, Icarus Brewing, Lakewood

A brilliantly juicy and richly tart North East IPA, the 8.5 percent ABV creation known as Not a Schooner started as Icarus head brewer and owner Jason Goldstein's riff on Yacht Juice utilizing Brux Trois yeast — and it's taken on a life of its own ever since.

Keep your eyes on Icarus this summer: The company tells us they're planning new releases every week, and can releases of already-classic brews such as Don't Haze Me Brux Pale Ale and King Arthur's Steed Coconut Porter.

Icarus will celebrate its one year "Canniversary" with special can and bottle releases on Friday, July 13 — watch this space for more information on that event as it becomes available.

Icarus Brewing, 1790 Swathmore Ave., Lakewood, http://www.icarusbrewing.com.