For some, the hot, muggy weather demands a different kind of beer than the cooler months. And it seems that plenty of brewers are crafting special summer beers in the hopes of offering a tasty, refreshing option for those customers.

I'm making it a point this summer to sample a variety of these seasonal offerings in an effort to uncover some bottled treasures. This serious research project got off to a good start last week with Saranac's 12 Beers of Summer, a variety pack with six different beers.

I like the way this brewery in central New York makes and packages its beer. It brews a lot of different types and often sells them in variety packs, so you can sample a bunch with the purchase of just one six- or 12-pack.

I haven't tried all six of their summer offerings yet, but I especially enjoyed the Summer Ale, which Saranac says is made with "generous amounts of wheat malt for a light, refreshing taste."

I also liked the Belgian White, which Saranac describes as a classic Belgian-style "witbier," or white beer..."smooth, tangy and very thirst quenching."

I looked forward to the Mountain Ale, "brewed with blackberries, raspberries and sweetened with a touch of blueberry honey," but found it a little too sweet.

I plan to spend at least part of my Fourth of July weekend sampling Saranac's other offerings, such as its Hefeweizen and Golden Pilsener.

I uncovered another bottled treasure last week with Sierra Nevada's Summerfest, described "as lighter in body than our ales but just as complex in character, Summerfest quenches your thirst with big aroma and a tangy hop bite."

I found both the Summerfest and Saranac's Sumer Ale smooth and tasty. I'll just have to do more research this summer to decide which I like better.