I am looking forward to having a backyard so that I can host backyard barbecues and get together with family and friends. After all these years of just being a guest it will be a nice change of pace to play host for a change.
I am very much looking forward to having a barbecue and hopefully a fire pit too. There is nothing nicer than spending quality time with those who are most near and dear to your heart, chatting and enjoying good food and good times together.
Next to holiday entertaining, Summer entertaining is a lot of fun. Everyone is usually relaxed thanks to vacation time. Because the kids are out of school it also makes it easier for family and friends from far away to come and pay you a visit. I love being able to catch up with loved ones on a lazy summer day.
My family also enjoys going on picnics. It’s something that we look forward to every summer. We especially love to have a picnic down by the Hudson River near where we live. We also love to picnic at West Point Military Academy near the river too.
When you are entertaining during the Summer time there are several essentials you need to have. Here is my personal list. I’m sure you might have others to add to it.
- Good food such as burgers, hot dogs, barbecue chicken, salads (macaroni, veggie, egg, potato…), chips, fresh fruit, fresh veggies and sweet treats for after the meal.
- Pretty serving pieces. I love to serve, or be served, things on colorful serving platters and dishes.
- Eco-friendly plates and eating utensils that you can recycle. No one wants to have to do dishes after a party. If you must use disposable plates, cups and eating utensils at least make them recyclable.
- Great music.
- Games and activities for both adults and children.
- The ingredients to make S’mores (that is a must have! LOL).
- Ample seating or great big picnic blankets you or guests can sit on.
- When having a picnic with my family I love to bring along things like cheese and crackers there for it’s important to have an insulated tote bag or small cooler.
- Refreshing beverages to drink and plenty of ice to keep them cold.
Certain beverages seem to be the staple at most backyard barbecues – soda, water, lemonade, cocktails or beer. Women tend to love the cocktails (Margaritas!) while men tend to lean towards beer (although I do know some Margarita loving men).
Michelob Ultra has come up with a new beverage that I think will be ideal for your next backyard gathering. It’s called Michelob Ultra Light Cider. Don’t let the name fool you, this is NOT a drink for children. I had to emphasis that with my kids. When they saw the word “Cider” on the bottle they assumed it was OK for them to drink. Please be responsible and make sure if you do include Michelob Ultra Light Cider at your next gathering that the kids do not accidentally drink it.
Michelob Ultra was kind enough to send me some samples of their new drink as well as some awesome Summer entertaining goodies. My favorite is the table and the lovely tote bag. 
I have never had a hard cider before. I have had Michelob before (I like Michelob Light beer), but never an alcoholic beverage made with apple cider.
The Light Cider is light in color. I’m not sure if it’s the glass bottle or the drink it’s self but the color is a light yellow’ish green.
The first thing you’ll notice when you open the bottle is that it truly does smell like apple cider. You can tell that there is a little more to it than that, but it does smell like real cider. I happen to love apple cider. I keep plenty of it on hand during the Autumn months. I like to buy it fresh from the farm down the street.
I was incredibly surprised to see that the Michelob Ultra Light Cider even tasted like apple cider. I figured it would resemble cider, but I never expected it to actually taste like real cider. I was pleasantly surprised.
The best way I can describe this beverage is that it tastes like a combination of apple cider and a light beer. It sounds like an odd combination but they actually taste very good together.
Not only do I enjoy the flavor, I also like that it’s a light beverage. I’m not necessarily talking about calories (120 calories). I mean it’s light and crisp. It’s not a heavy drink.
It’s also Gluten free. I know a lot of people have issues with Gluten so you’ll be happy to know that you can enjoy this refreshing beverage.
It’s hard to believe that this is an alcoholic beverage. To me it’s like apple cider with a “kick”. It’s fizzy while on your tongue, so you know there is more to it than just apple juice.
The alcohol content is relatively low, which I actually prefer. My “internal wiring” is sort of messed up so when I eat or drink things it immediately absorbs into my intestines. I can literally get instantly schnockered after a few sips, especially a hard drink like Vodka or “To-Kill-Ya” (Tequila). My face turns so red that I look like a lobster. I drank a whole bottle of the Michelob Ultra Light Cider and oddly enough it didn’t effect me in any way, not even my face. The alcohol content is 4.0% Alcohol By Volume, if anyone happens to understand what that means?
A cold bottle of Michelob Ultra Light Cider is a nice addition to your Summer entertaining. It’s light and refreshing and a nice alternative to the usual fare. This is especially good for those who are not interested in traditional beers or mixed cocktails. This is great for the “wine cooler crowd”.
I like it. It’s different. I would certainly buy it again.
Look for Michelob Ultra Light Cider where ever beers and other alcoholic beverages are sold.
For more information visit www.MichelobUltra.com. You must be 21 or older to enter the site.
You can also find them on Facebook.
Kimberly
*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way.
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About Kimberly
