Cylindrical Summer

Keep things easy-going and pop open one of these ice-cold canned beverages

We’re dubbing this the summer of easy drinking, and it doesn’t get easier than popping open an ice-cold can. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of our favorites from around the South to keep you quenched from the beach to the golf course to laid-back porch happy hours in the sweet summer heat.

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Beer | Cider

SUMMER JAM FRUITED SOUR ALE 

Barrel Culture
Durham, North Carolina

Barrel Culture has beautifully minimalist can designs, but they’re more than just a pretty face. This sour ale drinks more like a brightly carbonated sour. The aroma of dried pineapple and detectibly tart, juicy pineapple flavor are perfectly balanced by the beet’s earthy undertones.

LOUISVILLE LAGER

Goodwood
Louisville, Kentucky

Goodwood applies Kentucky’s bourbon sensibilities to the beer scene, using the same limestone water and aging brews in used bourbon barrels. Louisville Lager is also a nod to the state’s sporting history, as it’s aged in barrels made of white ash, the wood commonly used in baseball bats. The result is a smooth drinker with a malty finish.

TEXAS HONEY CIDER

Austin EastCiders
Austin, Texas

Surprisingly for something with honey in the name, this cider isn’t overly sweet or cloying, instead bringing all the flavors of honey to play with crisp, tart apples. Pair it with a summer fruit salad for a relaxing afternoon on the porch.

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Wine | Kombucha

CARBONIC

Old Westminster
Westminster, Maryland

For the red drinkers who can’t be bothered to switch when summer heats up, Carbonic is here for you. This canned Cabernet Franc, with notes of red berries and pomegranate, is delightful with a little chill on it.

WATERMELON LIME HIGH-GRAVITY KOMBUCHA

Walker Brothers 
Nashville 

The watermelon candy of your childhood meets the ‘booch of your hipster phase in the best possible way. Plus, it’s easy on digestion, which means no beer bloat. We were skeptical about alcoholic kombucha, but consider us converts.

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Cocktails | Seltzers

AMERICANO 2.0

Five Drinks Co.
Miami

Don’t love fruity cocktails? You can still get your can on this summer. This seductively bitter americano update pairs sweet vermouth with amaro and lightens things up with a splash of soda water.

MAI TAI

Post Meridiem Spirits
Atlanta

Big things come in small packages and these teeny-tiny cans are big on flavor—and alcohol content. This honey-colored mai tai brings all the tropical fruity notes without over-the-top sweetness.

SATSUMA MANDARIN

Cathead Distillery
Jackson, Mississippi

Known for their flagship vodka, Cathead Distillery launched a line of sparkling cocktails this spring. The satsuma mandarin version is easy on the sweetness and tastes like a freshly peeled orange segment. 

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Accessories

WHITE WING SCOUT COOLER ($179)

Mission Mercantile
San Antonio, Texas

Tote your cans in style with this waxed canvas bag—it can hold a 12-pack (with ice) and features antique brass and leather accents; a heavy-duty, leakproof vinyl lining; and a front zipper pocket for tucking away essentials like your keys and wallet.

NON-TIPPING CAN COOLER ($24)

Toadfish
Charleston

Keep your drink ultra-chilled and upright—the grippy base sticks to any smooth surface to keep it from tipping but releases easily when you pick it up. In addition to the regular 12-ounce, there’s a slim version perfect for skinny seltzers and a 16-ounce for tall boys.

COCKTAIL NAPKINS ($22-$28, set of 4)

Dot & Army
Brunswick, Georgia

Dot & Army, named for owner Jennifer Zamudio’s maternal grandparents, produces a variety of small-batch, sustainable textiles. These 10-inch cocktail napkins are the perfect way to take your backyard happy hour from casual to upscale without wasting paper products.

NESTING STRAWS ($34.95)

Lastrå
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

We all want to save the sea turtles, but reusable straws can be cumbersome. Lastrå has streamlined the process with a trio of nesting straws and a cleaning brush all packaged in a kit hardly larger than a straw itself—easy to toss in your purse or cooler.

For all of our canned beverage recommendations and more summer easy drinking, subscribe here.