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Though brewed throughout the world, Blonde Ale is really an American creation. Sometimes called Golden Ale or Extra Pale Ale, the style was spawned from the German Kölsch in that it was originally made to compete with pale lagers, but brewed at higher ale temperatures and without maturing in cool conditions for extended periods of time (aka—lagering).

Blonde Ales are straw- to deep-gold in color. Usually an all-malt brew, they're also well attenuated. Look for a dry malty palate with subdued fruitiness, a light body and typically a noble hop character (though many brewers use citrusy American hops, overall the hop character should be light to medium). And like pale lagers, balance is key. That said, a well-brewed Blonde Ale will be flavorful and complex enough to quench the geek in all of us.

That brings us to this week's tasting of Ipswich Summer Ale, brewed by Mercury Brewing Company in Ipswich, Mass. They're well-known for their classic Original Ale, IPA and kickass Oatmeal Stout. Let's see how their summer seasonal holds up.

The Taste

Thin white lacing with some stickage; the retention is pretty impressive. Pours a mildly hazy golden color—it's only a chill haze (proteins) that eventually goes away when the beer reaches cellar temperature. In the nose lies a light, biscuity malt aroma with nutty yeast undertones, spicy hops and suggestions of Asian pear fruitiness from a mild ester-y alcohol. Lush smoothness with a fluffy medium body. Dry cracker maltiness holds strong for a lighter beer. Hop flavor jumps from orangey to earthy and minty; the bitterness is at a perfect level of balance. Mealy apple and pear fruitiness from the yeast. A little husk and toasted grain in the dry finish, too.

Final Thoughts

Hooray! A real summer ale versus yet another boring American Wheat Ale that needs a friggin' lemon to make it palatable! This Blonde Ale is not only extremely drinkable, but also packed with flavor for its size. Bold enough to pair with whatever carnage comes off the grill. And at only 4.9-percent alcohol by volume and 25 IBU (a gauge of bitterness), this is a great session beer that you can enjoy moderately all day long without getting bored.

FOR MORE INFO: MERCURYBREWING.COM

FOR MORE BEER EDUCATION: BEERADVOCATE.COM

RESPECT BEER.

Drinking red wine on a sizzling summer day is akin to drinking an icy beer at a Pats tailgate in November. Potentially difficult, but it just takes some determination. If whites aren't your thing, or you're just craving a California Cabernet, here are some ways to beat the New England heat and get your red fix this season.

STORAGE FACILITIES

We're not going to tell you to run out and buy a $1,000 climate-controlled wine refrigerator. We will, however, tell you that it certainly matters how you store your wine. Regardless of whether you have a few bottles saved up, or end up tearing through your stash faster than Willie Nelson at Bonnaroo, having a proper "cellar" will make your wine taste better.

Light, especially UV from the sun or overhead fluorescents, chemically breaks down the deliciousness in your bottle. Heat is the other major vino killer, as major temperature fluctuations—even over the course of a few days—can "cook" the once-bright fruit in your bottle, giving it dull and boring flavors. It's for these reasons that leaving a few bottles in your car on a hot day is a really bad idea. Instead, find a cool dark home for your wine. Basements are best, but for apartment dwellers, the bottom of a closet or under the sink is a good place for your "cellar."

THE PROPER DRINKING TEMPERATURE

While this might seem overly picky and technical, drinking temperature actually makes a huge difference. Think about how gross warm beer tastes. The same is also true for wine. The optimum temperature for drinking reds is between 50 and 65 degrees. Since Al Gore would surely hunt down anyone who kept his or her A/C at those temperatures, your best bet is to throw your red in the fridge for a few minutes before drinking. Ten to 20 minutes will cool the wine down to a point that even the cheapest bottle will taste significantly better.

SCREW IT, ADD SOME ICE CUBES

There are various red wine concoctions that will not only keep you on budget, but also give you a nice sunny-day buzz as well. Sangria is the obvious choice, as all it takes is some cheap or day-old wine, a few nips of your choice and all the fruit you can hustle.

Another option is to pretend you're a Spanish teenager and mix up a pitcher of Calimocho. Red wine and cola may not be the classiest way to spend your evening, but it sure as hell may be the most refreshing. Grab a jug of red, blend with a two-liter of cola, and—before you know it—you'll be dancing in the sun.

DRINK MORE WINE! FOR MORE INFORMATION AND SUMMERY SANGRIA RECIPES: THESECONDGLASS.COM

In all honesty, I probably wouldn't have known this boutique exists if I didn't walk by it constantly on my way to and from home. In a location previously occupied by a Dahn Yoga studio, it lies along a roadway characterized by restaurants, spas (both kinds) and a smattering of retailers, but it's by no means a commercial bustle. Suneri's frequently updated window displays, featuring breezy summer ensembles and double-take-inducing accessories, piqued my interest ever since their opening in May. In a fit of curiosity, I poked inside; the eclectic, feminine boutique proved a marvel find. As one would have thought, the draw has been healthy—and particularly local.

