There’s Nothing Better Than A Shower Beer

It’s 5 p.m. on a Saturday in July, and the weather is still sweltering. Maybe you just got back from the beach or the park or a lake, and you have dinner plans in mere hours. The shower is beckoning to you, not with its promise of steaming hot water enveloping you, making it hard to breathe, like the showers you cherish in the winter months… no. It promises a cool, chill reprieve from the boiling temperatures outside, the icy droplets pounding down on your scalp. And there’s only one thing that can effectively multiply the pleasure of a cold summer shower: a shower beer.

A shower beer is cold, crisp, refreshing—somehow way more refreshing than a beer enjoyed in any other context. When you’re taking a shower, a beer almost feels as if it’s cleansing you from the inside out so you exit the bathroom as fresh as a baptized baby, ready to enjoy the rest of your summer evening. It’s a way to start celebrating before the celebration has even begun, an anticipatory tipple that informs your body that it’s about to have the perfect summer evening.

I’m no beer expert, but I firmly believe that there are some varieties of beer that are more appropriate to drink in the shower than others. IPAs are out automatically: This isn’t about impressing your bros with your selection of the bitterest, hoppiest beer on the menu. The idea is to stick to something light, crisp and refreshing. I personally love a sour beer or a gose, but it’s not for everyone. A simple lager is a solid choice, as is a hefeweizen. And please, for the love of god, don’t subject yourself to a coffee-flavored beer in the shower; you can grab an espresso separately if you need some energy for the evening.

Another factor you’ll want to consider is the vessel from which you choose to drink your brew. The elite option is to drink your shower beer straight from the can. This is about ease and comfort, after all, not presentation. You can crack open the can anytime, whether you want to take your first swig while you’re prepping for your shower or you want to wait until after your hair is washed. Not every beer comes in a can, though, so if you’re working with a bottle, make sure to pour it into a cup before you take it into the bathroom. You don’t want to accidentally make a dangerous mess with the potential for broken glass in your shower. There’s no need to get fancy here either; a plain plastic cup is fine, although one with a lid is preferred, especially if you have a shower that’s on the smaller side.

Of course, there are plenty of other beverages you can enjoy in the shower. White and sparkling wine can make for delicious shower companions at certain times of year, and I’d be lying if I said I’d never thrown back a cocktail while getting clean. But during the hottest days of the year, something about a shower beer, specifically, feels refreshingly indulgent in a way that few other drinks can rival. So, whether you’re headed out for a steamy night on the town or you’re just getting clean so you feel more comfortable while you kick back and watch your favorite show, bring your beer into the shower with you. Until you do, you’ll never know how good a simple brew can truly taste.

Samantha Maxwell is a food writer and editor based in Boston. Follow her on Twitter at @samseating.