When you open a drink menu and the names of more than 50 beers stare back at you, or when rows and rows of bottles taunt you from a liquor store shelf, it can be hard to decide what beer to try. As the wives of two self-taught craft beer brewers, we’ve learned a lot in the past year about the industry and the variety of tasty brews. We’re always willing to try something new in the name of helping our husbands out–and in the name of educating our own tastebuds.

Craft beers are gaining popularity in the U.S. and while large brewers, like Anheuser-Busch, still hold the majority of the market share, more and more Americans are ditching the often tasteless, well-known beers in favor of more complicated and less-processed craft beers. Once you go craft, you may not go back. In 2009, small and independent craft brewers saw sales revenue increase 10.3 percent and volume increase 7.2 percent in 2008, according to sales numbers from the Brewers Association, a nonprofit that promotes and protects small and independent brewers. If you don’t want to be an expert, but would like to find a decent brew at a bar or at the store, stick with us.

With spring moving in, our thoughts and tastebuds are gravitating toward the many sunny days to come. There are many types of brews that are good for warm days, so we decided to put a few light/spring beers to the test.

Beer me:

• Lancaster Strawberry Wheat
• Alcohol by volume: 4.7%
• Lancaster, Pa.
• LancasterBrewing.com

Melanie says: Lancaster Strawberry Wheat is a very refreshing fruity (obviously) brew perfect for a warm day. The strawberry smell was really strong, but the taste wasn’t quite as flavorful as expected. It was a little tart and possibly contains strawberry extract instead of fresh fruit, because it tastes like a strawberry Pop-Tart. It’s sweet with a hint of hops and contains 4.7 percent alcohol by volume in a 12-oz. bottle. If you like fruit beers or you’re looking for one to try, this one is a great option. Lancaster is a 200-year-old brewery based in Lancaster, Pa.

Meredith says: This beer is sweet but not too sweet. It’s a good beer for chicks who are aren’t beer drinkers – and men secure in their masculinity – and is definitely a warm weather beer. The strawberry is not too overwhelming, but Melanie is right, it is too extracty. I wouldn’t drink more than one.

• Victory Brewing Prima Pils
• Alcohol by volume: 5.3%
• Downingtown, Pa.
• Victorybeer.com

Melanie says: Victory Brewing’s Prima Pils is a golden pale lager that is very easy to drink. It has a malty smell and a hint of lemony taste with a trace of hops. This is a great pilsner with big flavor and it has 5.3 percent alcohol by volume in a 12-oz. bottle. Victory Brewing is based in Downingtown, Pa., which is also the location of its only brew house. They have been in operation since 1996.

Meredith says: Pilsner, how I love you. This is everything a pilsner should be, and then some. This brings out the flavor in just about anything you’re eating. It tastes a little lemony, which makes it super refreshing and light. I could definitely drink a couple of bottles over the course of a meal.

• Dogfish 60 Minute IPA
• Alcohol by volume: 6%
• Brewed in: Rehobeth, Del.
• dogfish.com

Meredith says: Dogfish Head 60 Minute India Pale Ale is the beer equivalent of a Jason Mraz song: light, refreshing, crisp and smooth. The beer, brewed in Lewes, Del., is mildly bitter with a citrusy taste. It’s very balanced and not too filling, with 6 percent alcohol by volume in a 12-oz. bottle. Overall, it’s very drinkable. If you really like it, Dogfish has taphouses in Gaithersburg, Md., Fairfax, Va., Falls Church, Va. and Rehoboth Beach.

Melanie says: This is one of my favorite beers. It’s definitely my go-to beer. It’s smooth and so easy to drink and extremely flavorful. It’s a really hoppy beer, so if you don’t like hops this beer is not for you. If you don’t know if you like hops give it a shot. Beware, more than two of these and you won’t care if you like hops.

• Flying Dog In Heat Wheat
• Alcohol by volume: 4.7%
• Frederick, Md.
• flyingdogales.com

Meredith says: Flying Dog In Heat Wheat Hefeweizen tastes like alcoholic, liquid banana bread, with just a hint of citrus and cloves. If you’re not a fan of bananas, you probably won’t like this much. It’s a very carbonated, light-bodied wheat beer with just a hint of hops, and has a 4.7 percent alcohol by volume in a 12-oz. bottle. Flying Dog’s brewery is based in Frederick, Md.

Beer meh:

Melanie says: There aren’t many hefeweizens I’ve tried that I haven’t liked. This is not one of my favorites. I completely agree with Meredith, the banana in this beer is overwhelming and so is the wheat. The combination ended up being just too much. It’s not on my list for a six-pack.

–written by Meredith Williams & Melanie Kramer

Here’s where to find the brews reviewed in this week’s post:
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