There’s nothing like a cold beer on a hot New Orleans summer day. The condensation on the bottle can or glass is a visual reminder of the refreshment that’s sure to follow. The aroma varies from bread to bananas to pine to citrus to coffee and everything in between. The color ranges from the palest straw gold to burnished copper to the satisfying black of a well-seasoned cast iron skillet.

Beer’s no longer just for summ...