Beer at the beach

The kids are off for three months, but summer fun is for adults, too! Put a couple of these refreshing beverages in your cooler before heading out to soak up some sun. When packing up for an excursion, include some of these easy on-the-go snacks to keep everyone satisfied.

Refreshing Grown-Up Beverages

Truly one of a kind

At only 100 calories and one gram of sugar per bottle, Truly Spiked & Sparkling is the perfect way to enjoy a cool summer drink without compromising your waistline. Available in a variety of crisp, clean flavors like Sicilian Blood Orange and Colima Lime, you’ll want to keep your cooler stocked with these spiked waters all beach season.

Don’t worry, beer happy

Traditional ginger beer gets a grownup makeover with Farmer Willie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer. This tasty drink has not only all the revitalizing flavor of a regular ginger beer but also about four times less molasses than its nonalcoholic counterparts, so you can enjoy all the taste without the added sugar.

No troubles, just bubbles

On a hot summer day, there is nothing quite like a thirst-quenching beverage to help you kick back and relax. Whether you are at the beach or having a barbecue with friends, Spike Seltzer drinks are delicious all on their own or used in a fun mixed drink.

You vodka be kidding me

Deep Eddy’s line of flavored vodkas makes for the perfect addition to any fun summer cocktails. With bright, seasonal flavors like sweet tea, ruby red grapefruit and peach, there is no end to the concoctions you can create at your next get-together.

Easy Beach Snacks

Don’t skip the chips

Think potato chips have to be bland? Think again! These new flavor-packed kettle-cooked chips from Cape Cod are infused with fresh ingredients that will forever change how you look at everyone’s favorite sandwich side. From robust Mediterranean to spicy jalapeño, these bold varieties are sure to tantalize your taste buds.

One smart cookie

Something sweet is just what you’ll need after spending a day by the salty sea. These gluten-free Archway Cookie Thins are perfect to pack in your beach bag for snacking between invigorating dips in the ocean and lively volleyball games.

Fan-ta-stick snacks

These flavorful pretzel sticks from Snyder’s are the perfect on-the-go snack for busy summer afternoons. Grab one or both of the new flavors, Hot Buffalo Wing and Honey Mustard & Onion.

Bounty of bites

For an indulgent treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth, try these truffle-like bites from Larabar. Ideal for a beach day or picnic, these vegan and dairy-free delights contain just five to six simple ingredients.

It’s always fun when an event you planned months in advance works out perfectly, that was last night. My husband and I had tickets to see Sting with the Philharmonic Orchestra at Jones Beach Theater. For those of you outside this area, it’s an outdoor amphitheater. Jones Beach Theater is an intimate setting that is heavily dependent on weather.

Summer nights have been beastly hot this year and three weeks ago, an outdoor summer concert would have been a breeze-less, unpleasant, sweat fest. Not last night, it was cool and dry with a lovely breeze and a huge, reddish-orange full moon that rose behind the stage and cast a glimmer on the water.

Back up a few hours, it was my husband’s intent to take most of the day and hang at the beach, have a picnic dinner and then go to the concert…but as Murphy’s law would have it, life got in the way of that all day plan at the beach.

We got a late start, like 4pm, driving to Long Island. Those of you who live here know that we sat it a lot of traffic to get to the beach. Once we arrived, the stress melted away. I dug my toes in the sand and enjoyed the cool, salty breezes. The water was pleasant and after an hour of chatting and reading magazines, I turned to my husband and said “beer me.”

It’s a college phrase, or it was in my day, meaning “please open up a beer for me.”

I earned a big eye roll for that, but he did pop open a Bard’s Beer for me. Does it get any better than this? A beautiful evening, good company, lots of good snacks and a well chilled beer on the beach (of course, poured into a cup so as not to flout any open container rules).

I like this beer, it’s got a great color and great taste. Plus, as beer aficionados, the founders of Bard’s Beer, Craig Belser and Kevin Seplowitz, have a great story. Their website promotes the theory of great conversation over a cold beer, which they have made available for the growing number of celiac beer aficionados.

So I may have gotten a little ‘tude for my “beer me” comment, but I also got a great beer to compliment a great evening.