Silver Anniversary Ale
Summit's description, "What better way to celebrate 25 years of Summit than with a limited-edition ale
inspired by the beer that started it all? This assertively hopped interpretation of our EPA offers up grapefruit,
passion fruit and kiwi aromas that lead to a crisp yet well-balanced finish."
Specs:
Original Gravity: 14.5° P
Alcohol by Volume: 6.5%
Color, (deg. L.): Light bronze
Bittering Units: 80
Malts Utilized: 2-Row Harrington, Crystal 60
Hops Utilized: Citra, Centennial, Cascade (also dry hopped with all three varieties)
Yeast: American Ale
Established: 2011
Appearance - Light bronze as described, it pours from the 12-ounce can with a nice creamy white head which sticks around and leaves
some really nice lacing on the glass.
Smell - Aromas of strong citrus with an earthy floral undertone. This is a really lovely smelling beer. My initial impression was, "Wow,
this smells a hell of a lot like Pliny the Elder."
Taste - Aggressively hopped, this pumped-up version of their classic EPA (Extra Pale Ale) is a worthy adversary to do battle with. Strong
tastes of grapefruit, kiwi and lemon are gently held up with the light malt backbone required to keep this one a hop-forward ale.
Feel - Medium bodied, the beer dances on the palate with a perfect amount of carbonation.
Finish - As expected, the hops linger long after the swallow. Lasting flavors of citrus, grass, and freshly
picked hops remain.
Overall Impression - In celebration of their 25th Anniversary, Summit has produced what very well may be their best beer. This
assertively-hopped ale is truly glorious. This is one of the best beers you'll find on the shelf right now. If you're a fan of their best-selling
EPA, you will love this take on that familiar recipe. My only hope is that we don't have to wait 25 more years for the next batch.
Summit's description, "What better way to celebrate 25 years of Summit than with a limited-edition ale
inspired by the beer that started it all? This assertively hopped interpretation of our EPA offers up grapefruit,
passion fruit and kiwi aromas that lead to a crisp yet well-balanced finish."
Specs:
Original Gravity: 14.5° P
Alcohol by Volume: 6.5%
Color, (deg. L.): Light bronze
Bittering Units: 80
Malts Utilized: 2-Row Harrington, Crystal 60
Hops Utilized: Citra, Centennial, Cascade (also dry hopped with all three varieties)
Yeast: American Ale
Established: 2011
Appearance - Light bronze as described, it pours from the 12-ounce can with a nice creamy white head which sticks around and leaves
some really nice lacing on the glass.
Smell - Aromas of strong citrus with an earthy floral undertone. This is a really lovely smelling beer. My initial impression was, "Wow,
this smells a hell of a lot like Pliny the Elder."
Taste - Aggressively hopped, this pumped-up version of their classic EPA (Extra Pale Ale) is a worthy adversary to do battle with. Strong
tastes of grapefruit, kiwi and lemon are gently held up with the light malt backbone required to keep this one a hop-forward ale.
Feel - Medium bodied, the beer dances on the palate with a perfect amount of carbonation.
Finish - As expected, the hops linger long after the swallow. Lasting flavors of citrus, grass, and freshly
picked hops remain.
Overall Impression - In celebration of their 25th Anniversary, Summit has produced what very well may be their best beer. This
assertively-hopped ale is truly glorious. This is one of the best beers you'll find on the shelf right now. If you're a fan of their best-selling
EPA, you will love this take on that familiar recipe. My only hope is that we don't have to wait 25 more years for the next batch.
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MidwestMicroBrews -- contact@midwestmicrobrews.com |
| MidwestMicroBrews' Midwest Beer Reviews! |
Unchained Series: Black Ale
Summit's description, "The rich, dark color. Exotic hops from Australia and New Zealand for pronounced
citrus, passion fruit and pepper character. Toasty and dark malts. Summit Black Ale takes you on quite
a journey. Batch 8 in our Unchained Series from brewer Mike Lundell, this medium bodied, hoppy ale
should be a hit with adventurous beer lovers. So get it while you can. Like all our Unchained brews, it
won’t be around long."
