A backyard barbecue is the one day your beer has a real job to do. It has to survive the heat, stand up to smoke and char, and keep a mixed crowd happy from the first burger to the last rib. That means matching the beer to both the food and the weather, not just grabbing whatever is on offer.
Below are eight beers that earn their place at the grill, each one tasted and rated for the site. There is a crisp lager for the masses, a hoppy pale for the burgers, a roasty stout for the ribs and a light lager for when it is simply too hot to think. Every pick links to its full review, and you can grab a case in a couple of taps.
Best Beers for a Backyard Barbecue at a Glance
| Beer | Style | Our rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modelo Especial | Mexican Lager | 4.0/5 | Best all-rounder |
| Corona Extra | Mexican Lager | 3.5/5 | Best with a lime |
| New Belgium Fat Tire | Amber Ale | 4.1/5 | Best with burgers and steak |
| Sierra Nevada Pale Ale | Pale Ale | 4.3/5 | Best for cutting through grease |
| Bell’s Two Hearted | IPA | 4.8/5 | Best for bold, spicy BBQ |
| Guinness Draught | Stout | 4.6/5 | Best with ribs and brisket |
| Coors Light | Light Lager | 3.1/5 | Best for a hot day |
| Blue Moon Belgian White | Witbier | 4.0/5 | Best with grilled chicken and veg |
The right BBQ beer does not steal the show from the food. It stands next to the smoke and the char and makes both taste better.
Modelo Especial
The safe pick that keeps a whole cookout happy. It is clean, crisp and lightly bready, so it cuts through smoke and grease without fighting your food. Hand one to anyone from a craft nerd to your uncle and nobody complains. Read the full Modelo Especial review.
- Crisp and clean, works with almost anything off the grill
- A crowd-pleaser everyone already knows
- Great value by the case
- Not much going on if you want complexity
Corona Extra
Peak hot-afternoon beer. On its own it is thin, but a wedge of lime turns it into the most refreshing thing on the table. Keep the bottles buried in ice and out of direct sun. Read the full Corona Extra review.
- Extremely refreshing over a hot grill
- The lime lifts it from plain to great
- Cheap to buy in bulk
- Skunks fast in the clear bottle if it sits in the sun
- Flavour is light without the garnish
New Belgium Fat Tire
Toasty, caramel-forward amber that was basically built for charred red meat. The malt echoes the crust on a smashburger or a ribeye, and the balance means you can drink a few without getting worn out. Read the full New Belgium Fat Tire review.
- Malty balance that matches char and caramelised beef
- Versatile with most grilled mains
- Easy drinking at 5.2 percent
- A bit middle-of-the-road if you chase big hops
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
The classic American pale ale, and a burger’s best friend. Piney, citrusy hops slice straight through a fatty patty or a pile of wings and reset your palate for the next bite. Read the full Sierra Nevada Pale Ale review.
- Bright hops cut through grease and fat
- A benchmark beer that always delivers
- Pairs with burgers, wings and dogs
- The bitterness can be a step too far for macro-lager drinkers
Bell’s Two Hearted
When the food gets loud, this is the beer that answers back. Huge Centennial citrus and pine stand up to a spicy dry rub, pulled pork or anything slathered in sauce, and it is remarkably smooth for the flavour it packs. Read the full Bell’s Two Hearted review.
- Massive citrus-pine flavour that matches bold sauces
- Smooth and balanced for an IPA
- Our highest rated pick
- At 7 percent it sneaks up over a long cookout
Guinness Draught
Do not sleep on a dark beer at a BBQ. The roast and light coffee notes in Guinness are a natural match for smoky ribs and brisket, and at just 4.2 percent you can sip it all afternoon without fading. Read the full Guinness Draught review.
- Roasty depth that loves smoke and bark
- Silky smooth from the nitro pour
- Low 4.2 percent ABV for all-day drinking
- Feels heavy if it is scorching hot out
Coors Light
Not exciting, but exactly right when it is 90 degrees and you are three hours into a cookout. Ice cold and low in alcohol, it is the lawnmower beer that keeps a crowd hydrated and happy. Read the full Coors Light review.
- Crushable and low calorie
- Cheap by the case for a crowd
- Does the job when it is boiling out
- Very little flavour
- Has to be near freezing to shine
Blue Moon Belgian White
The lighter side of the grill wants a lighter beer. Blue Moon’s orange peel and coriander play beautifully with grilled chicken, corn on the cob and charred veg, and the smooth wheat body suits people who find hops a bit much. Read the full Blue Moon Belgian White review.
- Citrus and spice pair with chicken, corn and veg
- Smooth, approachable wheat body
- An easy sell to non-beer-drinkers
- Leans sweet for some palates
- Better with the orange slice
The Gear That Makes It Easier
Good beer is half the battle. The right tools handle the rest. These are the barbecue basics worth having in the garage before the next cookout.
Backyard BBQ Beer FAQ
What is the best beer for a barbecue?
For a crowd, a crisp Mexican lager like Modelo Especial is the safest choice because it pairs with nearly everything off the grill. If you want one beer to match smoky, saucy food, a balanced IPA like Bell’s Two Hearted is hard to beat.
What beer goes best with ribs and smoked meat?
Roasty dark beers are the classic match. Guinness Draught’s coffee and chocolate notes echo the smoke and bark on ribs and brisket, and at 4.2 percent you can drink it all day. A malty amber like Fat Tire works too.
How much beer should I buy per person for a cookout?
A common rule of thumb is two drinks for the first hour and one per hour after that. For a four-hour BBQ with ten people, plan for roughly two cases and keep a lighter option on hand for the afternoon heat.
Should I serve light beer or craft beer at a BBQ?
Both. Put out a crushable light lager like Coors Light for the hot stretch and easy drinking, plus a couple of flavourful picks like a pale ale or IPA for the people who want something with more to it. Range keeps everyone happy.
Planning the season-ending version of this cookout? See our Best Beers for Labor Day guide for picks that cover the last hot afternoon and the shift into fall.
