Beer of the Weekend #547: Summit Extra Pale Ale
How have I overlooked this beer for so long? Perhaps it’s because I always assumed I reviewed it before. However, today I realized that was not the case. So without further ado I give you the beer of the weekend: Summit Extra Pale Ale, brewed by the Summit Brewing Company of Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. “ENJOY BY 5/10/14” is written on the shoulder of the bottle. Thank you for the information!
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is clean, clear rusty amber. A finger of tight, buttery, beige head leaves a bubbly skim and ring of foam around the edge.
Smell: At first bready pale malts and some toasted malts dominate. Faint scents of earthy and floral hops give it that Summit touch. There may also be a little rye spice and the bitterness is a touch metallic. There are also very light scents of orange, grapefruit, and lemon.
Taste: The first sip is pleasingly bitter but there is not much citrus. The bitterness is mostly metallic and earthy, and citrus is noticeable in the aftertaste. The bitterness subsides, though, letting flavors of bready pale and lightly toasted malts, light grapefruit, orange, and lemon to emerge.
Drinkability: It is solidly bitter, offering decent flavor. It could be tastier and more complex, but I like it. It is a good brew.
Fun facts about SEPA:
-Style: The beer is classified on BA as “English Pale Ale.”
-Price: $7.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: The beer’s website recommends 45–50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 5.2 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: The beer’s website recommends “Sharp cheddar, grilled meat, fried seafood, soft, ripened cheese.”
-IBU: 45.
-SEPA is best served in Summit’s “signature glass.”
-SEPA was released in 1986.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. “ENJOY BY 5/10/14” is written on the shoulder of the bottle. Thank you for the information!
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is clean, clear rusty amber. A finger of tight, buttery, beige head leaves a bubbly skim and ring of foam around the edge.
Smell: At first bready pale malts and some toasted malts dominate. Faint scents of earthy and floral hops give it that Summit touch. There may also be a little rye spice and the bitterness is a touch metallic. There are also very light scents of orange, grapefruit, and lemon.
Taste: The first sip is pleasingly bitter but there is not much citrus. The bitterness is mostly metallic and earthy, and citrus is noticeable in the aftertaste. The bitterness subsides, though, letting flavors of bready pale and lightly toasted malts, light grapefruit, orange, and lemon to emerge.
Drinkability: It is solidly bitter, offering decent flavor. It could be tastier and more complex, but I like it. It is a good brew.
Fun facts about SEPA:
-Style: The beer is classified on BA as “English Pale Ale.”
-Price: $7.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: The beer’s website recommends 45–50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 5.2 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: The beer’s website recommends “Sharp cheddar, grilled meat, fried seafood, soft, ripened cheese.”
-IBU: 45.
-SEPA is best served in Summit’s “signature glass.”
-SEPA was released in 1986.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