Specs:
Seasonal
Original Gravity: 14.5° Plato
Alcohol by Volume: 6.5%
Color, (deg. L.): Black
Bittering Units: 65
Malts Utilized: 2-row Harrington, Torrified Wheat, Cara Wheat, Midnight Wheat, and Carafa III Special
Hops Utilized: New Zealand Pacific Jade, Australian Galaxy
Yeast: American Ale Strain
Established: 2011
Appearance - It pours a beautiful ebony color with a 1/4 inch head of creamy beige head, which had
nice retention and left a fair amount of lacing.
Smell - Aromas are a delicate balance of roasty malts and piney, resinous hops. There are also some orange
and grape undertones that dance with hints of chocolate.
Taste - Wonderfully balanced in taste, the roastiness of the malts and the piney, grassy and citrusy
hops compliment each other wonderfully.
Feel - Medium bodied, with the right amount of carbonation, it is pleasure to sip and savor.
Finish - It finishes with an exceptional dryness that leaves you thirsty for more.
Overall Impression - Summit has a history of making excellent beer. For over 25 years, they've delivered some of the most solid and
true-t0-catergory ales you could find. Their Unchained Series, now in its eight incarnation, is where they allow their brewers the
freedom to experiment with new styles and tweak old ones. Much like those previous releases, Black Ale is an absolute treat. Trying their
hand at the still-relatively-new Black IPA style, Summit shows that there is no style that they cannot produce and excel at. If this is your
first attempt at the style, it's a wonderful introduction. If you've found this to be a style that you enjoy, you'll be more than pleased with
the results. This one ranks right up there with New Glarus Brewing's Blacktop, which picked up the Gold medal at this years' GABF for
the style.
Summit's description, "The rich, dark color. Exotic hops from Australia and New Zealand for pronounced
citrus, passion fruit and pepper character. Toasty and dark malts. Summit Black Ale takes you on quite
a journey. Batch 8 in our Unchained Series from brewer Mike Lundell, this medium bodied, hoppy ale
should be a hit with adventurous beer lovers. So get it while you can. Like all our Unchained brews, it
won’t be around long."
Specs:
Seasonal
Original Gravity: 14.5° Plato
Alcohol by Volume: 6.5%
Color, (deg. L.): Black
Bittering Units: 65
Malts Utilized: 2-row Harrington, Torrified Wheat, Cara Wheat, Midnight Wheat, and Carafa III Special
Hops Utilized: New Zealand Pacific Jade, Australian Galaxy
Yeast: American Ale Strain
Established: 2011
Appearance - It pours a beautiful ebony color with a 1/4 inch head of creamy beige head, which had
nice retention and left a fair amount of lacing.
Smell - Aromas are a delicate balance of roasty malts and piney, resinous hops. There are also some orange
and grape undertones that dance with hints of chocolate.
Taste - Wonderfully balanced in taste, the roastiness of the malts and the piney, grassy and citrusy
hops compliment each other wonderfully.
Feel - Medium bodied, with the right amount of carbonation, it is pleasure to sip and savor.
Finish - It finishes with an exceptional dryness that leaves you thirsty for more.
Overall Impression - Summit has a history of making excellent beer. For over 25 years, they've delivered some of the most solid and
true-t0-catergory ales you could find. Their Unchained Series, now in its eight incarnation, is where they allow their brewers the
freedom to experiment with new styles and tweak old ones. Much like those previous releases, Black Ale is an absolute treat. Trying their
hand at the still-relatively-new Black IPA style, Summit shows that there is no style that they cannot produce and excel at. If this is your
first attempt at the style, it's a wonderful introduction. If you've found this to be a style that you enjoy, you'll be more than pleased with
the results. This one ranks right up there with New Glarus Brewing's Blacktop, which picked up the Gold medal at this years' GABF for
the style.
