It’s official: The National Climatic Data Center reported this year’s winter was the fourth warmest on record. While it’s nice not to have to thaw out from winter like we did last year, it’s only recently been warm enough for Chicagoans to hit the streets and kick back with a summer drink. Now that warmer days are here to stay, there are some things you should know about summer drinking in the city.
4. You can still vary what you drink.
Because winter this year wasn’t as harsh as usual, a lot of bar goers didn’t make the switch to winter drinks. Instead, they stuck with summer drinks, which means there have been fewer order changes from this winter to this spring and summer.
“It’s not as definite a shift,” said Alex Pitcairn, a bartender at Nevin’s Pub in Evanston, when discussing what he has seen his patrons order over the past year. “Some people didn’t even stop drinking their summer drinks.”
So, if you’re one of those people who started sipping strawberry margaritas in June and hasn't stopped since, never fear. Look for other drinks with fruit juices and citrus flavor to change your “usual” order, like gimlets, lemon drops and the there’s-gotta-be-a-great-story-behind-the-name salty Chihuahua.
3. Summer beers are back.
If you can’t think of a way to change on your own, breweries and distilleries have worked to change for you. Summer beers and ales are a change from winter brews like Guinness and Newcastle. Their flavor profiles have a more distinct citrus taste – and they’re supposed to be served with lemon, lime, or orange wedges.
Many local bars order summer beers and ales for their patrons as soon as the seasons change because people want a “refreshing taste ... that’s not very heavy,” said Bar Louie manager Kevin Ethridge, adding that many of his regular guests switch beers "as soon as the months change."
Look for Bell’s Brewery’s Oberon Ale, or Sam Adam’s Summer Ale, and local bars – they’ve already been popular this season.
2. Local breweries and distilleries are your friend.
While the national-brand beers are national and successful for a reason, some local businesses also produce great liquor and beer. Evanston’s own FEW Spirits makes whiskey, which is great for winter, and gin, which goes great with tonic water or classic martinis. But beyond the classics, local breweries are also adapting to new tastes.
“It’s a different market,” said Bat 17 owner Jim Pomerantz. Because there are now so many craft beers, Pomerantz says people expect a beer list, in the same way they would have asked for a wine list five or 10 years ago. Look for Clown Shoes’ brewery on beer lists in Bat 17 and other Chicago bars this summer – Clown Shoes is a Massachusetts brewery, but they’re known for their small batch beers and ales.
1. “Low calorie” drinks? Not quite.
Lots of people order vodka and sodas, gin and tonics, and similar cocktails because, as Nevin’s Pitcairn jokes, they’re “drinks that people tell themselves are low calorie drinks, that really aren’t.”
Instead of ordering alcohol – which has a lot of calories already – with another calorie-heavy mixer, stick to ordering drinks on the rocks, with water, or with diet soda. It’s an easy way to avoid deceptive drinks that will pinch your wallet, and your waistline. But above all, order what you want. It’s nice to just “sit on the patio on a nice summer day” and have a cocktail, said Ethridge.