The Best Beers I Had in May 2025
In May, I celebrated my birthday at Raíces Brewing Company and Strange Craft Beer Company, two great breweries located near Empower Field at Mile High. I also traveled down to the Florida Keys for a little vacation, and tried to sample as many local beers as possible, along with all the seafood and key lime pie my stomach allowed. I ended the month at Resolute Brewing Company with friends, where I had my favorite beer of the month.
Ilusión
Raíces Brewing Company
Bohemian Style Kellerpils/Pilsner, 5.1% ABV
A really solid lager that was crisp, refreshing and perfect for starting the afternoon. You could definitely order this on repeat.
Strange Pale Ale
Strange Craft Beer Company
American Pale Ale, 4.6% ABV
They use a blend of Simcoe, Amarillo, and Cascade for a classic American hop profile that tastes much bigger than the ABV suggests. This is a beer I could drink again and again and again. Just what I want in an American Pale Ale – hop forward, but not overwhelmingly bitter with a nice honey sweetness from the malt.
Iguana Bait
Florida Keys Brewing Company
Kölsch with Honey and Hibiscus, 5.2% ABV
I drank quite a bit of this beer on our trip, but it was best when enjoyed with the killer fish tacos from La Isla Taco Grill in Marathon. The additions of honey and hibiscus in this Kölsch add some slight sweetness and tang to a crisp, refreshing beer. Perfect for sipping on a hot day.
Green Parrot Amber
Waterfront Brewery
American Amber Ale
I think Ambers are one of the most under-appreciated beer styles out there. I drink them year round because I find them perfectly at the intersection of refreshing and nourishing. They’re not too heavy for summer and not too light for winter. This one is a solid example of the style and brewed specifically for the Green Parrot, one of the stalwarts of Key West’s bar scene.
Island Citrus Ale
Islamorada Beer Company
Blonde Ale, 5% ABV
Maybe it’s because this was the first beer I had after a long day of travel, but it was delicious. Super refreshing and crisp, but packed with orange, lime and lemon flavor. A great beer to enjoy all summer long.
Spiny Hopster
Florida Keys Brewing Company
American IPA, 8% ABV
I tried this beer a few times during our time in the Keys and loved it each time. It starts off a little piney and bitter, but finishes with tropical, juicy notes of pineapple, guava, lime and orange zest.
Mega Mix
MIA Beer Company
American Pale Ale, 6% ABV
They call it a Pale Ale, but I might classify it as an Extra Pale Ale because of the strength. Either way, delicious. A mix of Mosaic, Galaxy and Citra creates a nice mix of grapefruit, pineapple and berries to counteract the bitterness.
Turn It Up and Climb
Resolute Brewing Company
West Coast Session IPA, 4.9% ABV
There might be some recency bias here because I had it on the last day of the month, but this was my favorite beer I had in May. I would go to Resolute (a great brewery overall) just to get this beer. It packs in intense passionfruit and citrus hop flavors and aromas without the high ABV. Delicious.