Unchained Series: Dunkel Weizen
There's no question that Summit Brewing Company brews solid beers. Its year-round portfolio
is full of classic takes on classic styles. Their Pilsener is one of our favorite Czech Pilseners out
there. Their Great Norther Porter is top-notch. The MidwestMicroBrews office fridge is never
without at least few bottles of their Extra Pale Ale.
Putting out a quality product has brought them great success. Going into their 26th year of
brewing, they are the 20th largest craft brewery in the United States and the 3rd largest in
the Midwest (Bells being the largest and Boulevard the second largest).
Anchored by that success, a few years ago, the team at Summit decided to let their brewers
loose a bit and launched their Unchained Series. By giving their brewers the freedom to try out
new recipes and experiment with different styles, the series has quickly become a showcase of the
extraordinary brewing talents of the Summit team. Each batch is formulated and brewed under
the direction of one of Summit’s brewers.
We’ve found the series to be nothing short of excellent so far – and with Batch 8: Black Ale,
being our favorite of the series thus far (see our review below) -- we were very excited to have
the opportunity to sample the latest offering: Batch 9: Dunkel Weizen.
Brewed by Eric Blomquist, who was also responsible for the excellent 90 /- Scottish Style Ale
of Batch 2, this classic dunkelweizen should soon rank among the best examples of the style in
the world. Blomquist has clearly done his homework when it comes to this Old-World style.
Those who’ve had the pleasure of tasting the classic German dunkelweizens brewed by
Erdinger and Weihenstephaner will know what to expect with this one.
Blomquist’s creation pours a beautiful dark caramel. A slight reddish hue is detectable through the haziness of this mostly unfiltered
masterpiece. With a not-so-careful pour, you get the picture to the right. With a better pour, you get three fingers of a thick, creamy
head of off-white head forms and sticks around for the remainder leaving exquisite lacing across the glass.
Aromas of banana and clove are noticed first, as to be expected for the style. But there is also some green apple, toasted almond, and also
some delicate wafts of cocoa.
The taste is all about the malt in this one. Wonderful tastes of caramel, chocolate, toffee, ripened bananas, and allspice intermingle on the
palate. Hops are almost imperceptible with this one, adding just enough balance for the sweetness. The authentic Bavarian yeast strain
used imparts that distinct banana-clove ester-ness as well. Medium-bodied and effervescent, the carbonation was perfectly suited for the
style. Finishing cleanly, this beer demands you take another sip.
It really is a shame that more American brewers do not take up the task of brewing a dunkelweizen. As Blomquist and Summit show with
this beer, it is a challenge worth accepting. This is a beer wonderfully suited for the upcoming Spring season. This is not only a wonderful
addition to the already stellar Unchained Series, it’s a damn-fine beer and one that we heartily recommend that you seek out.
There's no question that Summit Brewing Company brews solid beers. Its year-round portfolio
is full of classic takes on classic styles. Their Pilsener is one of our favorite Czech Pilseners out
there. Their Great Norther Porter is top-notch. The MidwestMicroBrews office fridge is never
without at least few bottles of their Extra Pale Ale.
Putting out a quality product has brought them great success. Going into their 26th year of
brewing, they are the 20th largest craft brewery in the United States and the 3rd largest in
the Midwest (Bells being the largest and Boulevard the second largest).
Anchored by that success, a few years ago, the team at Summit decided to let their brewers
loose a bit and launched their Unchained Series. By giving their brewers the freedom to try out
new recipes and experiment with different styles, the series has quickly become a showcase of the
extraordinary brewing talents of the Summit team. Each batch is formulated and brewed under
the direction of one of Summit’s brewers.
We’ve found the series to be nothing short of excellent so far – and with Batch 8: Black Ale,
being our favorite of the series thus far (see our review below) -- we were very excited to have
the opportunity to sample the latest offering: Batch 9: Dunkel Weizen.
Brewed by Eric Blomquist, who was also responsible for the excellent 90 /- Scottish Style Ale
of Batch 2, this classic dunkelweizen should soon rank among the best examples of the style in
the world. Blomquist has clearly done his homework when it comes to this Old-World style.
