Labor Day weekend is the last long stretch of summer and, more and more, the unofficial start of fall beer season, all inside the same three days. That means one cookout beer is not enough. You want something crisp for the last hot afternoon by the pool, something with weight for the biggest grill session of the year, and maybe one beer that eases you into the next few months. Here are six that cover all of it, each one tasted and rated for the site.
Below are the six beers we would actually put in the cooler for a Labor Day weekend, from the last crisp lager of summer to the malty marzen that eases you into fall. Every pick links to its full review, and you can grab a case in a couple of taps.
Best Beers for Labor Day at a Glance
| Beer | Style | Our rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modelo Especial | Mexican Lager | 4.0/5 | Best for the last hot weekend |
| Corona Extra | Mexican Lager | 3.5/5 | Best for the pool or the lake |
| Sierra Nevada Pale Ale | Pale Ale | 4.3/5 | Best all-around cookout beer |
| Bell’s Two Hearted Ale | IPA | 4.8/5 | Best for the biggest spread of the weekend |
| Guinness Draught | Stout | 4.6/5 | Best once the sun goes down |
| Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen | Marzen / Oktoberfest | 4.4/5 | Best for welcoming in fall |
Labor Day is the last day of summer and the first day of fall beer season, back to back. Pack the cooler for both.
Modelo Especial
Labor Day weather is a coin flip, but odds are it is still hot where you are, and this is the beer that does not ask any questions. Clean, lightly bready and easy to drink through an entire afternoon on the deck without wearing you out. Read the full Modelo Especial review.
- Crisp and clean, works with anything off the grill
- A crowd-pleaser everyone already knows
- Great value by the case for a three-day weekend
- Not much going on if you want complexity
Corona Extra
If your Labor Day plan involves a dock, a pool or a cooler in the sand, this is the one to pack. It is thin on its own, but a wedge of lime turns it into the most refreshing thing in the cooler. Keep it buried in ice, not sitting in the sun. Read the full Corona Extra review.
- Extremely refreshing for a last day at the water
- The lime lifts it from plain to great
- Cheap to buy in bulk for a weekend crowd
- Skunks fast in the clear bottle if it sits in the sun
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
The one beer on this list that works for the entire weekend, not just one part of it. Piney, citrusy hops cut through a fatty burger or a plate of ribs at the final backyard cookout of the season, and it is bitter enough to still taste like something by can number three. Read the full Sierra Nevada Pale Ale review.
- Bright Cascade pine and citrus
- The benchmark American pale ale
- Versatile with almost anything off the grill
- Hop bite is a lot if your crowd only drinks lager
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
Labor Day cookouts tend to be the biggest spread of the summer, more food, more people, more time at the grill. This is the beer for whoever is running that grill. Big Centennial hop character with enough malt backbone to hold up all afternoon, and it is one of the highest-rated IPAs going. Read the full Bell’s Two Hearted Ale review.
- Big Centennial citrus hops
- Smooth for its strength
- One of the top-rated IPAs on the market
- 7 percent ABV sneaks up on you over a long weekend
Guinness Draught
Once the sun drops and the grill goes from burgers to whatever is left in the cooler, this is the beer that fits. Roasted barley gives it coffee and dark chocolate notes that work with smoke and char just as well as a lager does, and at 4.2 percent you can keep drinking it long after the pool closes for the day. Read the full Guinness Draught review.
- Roasty coffee and dark chocolate notes made for smoke
- Low enough ABV to drink all evening
- The nitro pour is its own bit of theater at a party
- A hard sell to guests who only drink lager
Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen
Labor Day is the pivot point, the last day of summer and the unofficial start of Oktoberfest season in the same weekend. Paulaner’s Marzen is smooth, toasty and bready with none of the harsh bitterness of a summer IPA, so it is the easiest way to toast the season changing without leaving the cookout. Read the full Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen review.
- Smooth, bready malt built for the shift into fall
- Balanced enough for people who do not like hoppy beer
- Authentic Munich festival brew
- A step sweeter and heavier than the rest of this list
What to pack for the last cookout of the season
A Labor Day cookout usually means more people and more time outside than a normal weekend, so a couple of these make the day easier.
Labor Day Beer FAQ
What is the best beer for Labor Day weekend?
For the widest crowd, a crisp Mexican lager like Modelo Especial covers the whole weekend. If the cookout is the main event, a balanced pale ale like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is hard to beat.
Is Labor Day weekend the start of Oktoberfest beer season?
Close to it. Real Oktoberfest in Munich runs from mid-September, but most US breweries and import shelves start stocking marzen-style beers like Paulaner Oktoberfest right around Labor Day, which is why it works as both a last-cookout and first-of-fall pick.
How much beer should I buy for a Labor Day cookout?
A common rule of thumb is two drinks in the first hour and one per hour after that. For a Labor Day gathering that runs most of the day, plan for roughly two cases per ten guests plus a lighter option for the hottest stretch.
What beer goes with the last barbecue of the summer?
Roasted, malt-forward beers hold up best as the grill goes from burgers to whatever is left in the cooler. Guinness Draught‘s coffee and chocolate notes work with smoke and char, and a toasty amber does the same job for lighter drinkers.
