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Welcome to Chowhound Recommends, Chowhound’s weekly series where our staff shares our favorite food and kitchen items around a central theme. This week we’re celebrating National Beer Day on April 7th by professing our love to our favorite beers. Keep reading for our picks and make sure you stock your fridge in time to cheers to this glorious holiday!

As food writers, editors, producers, and social media managers, we’re constantly scouring the market for the latest and greatest products. And when we find a product we love, we want to shout it from the rooftops! We’re packaging up our weekly finds and sharing them with you, because we think you’ll love them too. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @Chowhound to catch us talking about our favorite products every week.

Lauren Zaser: Social Media Manager

Product: Threes Brewing “Vliet”

There are so many great beers to choose from at Threes Brewing. One of my favorites is their pilsner, Vliet. At 5.2%ABV I can already tell this is going to make for a great summer easy drinking beer. It’s much higher quality than the national brands and has a festive label (I’m always a sucker for a good label #millenialproblems). A tad hoppier than normal pilsners, it’s balanced with floral notes and a nice crispness. If you’re in NYC I can’t recommend checking out their location in Gowanus, Brooklyn enough. Even if you don’t like beer, their backyard is a great place to hangout in the warmer months.

Kristin Cassidy: Director, Special Projects

Product: Montauk Brewing Company “Watermelon Session Ale”

My pick is Montauk Brewing Company’s Watermelon Ale. It tastes like summer in a can and makes me feel like I’m back in Montauk. It’s light, crisp, and refreshing, PLUS it comes in a cute pink can. If you’re ever in Montauk check out their tasting room—it’s small but has an outdoor space and is a great way to spend a beautiful, lazy summer afternoon.

Nathan Carpenter: Video Producer

Product: 21st Amendment Brewery “Hell Or High Watermelon”

I look forward to 21st Amendment Brewery’s summer seasonal release, “Hell Or High Watermelon,” all winter long every year. It’s by far the most refreshing beer ever produced. It’s a fairly light-bodied wheat beer brewed with real watermelon, so it’s not sweet or overpowering. Just a hint of watermelon goodness. It’s the ultimate summertime thirst-quencher, perfect for barbecues or any other outdoor warm-weather event. I’m super excited it’s that time of year again and you should be too!

Owen Stretch: Head of Video

Product: Steamworks Brewing Company “Pilsner”

Being a good Canadian kid, I had to choose a beer from north of the border. I chose this one from the Steamworks Brewing Company in my hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia, located in the historic Gastown neighborhood. It’s their signature Pilsner beer, inspired by the authentic Czech Pilsners, which pairs perfectly with a warm Summer day. Try it out, if you think you can handle a mighty Canadian beer.

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.

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It’s never too late to learn something new—especially when it comes to cooking. These cookbooks highlight chefs with different perspectives on learning to enjoy cooking. Whether you have a family or you’re happily flying solo, there are ways to make your kitchen and existing ingredients work for you and your appetite. Even if you’re just learning to boil water, these chefs will meet you where you are and teach you that cooking is about more than necessity—it can become a passion.

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.

“Where Cooking Begins” by Carla Lalli Music, $19.50 on Amazon

Carla Lalli Music streamlines cooking into simple, understandable terms. Inspired by meals she whips up for her own family, her guide outlines six cooking techniques that she views as absolutely indispensable. She also gives guidelines on making swaps and substitutions so you never feel stuck in a rut of recipes.Buy Now

“Salt Fat Acid Heat” by Samin Nosrat, $22.50 on Amazon

What makes a delicious meal? It all begins with how these ingredients coexist together. Chef Samin Nosrat has taught pro chefs as well as middle school students how to cook with her revolutionary philosophy. The meals are as delicious as they are simple, and they include ingredients that you definitely have on hand. Don’t worry—you got this!Buy Now

“How to Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman, $19.99 on Amazon

This cookbook has been the home cook’s guide for many years, and now it’s been released with revised tips and recipes. Mark Bittman focuses on natural, fresh ingredients that will leave you not only wanting more, but excited to whip up your next delicious meal as well.Buy Now

“Twelve Recipes” by Cal Peternell $27.99 on Amazon

Not only is Cal Peternell’s cookbook stunningly colorful, it features basic techniques and recipes that will help you feel confident in the kitchen. Peternell first began collecting these recipes when his eldest son left for college—completely unprepared to cook for himself. This book is much more than a guide for college students—it’s a guide for anyone hoping to cook healthy meals independently.Buy Now

“Super Easy Cookbook for Beginners” by Lisa Grant, $13.49 on Amazon

Lisa Grant compiles 120 five-ingredient recipes that you’re sure to love as you learn the basics of cooking. She also takes the time to highlight cooking skills and techniques that you’ll remember for years to come.Buy Now

“Simple: The Easiest Cookbook in the World” by Jean-Francois Mallet, $13.59 on Amazon

Jean-Francois Mallet managed to compile an entire book of recipes that consists of less than four steps and fewer than six ingredients. It also has tons of photos so that you’ll be able to follow along without fear of getting lost.Buy Now

“Cook Like A Pro: Recipes and Tips for Home Cooks” by Ina Garten, $18.32 on Amazon

No one knows their way around the kitchen better than the Barefoot Contessa. Garten’s goal with this book were to help home cooks find their sense of confidence in the kitchen—regardless of their experience level. As always, she delivers.Buy Now

“Small Victories: Recipes, Advice + Hundreds of Ideas for Home Cooking Triumphs” by Juia Turshen, $19.18 on Amazon

Julia Turshen focuses on achievable recipes that will leave your mouth watering for more. Turshen includes recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—as well as little lessons that will make your time in the kitchen more useful and fulfilling.Buy Now

“The I Don’t Know How to Cook Book” by Mary-Lane Kamberg, $15.29 on Amazon

With over 300 simplified recipes, Mary-Lane Kamberg has assembled a go-to cookbook for recipes that you know and love, but may not be comfortable with whipping up on your own. There’s even a glossary of cooking terms so you never feel in over your head.Buy Now

“The First Real Kitchen Cookbook” by Jill Carle, $14.97 on Amazon

This book may be intended for college students moving into their first real homes, but it’s great for everyone. Jill Carle proves that a four burner stove and a pantry stocked with basics are all you need for a delicious meal.Buy Now

Browse more of our favorite cookbooks, from classic women-authored cookbooks to oddly compelling celebrity cookbooks.

 

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