Those who’ve had the pleasure of tasting the classic German dunkelweizens brewed by
Erdinger and Weihenstephaner will know what to expect with this one.
Blomquist’s creation pours a beautiful dark caramel. A slight reddish hue is detectable through the haziness of this mostly unfiltered
masterpiece. With a not-so-careful pour, you get the picture to the right. With a better pour, you get three fingers of a thick, creamy
head of off-white head forms and sticks around for the remainder leaving exquisite lacing across the glass.
Aromas of banana and clove are noticed first, as to be expected for the style. But there is also some green apple, toasted almond, and also
some delicate wafts of cocoa.
The taste is all about the malt in this one. Wonderful tastes of caramel, chocolate, toffee, ripened bananas, and allspice intermingle on the
palate. Hops are almost imperceptible with this one, adding just enough balance for the sweetness. The authentic Bavarian yeast strain
used imparts that distinct banana-clove ester-ness as well. Medium-bodied and effervescent, the carbonation was perfectly suited for the
style. Finishing cleanly, this beer demands you take another sip.
It really is a shame that more American brewers do not take up the task of brewing a dunkelweizen. As Blomquist and Summit show with
this beer, it is a challenge worth accepting. This is a beer wonderfully suited for the upcoming Spring season. This is not only a wonderful
addition to the already stellar Unchained Series, it’s a damn-fine beer and one that we heartily recommend that you seek out.
Read more MidwestMicroBrews Reviews... Arbor Brewing Company - Ann Arbor, Michigan Capital Brewery - Middleton, Wisconsin Central Waters Brewing Company - Amherst, Wisconsin Copper Canyon Brewery - Southfield, Michigan Detroit Beer Company - Detroit, Michigan Firestone Walker Brewing Company - Paso Robales, California Goose Island Brewing Company - Chicago, Illinois Grumpy Troll Brewpub - Mount Horeb, Wisconsin Herkimer Pub & Brewery - Minneapolis, Minnesota Onion Pub & Brewery - Lake Barrington, Illinois Round Barn Brewery - Baroda, Michigan Shmaltz Brewing Company - Brooklyn, New York Short's Brewing Company - Bellaire, Michigan Sprecher Brewing Company - Glendale, Wisconsin Stevens Point Brewery - Stevens Point, Wisconsin Stone Cellar Brewpub - Appleton, Wisconsin Summit Brewing Company - St. Paul, Minnesota Sun King Brewing Company - Indianapolis, Indiana Titletown Brewing Company - Green Bay, Wisconsin Upland Brewing Company - Bloomington, Indiana |
Sága IPA
The folks at Summit are no stranger to IPAs. They have an English Style IPA in their year-round
portfolio, which has 65 IBUs of East Kent Golding deliciousness. They also have their Extra Pale
Ale, which hits at 45 IBUs from Cascade, Fuggle and Horizon hops. What they didn't have,
though, was a big, bold, hop-forward West Coast style IPA that would make the hardcore hophead
swoon.
That's where Sága fits in.
Clocking in at 80 IBUs, this excellent blending of Caramel and Harrington malts with Amarillo,
Centennnial, Citra and Rakau hops (dry-hopped with Amarillo, Citra and Rakau), is a more than
welcome addition to their year-round schedule.
It pours a translucent gold with a nice full head of crisp white foam which remains throughout
and leaves some exquisite lacing. Tropical aromas of passionfruit, pineapple and kiwi hit the
nose first, then give way to warm biscuits and freshly cut grass. The smell is just wonderful.
The taste is an excellent melding of tropical fruit, lightly roasted grains, with some subtle vanilla
as well. Medium-bodied, it has a warm and bitter finish.
This is our new favorite beer from Summit. After the release of their amazing Silver Anniversary
Ale last summer, we knew they were capable of going hop-heavy. With Sága, they have
delivered in a most spectacular way. With hoppy beers being so en vogue right now, this will
surely become one of the brewery's best sellers in short order.