"Everybody's happy about having a lot of boutiques [in Davis Square]. It's been great—college students, young professionals, all age groups," says Suneri assistant manager Jeong Kim, who has been-there-and-done-that among Boston's more highfalutin shopping districts. "I really like this neighborhood—quiet, friendly, close to my place," Kim says, smiling. "We feel very welcome."

The independent shop goes in many creative directions, all of which focus on lesser-known labels, natural fabrics (like linen, cotton and silk) and international designers. The three sisters who co-own the store—Sudha Bhatnagar, Neena Mathur, Ritu Gorczyca—coined the name Suneri as an amalgam of their names; incidentally, the word also means "golden" in Hindi. Certainly a glow resonates here in all forms, including gorgeous Goka shoes by Providence-based Brazilian designer Alessandra Gold, and embellished pieces by high-end Indian fashion label Linarika ("It definitely has Indian taste, but is very wearable in America," offers Kim).

"We prefer carrying smaller designers," says Kim, who also does some buying. "We're very careful and picky, as we search and search ... " Unfamiliar labels may be risky, but a distinct collection is a priority as Suneri continues to finesse the right balance of styles, designers and price points. LA-based Michele Dahan's "Gold Hawk" silk dresses and Montreal artist Anne-Marie Chagnon's striking pewter-glass-horn jewelry are serious standouts. And for the jean whores, more denim—possibly Japanese—is on its way.

"Customers look forward to seeing our windows on the way home," says Kim. And if I'm any measure, it's totally true. We'll just see how long it lasts as this block's little secret.

[67 Holland St., Davis Sq., Somerville. 617.440.3559. suneriboutique.com]

Despite what some believe, anyone can make a delicious cocktail. With the right tools, quality ingredients and an understanding of basic technique, you can be hoisting the cocktail flag in no time. Last week, Barbara West took us through the basics of shaking vs. stirring. This week, I'd like to introduce you to your new best friend, a device for measuring liquids with precision: the jigger.

Nothing thrills me more than sitting at a bar where a friendly barkeep measures out my cocktail. I've frequently encountered fellow patrons who've claimed that the mandated use of a jigger is the sure sign of a paranoid, penny-pinching proprietor. Au contraire! To me, a staff that uses jiggers is the sign of an establishment concerned about making consistently delicious cocktails.

The jigger is shaped like an irregular hourglass. For the home bar, I suggest two sizes: one measuring 1.5 ounces over 0.75 ounces and one measuring 2 ounces over 1 ounce. With these tools, you can pour the most commonly called-for measurements and can easily approximate lesser amounts through a technique called eyeballing.

For those wishing to be more precise, we suggest the OXO angled measuring cup. Unlike traditional measuring cups, where the increments are marked on the side, this snappy little number displays the increments on an angle that can be viewed from above, thus allowing you to accurately measure small amounts. The tiniest version is perfect for the home mixologist, offering markings from 0.25 ounces to 2 ounces. Now that we have the proper tool, let's put it to use!

HEMINGWAY DAIQUIRI

2 ounces light rum

0.75 ounce fresh lime juice

0.5 ounce fresh grapefruit juice

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp maraschino liqueur

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

FOR MORE TALK ON TOOLS OF THE TRADE, CHECK OUT LUPECBOSTON.BLOGSPOT.COM.

The savvy urban diner is always in search of that hidden gem, eager to discover the restaurant or dish that remains below the radar. Sometimes it's a personal choice of wanting something low-key and high quality before any hype escalates. Other times, it's about one-upping your friends, showing that you can still discover new and novel spots in a well-canvassed city.

Serene Chocolates [1105 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. 617.491.0888. serenechocolates.com] satisfies both of these quests. It's a diamond in the rough along the concrete stretch between Harvard and Central Squares, shadowed by a sushi restaurant and a salon. Once you locate it, the real treasure is finding out that, in addition to the delicious chocolates they sell, they now serve hot dogs. Yep, truffles and weiners.

"Summer is a slow season for chocolate," remarks Brenda Francis, co-owner of the chocolate boutique. She and husband Sandy added hot dogs to the menu, a sort of side hustle to supplement the drop in chocolate sales in hotter months.

