Beer of the Weekend #527: Never Summer Ale
Though I never received a confirmation, I am pretty sure my next LV deadline is Friday. That means I have a lot of beer to try before then.
The (maybe first) beer tonight is Never Summer Ale, brewed by the Boulder Beer Company of Boulder, Colorado.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “ENJOY BY” date printed on the shoulder is “FEB052014.”
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is ruddy, amber brown. A finger of light tan, buttery head left a skim and shiny ring around the edge.
Smell: The nose runs an aroma gauntlet. At first there are scents of toasted malts, dark chocolate, caramel, toffee, and dark fruit (plum and cherry), but then it offers a little pine and grapefruit before reaching the alcohol. The aroma fades as the beer warms, but not before a sweet, cherry syrup aroma begins to dominate.
Taste: After a couple awkward sips, the beer becomes palatable. Mostly caramel sweetness with touches of cocoa, toasted malts, and toffee. There is also cherry syrup, and it offers a strong bitterness. The alcohol, though not prominent or overpowering, is always noticeable around the edges, influencing the flavor. Cinnamon spice and honey emerge as the beer continues to warm.
Drinkability: Honestly, this beer is like a boozy Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. It is a little maltier, but the bitterness is very similar. It needs quite a bit of leeway and does not become truly tasty until it warms considerably.
Fun facts about Never Summer Ale:
-Style: It is classified on BA as “Winter Warmer.”
-Price: $1.99/bottle at John’s Grocery.
-Alcohol content: 6.5 percent ABV.
-IBU: 40.
-Nerdiness from the beer’s webpage:
I really need to visit the Centennial State again. Preferably when marijuana hits the shelves.
-Opened in 1979, the Boulder Beer Company was the first microbrewery in Colorado. Check out the brewery’s history here.
The Quiet Man’s grade: C+/B-.
The (maybe first) beer tonight is Never Summer Ale, brewed by the Boulder Beer Company of Boulder, Colorado.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “ENJOY BY” date printed on the shoulder is “FEB052014.”
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is ruddy, amber brown. A finger of light tan, buttery head left a skim and shiny ring around the edge.
Smell: The nose runs an aroma gauntlet. At first there are scents of toasted malts, dark chocolate, caramel, toffee, and dark fruit (plum and cherry), but then it offers a little pine and grapefruit before reaching the alcohol. The aroma fades as the beer warms, but not before a sweet, cherry syrup aroma begins to dominate.
Taste: After a couple awkward sips, the beer becomes palatable. Mostly caramel sweetness with touches of cocoa, toasted malts, and toffee. There is also cherry syrup, and it offers a strong bitterness. The alcohol, though not prominent or overpowering, is always noticeable around the edges, influencing the flavor. Cinnamon spice and honey emerge as the beer continues to warm.
Drinkability: Honestly, this beer is like a boozy Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. It is a little maltier, but the bitterness is very similar. It needs quite a bit of leeway and does not become truly tasty until it warms considerably.
Fun facts about Never Summer Ale:
-Style: It is classified on BA as “Winter Warmer.”
-Price: $1.99/bottle at John’s Grocery.
-Alcohol content: 6.5 percent ABV.
-IBU: 40.
-Nerdiness from the beer’s webpage:
Released annually in October. Our brewers’ mission to create a satisfying cold weather brew resulted in Never Summer Ale, our version of a more aggressive winter seasonal. Deep ruby red in color, assertively hopped and brewed with dark caramel malt, Never Summer Ale makes even the coldest Colorado peaks seem warm. Never Summer Ale: For the Drinking Town with a Skiing Problem!
I really need to visit the Centennial State again. Preferably when marijuana hits the shelves.
-Opened in 1979, the Boulder Beer Company was the first microbrewery in Colorado. Check out the brewery’s history here.
The Quiet Man’s grade: C+/B-.