Specs:
Brewed Year-Round
Original Gravity: 14 P
Alcohol by Volume: 6.4%
Color, (deg. L.): 9.0 L
Bittering Units: 80
Malts Utilized: Harrington, Caramel
Hops Utilized: Centennial, Amarillo, Citra, Rakau (dry-hopped: Amarillo, Citra, Rakau)
Yeast: American Ale
Established: 2012
download spec sheet
Summer Ale
The other new Summit offering for Summer 2012 is their Summer Ale, which is one of the best
summer seasonals out there right now. We'll be putting this one alongside Bell's Oberon and
New Glarus' Dancing Man Wheat in the cooler.
This beer has some of the same characteristics that make a beer perfect for the hot summer
season. Light, crisp and refreshing, its low alcohol content of 4.9% make it an excellent session
worthy beer.
Poured from the bottle, Summer Ale is pale gold with two fingers of creamy off-white head with
excellent retention. First noticed are aromas of grassy and spicy hops (Mount Hood and one of our
favorites, New Zealand Hallertau), ripe fruit, and golden malts. Light to medium bodied with
excellent carbonation, Summer Ale has delicate flavors of toasted malt, herbal hops and grass
that dance across the palate. The finish is clean.
If you're looking for a lawnmower beer, or a beer to drink as you watch the sun set across the lake,
Summit's Summer Ale is the perfect choice. We heartily recommend this one.
Specs:
Seasonal
Original Gravity: 11.5° P
Alcohol by Volume: 4.9%
Color, (deg. L.): Pale Straw (4.0 L)
Bittering Units: 32
Malts Utilized: Moravian, Cara Pils, Malted White Wheat
Hops Utilized: Mt. Hood, NZ Hallertau
Yeast: German Ale
Established: 2012
download spec sheet
Unchained Series: Belgian-Style Abbey Ale
It’s no secret that, here at MidwestMicroBrews, we're big fans of the Unchained Series from
Minnesota’s Summit Brewing Company. Just check out our other reviews below for proof. So,
it was with great anticipation that we dived into the newest round.
With its 10th Unchained Series release, Summit gives us a Belgian-Style Abbey Ale. Brewer
Nate Siats – also responsible for Batch #5, an Imperial Pumpkin Porter – formulated this new
release in Summit’s new pilot brewery, which was designed for making test batches and testing
new formulas.
Utilizing Weyermann’s Abbey, Melanoidin and Pilsner malts, Czech Saaz & German Tettnang
hops, a Belgian Trappist Ale yeast strain and Belgian Amber Candi Sugar, Siats has brewed a
truly world-class Abbey Ale.
Poured from the 12-ounce bottle in the glass, aromas of sweet pears, figs and bananas emerge.
Settling into the glass with two fingers of creamy white head, the dark mahogany beer looks
simply beautiful. Tastes of ripe bananas, clove, candied sugar, and some nice earthiness
emerge. Medium-bodied and wonderfully carbonated, its smoothness increases as it warms.
The warming alcohol on the swallow is nice and to be expected for a dubbel that clocks in at 8%
ABV. Finishing dry, it beckons you to take another sip.
I feel as though we may be running out of superlatives to describe the excellent beers coming
out of Summit’s Unchained Series. Perhaps what should simply say is this: so far, every beer
coming out of this lineup has been world-class and true-to-style. Siats’ Abbey Ale is no
exception. It is an award-worthy take on this classic Trappist style.
I’m not sure what Summit’s paying Siats, but he deserves a raise for this one.
Specs:
{Limited Release}
Seasonal
Original Gravity: 18° Plato
Alcohol by Volume: 8.0%
Color, (deg. L.): Rich Mahogany
Bittering Units: 33
Malts Utilized: Weyermann® Pilsner, Weyermann® Abbey and Weyermann® Melanoidin
Hops Utilized: German Tettnang and Czech Saaz
Yeast: Belgian Trappist Ale strain
Kettle Additions: Belgian Amber Candi Sugar
Established: 2012
download spec sheet
It’s no secret that, here at MidwestMicroBrews, we're big fans of the Unchained Series from
Minnesota’s Summit Brewing Company. Just check out our other reviews below for proof. So,
it was with great anticipation that we dived into the newest round.
