
(Courtesy Lagunitas Brewing)
Summer is ON and American craft brewers are celebrating its arrival with an uber-interesting roster of beers you’re gonna want to have around.
Smokin’ (Petaluma, CA) – The melding of beer and pot continues as Lagunitas returns a stoner classic.
Brewed in honor of the mysterious Waldos, a group of longtime friends, then teenaged stoners, who bonded over the special afterschool pot breaks, Lagunitas The Waldos’ Special Ale is a massive 11.7% Triple IPA, a “highly” limited release that’s as dank as weed can get
Liquid Weed (Portland, OR / Long Beach, Ca) – Von Ebert Brewing has partnered with SoCal’s ISM Brewing and delivered a terpene-forward take on the classic West Coast-Style IPA, Von Ebert + ISM Dynamic Essence is an uber-dank 6.8% ABV India Pale Ale infused with terpenes. Brewers extract terpenes, both from hops and, in some cases, cannabis, to create unique and complex beer tastes. This beer uses hop terpenes.

(Courtesy Von Ebert Brewing)
“In 2025, you’ll see Von Ebert Brewing collaborating with some of our closest friends and award-winning brewers, like ISM Brewing, which has partnered with PDX players for years,” said Eric Ebel, Director of Brewing Operations at Von Ebert Brewing. “This collaboration helps us continue to live up to our brand of being a brewery ‘where tradition meets evolution’ – taking a West Coast IPA and putting our spin on it by amping up the terpenes to make a very tasty beer.”
Flare Care (Lincoln, NE) – Empyrean Brewing has released its latest seasonal beer, a beer that was crafted with summer’s warmer weather in mind. Crisp and smooth with a touch of malt sweetness, Empyrean Solar Flare is a 4.8% ABV Lager that was built on a base of German heirloom barley and finished with a blend of modern hops.

(Courtesy Empyrean Brewing / Untappd)
“We knew we wanted a pale, malt-forward lager in our summer lineup,” said Jim Engelbart, operations manager at Empyrean Brewing. “Solar Flare turned out beautifully – golden, easy and refreshing but with enough flavor to hold-up to wood-fired foods and BBQ.”
“Not every summer beer needs to be citrus-drenched or overly complicated,” Ben Matya, sales manager added. “Solar Flare brings it back to what works. It’s a classic in the best way, easy to drink, and still hits just as well after the second one.”
Founded in 1990, Empyrean Brewing has been a pioneer in Nebraska’s craft beer scene, that continues to push the boundaries of brewing while staying true to its roots.
###
Want more beer suggestions?
We’ve got ‘em…
Classic Imports and Dive Bar Beers
New Craft Beer Pilsners And Dark Ales
New Salt & Lime Lagers And Irish Dry Stouts
New Beer Alert: Hazy India Pale Ales And Tangerine Lagers
Imperial Brown Ales And Belgian-Style Wheat Beers