I love lighter style Reds like Pinots, Gamays and Garnacha. Beer is also great and I like lighter style ones like Gumball head from Three Floyds.

It depends on the barbeque.

South Carolina bbq with a malty beer, such as ambers or nut browns.

Memphis BBQ, nice spicy roses, such as pinot noir roses

Texas style, definitely a nice bright golden lager

Kansas City BBQ is great with busty reds such as Paso Robles zinfandel or Priorat

With Chicago Craft Beer Week coming up 5/17-5/23 I'm picking a local (like in the neighborhood local) beer from Metropolitan Brewing. Their Flywheel beer reminds me of the beers my dad drank in the 60's...it's like what Bud and Schlitz should be...a truly classic workingman's beer; mild, bready and crisp.
As for something more along the lines of a summer cocktail, at home I infuse vodka with loads of fresh ginger and fill a pitcher with lemonade. Perfect for BBQs and clam bakes.

at my house, we like mint juleps, we have a huge mint jungle that grows around a tree.