With its 10th Unchained Series release, Summit gives us a Belgian-Style Abbey Ale. Brewer
Nate Siats – also responsible for Batch #5, an Imperial Pumpkin Porter – formulated this new
release in Summit’s new pilot brewery, which was designed for making test batches and testing
new formulas.
Utilizing Weyermann’s Abbey, Melanoidin and Pilsner malts, Czech Saaz & German Tettnang
hops, a Belgian Trappist Ale yeast strain and Belgian Amber Candi Sugar, Siats has brewed a
truly world-class Abbey Ale.
Poured from the 12-ounce bottle in the glass, aromas of sweet pears, figs and bananas emerge.
Settling into the glass with two fingers of creamy white head, the dark mahogany beer looks
simply beautiful. Tastes of ripe bananas, clove, candied sugar, and some nice earthiness
emerge. Medium-bodied and wonderfully carbonated, its smoothness increases as it warms.
The warming alcohol on the swallow is nice and to be expected for a dubbel that clocks in at 8%
ABV. Finishing dry, it beckons you to take another sip.
I feel as though we may be running out of superlatives to describe the excellent beers coming
out of Summit’s Unchained Series. Perhaps what should simply say is this: so far, every beer
coming out of this lineup has been world-class and true-to-style. Siats’ Abbey Ale is no
exception. It is an award-worthy take on this classic Trappist style.
I’m not sure what Summit’s paying Siats, but he deserves a raise for this one.
Specs:
{Limited Release}
Seasonal
Original Gravity: 18° Plato
Alcohol by Volume: 8.0%
Color, (deg. L.): Rich Mahogany
Bittering Units: 33
Malts Utilized: Weyermann® Pilsner, Weyermann® Abbey and Weyermann® Melanoidin
Hops Utilized: German Tettnang and Czech Saaz
Yeast: Belgian Trappist Ale strain
Kettle Additions: Belgian Amber Candi Sugar
Established: 2012
download spec sheet
Summit Brewing Company - St. Paul, Minnesota
Union Series: Meridian Session Ale
The first offering in Summit's new Union Series is Meridian Session Ale. It's been on shelves for
a few weeks now, but with the late Midwest winter, we've been too busy drinking Stouts and
Barleywines to get around to checking it out. That was a mistake.
This simple yet wonderful beer is one that suits any season. It's brewed using only Concerto
Pale malts , Belgian Ale yeast and the new Meridian hop variety. Don't let the simplicity of the
ingredients fool you though; there is a lot going on with this one.
Pouring a beautiful translucent gold, it leaves a thin head that has surprisingly nice retention.
Aromas are just what they should be: pale malts and light floral hops. This is consistent with
the taste, light malts and earthy, grassy hops. Mildly bitter with medium carbonation, this is
an easy-drinking beer.
Keep some of this beer in the fridge for after a summer run or doing some yard-work. Very
sessionable and so easy to drink, this is a beer you'll be happy to quaff all summer long.
Union Series: Meridian Session Ale
The first offering in Summit's new Union Series is Meridian Session Ale. It's been on shelves for
a few weeks now, but with the late Midwest winter, we've been too busy drinking Stouts and
Barleywines to get around to checking it out. That was a mistake.
This simple yet wonderful beer is one that suits any season. It's brewed using only Concerto
Pale malts , Belgian Ale yeast and the new Meridian hop variety. Don't let the simplicity of the
ingredients fool you though; there is a lot going on with this one.
Pouring a beautiful translucent gold, it leaves a thin head that has surprisingly nice retention.
Aromas are just what they should be: pale malts and light floral hops. This is consistent with
the taste, light malts and earthy, grassy hops. Mildly bitter with medium carbonation, this is
an easy-drinking beer.
Keep some of this beer in the fridge for after a summer run or doing some yard-work. Very
sessionable and so easy to drink, this is a beer you'll be happy to quaff all summer long.
