“Table beers” have been cropping up on shelves and in bars over the past few months, joining the small but growing ranks of other lighter and lower-alcohol craft offerings. Like table wine, this style of beer is an everyday kind of drink – as opposed to the big or special-event ones – that works well with light meals. It could also fall into the session-beer category if you’re looking for something easygoing on a night out.

Known in Belgium as Tafelbier, the new craft table beers don't necessarily have a Belgian influence and can be anything from a pale ale to Saison. Irish microbrewery Kinnegar in Donegal has just released a 3.5 per cent table beer – one of the first beers to come from its new K2 brewery – that is part of its special Brewers at Play series. This has a big and lovely citrus and tropical fruit aroma which doesn't fully follow through to the taste, which is more restrained with a touch of biscuit malt, a low bitterness, and a very light body. It's the perfect thirst-quencher for warm weather and it's aptly named Skinny Legs – because "not all of us have hollow drinking legs but we still like a good old session".

Another new Irish release for the summery weather comes from Whiplash brewery. Its Lemon Smoothie pale ale is called Sunshine Under Ground and it smells – and tastes – a like lemon meringue pie. It has a big burst of citrus zest in the aroma and flavour with a smooth body, a touch of sweetness (from the lactose and wheat), all of which gives it the smoothie effect. It pours with a bright hazy yellow and a good frothy head. It’s well-made and balanced but it’s a big on flavour – so it’s a good one for sharing.

@ITbeerista beerista@irishtimes.com