Beer of the Weekend #459: Summit India Pale Ale
Today I took a trip to my paternal homeland: Wisconsin. Oh, sacred land of beer and cheese. We paid homage and then stopped at the Roelli Cheese Haus and stocked up on you know what. Consider that a tease for coming attractions (not that it excites anybody but me).
Last week I said I would try Summit India Pale Ale, brewed by the Summit Brewing Company of Saint Paul, Minnesota, at some point. Tonight is the night.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. “ENJOY BY 07/13/13” is written on the neck.
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is slightly hazy, golden amber. About a finger of eggshell-colored head left a dense but spotted froth and trails on the glass.
Smell: It has a big malty backbone. An aroma of caramel and toffee entice my sweet tooth, but there is also a dose of earthy or herbal hops (or whatever the hell creates that hairspray-like aroma that is common among beers from Minnesota).
Taste: A spicy surprise! It even offers a little zest. Herbal hops (thank you, Summit website!) are loud and proud up front and followed by lemon zest. The caramel and toffee slowly emerge as balance. As the beer warms, though, everything flips: the malts become more prominent while the lemon and hops add zest and spice later.
Drinkability: Good drinking. It is beers like this that make me wonder what real India pale ale tasted like.
Fun facts about Summit IPA:
-Style: English IPA. On that note, the beer’s webpage offers this “conversation starter”:
-Price: $7.99 at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: The beer’s webpage says “40-45 degrees °F, in a Pint glass or a Nonick tumbler.”
-Alcohol content: 6.4 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: Summit suggest, “Gorgonzola, curry dishes, spicy food, marinated meats.”
-IBU: 65.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
Last week I said I would try Summit India Pale Ale, brewed by the Summit Brewing Company of Saint Paul, Minnesota, at some point. Tonight is the night.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. “ENJOY BY 07/13/13” is written on the neck.
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is slightly hazy, golden amber. About a finger of eggshell-colored head left a dense but spotted froth and trails on the glass.
Smell: It has a big malty backbone. An aroma of caramel and toffee entice my sweet tooth, but there is also a dose of earthy or herbal hops (or whatever the hell creates that hairspray-like aroma that is common among beers from Minnesota).
Taste: A spicy surprise! It even offers a little zest. Herbal hops (thank you, Summit website!) are loud and proud up front and followed by lemon zest. The caramel and toffee slowly emerge as balance. As the beer warms, though, everything flips: the malts become more prominent while the lemon and hops add zest and spice later.
Drinkability: Good drinking. It is beers like this that make me wonder what real India pale ale tasted like.
Fun facts about Summit IPA:
-Style: English IPA. On that note, the beer’s webpage offers this “conversation starter”:
To stay true to the classic British IPA style, we only use the finest, traditional hop varieties that have been key to ale brewing in England for generations.
-Price: $7.99 at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: The beer’s webpage says “40-45 degrees °F, in a Pint glass or a Nonick tumbler.”
-Alcohol content: 6.4 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: Summit suggest, “Gorgonzola, curry dishes, spicy food, marinated meats.”
-IBU: 65.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
