Hot weather’s a great time for a lighter-bodied Kolsch-style ale, and we’re lucky that right up the road we have Blackstone Restaurant and Brewery (1918 West End, Nashville) and its Chaser Pale. This crisp beer is just what the Skipper ordered, and it was awarded a gold medal at the World Beer Cup a few years back. It’s not being bottled right now, but you can take a growler home when you next visit Blackstone, Middle Tennessee’s first craft brewery.

Summer’s also a great time for wheat beers, which are often lighter in alcohol and calories than other styles but still provide a range of flavors. One of my favorites is Hoegaarden, a Belgian “white” ale, available on tap at Mellow Mushroom (2955 S. Rutherford Blvd.) or by six-pack for $9.49 at Stones River Total Beverage (208 N. Thompson Lane). It has a dry, fruity and slightly sour flavor created by the addition of coriander and orange peel during the brewing process.

Amazingly, there are some out there who dispute that the Beer Skipper is the tastemeister of the tap. Today we’ll humor Andy Hite, the man behind SRTB’s “big-beer” selection.

For those who don’t know, in Tennessee a beer that is more than 6.3 percent alcohol by volume (a.k.a. “big” beer) must be sold in a liquor store. This has led to a miserable selection of strong beers in the Volunteer state, but SRTB, currently carrying 200-plus varieties of “big” beer, is trying to change that.

Because Hite’s an unrepentant hops-head, his summer slam includes Stone India Pale Ale and its cousin, Arrogant Bastard (both $5.99 per 22 oz. bottle), as well as Dogfish Head Aprihop ($10.99). Andy says his best value right now is Oskar Blues microbrewery’s Dale’s Pale Ale, with a six-pack going for $9.99. Brewed and canned?yes, it was the first craft brewery to start canning its ales?in Lyons, Co., Dale’s was named “Top American Pale Ale” by The New York Times and one of the “Best Beers in the World” by Men’s Journal.