There’s nothing quite like the first week of class in Syracuse; slip and slides dotting lawns left and right and students enjoying the summer sun on rooftops and porches, taking advantage of the last couple weeks of summer.

The perfect complement to any summer hangout is a great summer beer, and one of the best out there today is Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale. The Petaluma, California brewery’s creation is exactly what you would expect from the west coast beer scene today: light-bodied with hints of citrus and more than a fair amount of hops.

Little Sumpin’ smells like a true summer beer right off the bat and it looks like one too. The beer has a very light gold color to it and produces a thick and light head. Little Sumpin’ stands alone from other summer beers and wheat ales when it comes to its flavor though. Surprisingly hoppy and light, yet still malty and smooth like an ale, the beer packs a punch of flavor I was not expecting.

Lagunitas calls Little Sumpin’ “way smooth and silky,” and they’re not wrong. Little Sumpin’ goes down smooth like an ale but has the bite of an India Pale Ale. Your first sip has hop-filled flavor to it with the bitterness of an IPA, but it goes down smooth and creamy like an ale with notes of citrus lingering on the tongue.

Little Sumpin’ has the perfect blend of hoppy, sweet and smooth flavor and its citrus accents, light and crisp body make it the perfect summer beer. While the kids on Euclid are still sitting on porches and roofs in the warm summer weather, it’s summer beer time. For now, the thought of the long, cold, Central New York winter is still a distant concept. The sun is still shining and guys and girls decked out in tank tops and sundresses are still filing down Marshall Street. So open up that lawn chair, make sure to remember sunscreen and give Little Sumpin’ a try.