Despite the recent soaring heat index, the weather has been mostly perfect for soaking up some Vitamin D on a patio. And one of our favorite patio activities is drinking beer.

Thanks to the proliferation of craft breweries and taprooms in the Twin Cities, there is no shortage of patio opportunities for beer nerds.

Here, in alphabetical order, are six Twin Cities breweries that have embraced Minnesotans’ love of the patio. We also sampled their beer lists and chose the glass of suds that best pairs with sitting in the sun.

Happy sipping!

BAD WEATHER BREWING

This hopping spot just off busy West Seventh Street in St. Paul puts bean-bag toss front and center. Three sets of teams can play at the same time, and it’s not unusual to see owners Joe Giambruno and Zac Carpenter tossing some bags. Food trucks also park just off the patio, so it’s a great spot to grab a bite and a beer and watch the action.

What to drink: Sun Pillar, a fruity, refreshing Belgian blonde ale that goes down easy. International Bittering Units (IBU): 17; Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 5.1 percent

Details: 414 W. Seventh St.; 651-207-6627; badweatherbrewery.com

BANG BREWING

This tiny grain silo of a brewery has always had a brick patio with a few long picnic tables out front, but it recently expanded its patio area and added a corrugated steel pavilion fashioned out of a culvert that was sawed in half to add some shade. There will eventually be a fire pit, and the University of Minnesota helped create rain gardens that surround the patio, which owners Jay and Sandy Boss Febbo say helps it feel like an oasis. Bang is the only 100 percent organic brewery in the Twin Cities.

What to drink: Club, a crisp, clean, slightly sweet, low-alcohol lager that absolutely screams summer. International Bittering Units (IBU): 19; Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 4.5 percent

Details: 2320 Capp Road, St. Paul; 651-243-2264; bangbrewing.com

BAUHAUS BREW LABS

This family-run brewery is all about fusing life and fun, and the colorful, graffiti-inspired, mural-adorned patio definitely fits their personality. Bauhaus also has a bean-bag game, but it’s located off to the side to make room for ample seating at bright orange picnic tables. Lights strung from the building give the area a festive feel.

What to drink: Hairbanger, a tangy, tropical, toasty Belgian pale ale that, like most of Bauhaus’ beers, defies categorization. International Bittering Units (IBU): 55; Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 5.5 percent

Details: 1315 Tyler St. N.E., Minneapolis; bauhausbrewlabs.com

LAKE MONSTER BREWING

This cavernous brewery has a very urban sidewalk patio with fun, bright-red umbrellas and wooden furniture that still has that new-chair smell. It’s a great spot for people watching, but bring your sunglasses, because there’s not a lot in the way of greenery to break up the sun. The brewery itself is less than a year old, but it is brewing some seriously delicious beer.

What to drink: Serpent Summer Ale, a crisp, refreshing Belgian wheat that goes down so easy it’s scary. International Bittering Units (IBU): 20; Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 5 percent

Details: 550 S. Vandalia St. No, 160, St Paul; 612-964-6288; lakemonsterbrewing.com

SURLY BREWING

Like everything else this Minneapolis brewery has done, their 1.5-acre beer garden dwarfs any other local brewery’s outdoor beer-drinking space. The park-like space includes sculptures, several bean-bag toss stations, a deck for full-service dining, fire pits and massive expanses of soft, green grass. It’s kind of like Disney World for beer lovers.

What to drink: Surly Pils, which is a series of crisp, bitter, low-alcohol lagers, each of which will explore different hop varieties. International Bittering Units (IBU): NA; Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 4.7 percent

Details: 520 Malcolm Ave. S.E., Minneapolis; 763-999-4040; surlybrewing.com

URBAN GROWLER

This pretty patio is surrounded by planters that make you forget you’re in an industrial area. With a full menu of pub favorites like burgers, tacos and sandwiches, the communal picnic tables fill up fast in nice weather. There is the ubiquitous bean-bag toss, and a giant Jenga game to keep restless customers occupied, and the brewery hosts live music on Wednesdays, too.

What to drink: The super-fun American Wheat Pale Ale, brewed with red and white wheat and blue corn. A cornucopia of hops gives it a bold, bitter flavor that is uncharacteristic of most wheat beers we’ve tried. International Bittering Units (IBU): 45; Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 5.5 percent

Details: 2325 Endicott St., St. Paul; 651-340-5793; urbangrowlerbrewing.com