The best beers for baseball season

Opening day is a curveball away. Beer, here.

Greet the home team and spring with Samuel Adams Double Bock, a 22-oz. bottle of seasonal cheer that was first brewed in 1988, the year of Orel Hershiser's arm and, for many of the Flushing faithful, Mike Scioscia's bat. The Double Bock is a sweeter memory: concentrated and malty. The big brew, which comes in at 9.5 percent alcohol by volume, delivers the expected caramel notes, plus citrus and a hint of cherry.

Double Bock finds a teammate in pork and more. So, slather those hot dogs with spicy mustard and top the burgers with anything you like. A bottle of this brew sells in the $8 to $10 range.

Another solid "limited release" from Samuel Adams is Escape Route, a crisp, gilded and hazy way to say bye to winter for good and great spring nights. Fruity and hoppy, Escape Route leads to the ale-and-lager kölsch-style that originated in Cologne. The hybrid result is a smooth brew, balanced, citrusy, and a bit floral. A six-pack is $8 to $10.

Samuel Adams' Rebel IPA, "brewed for the revolution," is made with five varieties of West Coast hops and loaded with citrus. This is a refresher that will keep going into extra innings at least through June. Also, West Coast-inspired are the very hoppy Rebel Rouser Double IPA and citrusy, lighter Rebel Rider Session IPA. Figure about $11 for a six-pack.

The Mets face the Dodgers in July.