They offer 12 types of franks. The topping combinations seem a bit random, but surely people will appreciate anything piled high and smothered in condiments. The New Mexico ($3.95) has tomato, onions, jalapenos and guacamole, while the Florida ($3.95) features mustard, chili, coleslaw and celery salt. The Serene is a signature pick and a clue to the couple's Caribbean connections (Brenda's from Grenada, specifically). It's topped with shaved carrots, mayo, Matouk's hot pepper sauce (a condiment from the islands) and rum raisins—as in, raisins soaked in rum. The mayo and hot sauce blend into a balanced creamy heat over the hot dog, and the raisins plus the bun add a sweet finish. Seems a bit odd, but it works.

In proper mom-and-pop fashion, they are still working out some kinks with the expanded menu. Vegetarians may or may not be able to get the tofu-based alternative, depending on whether or not Sandy has had the chance to pick them up from Harvest Co-op down the street. And the buns could use some toasting, since these aren't those split-top ones so prevalent in New England. Still, the dogs make a great midday meal on the go, and won't melt all over your fingers.

You'd never have a hard time finding a meatball in the North End, but at the Daily Catch [323 Hanover St., North End, Boston. 617.523.8567. dailycatch.com] try them constructed with calamari. You can get two large ones for six bucks. Given that most of us recognize squid all too often in crisply fried form, finding it rolled up is something new to try. The family-owned restaurant's feature item is fresh homemade black pasta ($10.50 for a lunch portion, $21 for an entrée), made using squid ink. Reenact Creature from the Black Lagoon on the table at your own risk.

One may not think of Chinese cuisine for breakfast, so what a find it is to order Hong Kong French toast ($3.99) at Vinh Sun BBQ and Restaurant [58 Beach St., Chinatown, Boston. 617.338.1368]. They serve the eggy bread in all its syrupy goodness, smearing a layer of peanut butter on top. Despite its all-American connotation, the decadent fried breakfast dish remains a common snack in Hong Kong. When in Chinatown, it's something to consider ordering, even after ogling a line of roasted creatures in the window.

Inspired? Now get out there and discover what else you've been missing.

Face melting abounds in the sweltering heat. Luckily, this week's adventure takes us aboard the Red Line, featuring the most air-conditioned trains of the bunch. OK, we made that up. But The Ice Creamsmith [2295 Dot. Ave., Dorchester. 617.296.8567. theicecreamsmith.com] is still waiting at the end of the road, so whatever. That's right, these homemade scoops promise to work magic with unique flavors, mix-ins and none of that singing gobbledygook. Huzzah! Kendra S declares she could have single-handedly supported them during her third trimester. This is an institution founded on cravings.

Moving on, we discover the The Blarney Stone [1509 Dot. Ave., Dorchester. 617.436.8223. blarneystoneboston.com]. Don't let the name fool ya; as Brian D tells us, "You probably won't be finding any old Irish guys with wool sweaters and scally hats," though the pleasantly eclectic crowd includes everything but. There's a good chance a barkeep with a deliciously lilting accent will charm you into some tipple—and you'll wind up perching on the patio, hovering over a pool table or working it on the dancefloor.

Oh dear, we got so wrapped up in the fun, we've forgotten to eat! Fortunately, everything's chill with Irie [310 Bowdoin St., Dorchester. 617.929.3866] down the block. This homey Jamaican place will pack you so full of jerk chicken, you'll feel like part of the family. Feeling adventurous? Eli G swears that the oxtail stew alone is worth the trip! If this doesn't entice you, then keep on walking because you'll inevitably stumble upon a Vietnamese place. It's a furious battle to determine the bombest joint around, as Tom E raves about Pho Hoa [1356 Dot. Ave., Dorchester. 617.287.9746. phohoa.com] while Qingjian S is eternally loyal to Pho 2000 [198 Adams St., Dorchester. 617.436.1908]. Either way, we're darn sure you'll leave pho-king happy.

GOT LOCAL FAVS? SPILL AT YELP.COM

Fiddlehead, an eco-chic boutique located on the Newb's consumption boulevard, fits the bill for those looking to make their lives greener, bit by sustainable bit. In this up-the-stairs spot, you can score striking earth-friendly gifts, accessories and home goods that span a gamut of price points and styles.

Store owner Carol Miller picks all pieces in the boutique and makes sure that everything—from housewares to jewelry—is not just eco-minded, but beautiful. "The principle behind [Fiddlehead] is that the pieces are both green and attractive, well-designed things," says Miller. "You don't need to compromise the aesthetic for a green choice. We want it to be something you would buy anyway ... and then it just so happens to be green." Some of Miller's favorite pieces in the store are picture frames made out of wood from old homes: "They have these very delicate designs painted on them, and on some you can see the holes from where the nails once were."

The shop's got everything from super-soft wool puppets for the kids to luxe stationery made from recycled paper; from bracelets constructed from palm leaves to show-stopping necklaces comprised of beans. (Beans!) Never mind global warming—who knew green style could be so scorching hot?

[292 Newbury St., Boston. 617.247.1120. fiddlehead.us]