Summerfest
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

SummerfestSummerfest
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Czech / Bohemian Pilsner
Ranked #257
ABV:
5%
Score:
83
Ranked #33,094
Avg:
3.68 | pDev: 12.77%
Ratings:
4,610 | reviews: 1,741
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 30, 2026
Added:
Jun 18, 2001
Wants:
  177
Gots:
  760
Summerfest is golden bright, balancing delicate yet complex malt alongside spicy, floral hops. Hints of lemon zest lead into a dry finish, and the sessionable 5% ABV invites another round on those endless summer days.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by AndyCassidy:
Photo of AndyCassidy
Rated by AndyCassidy from Tennessee

3.8/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Apr 04, 2026
More User Ratings:
Photo of Wheataleguy
Reviewed by Wheataleguy from Georgia

3.6/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
From a can straight from the fridge with a package date at the end of February 2026, an aggressive pour into a pint glass resulted in a 2-finger white foamy, sudsy head topping a straw to pale gold colored lager. Decent lacing as the head recedes with upper-moderate carbonation.

Aroma is hop forward, citrusy lemon zest with mild pilsner malt notes coming through. Some floral and spicy notes there.

The flavor follows the aroma pretty much, the hops prevail with lemon zest and pith, perfumy floral notes. There's a peppery note mid-palate along with an astringent floral note that prevails through the finish and aftertaste balanced with the lemon pith bitterness. Bitterness is low-end medium, and sticks around in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is spritzy with the higher end moderate carbonation, mid-level medium body. The finish is bone dry and makes you want to keep drinking.

This is not what I'd personally consider a representation of a Czech lager, but maybe an American version of such...which isn't really a true representation of a lager/pilsner brewed in the Czech Republic. I paid roughly $2.33 per can in a sixer, and would most likely choose a Warsteiner or Weihenstephaner lager over this the next time. Better yet, when thirsting for a Czech lager I'd prefer a bottle of Pilsner Urquell. Cheers y'all!
May 30, 2026
Photo of Spaten454
Reviewed by Spaten454 from Texas

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours clear golden with a bright white head. Aromas of light citrus, floral hops, and malty biscuit. Taste is clean malt sweetness balanced by crisp herbal and lemony hop bitterness with a slightly dry finish. Mouthfeel is light and smooth. Overall, it's crisp and has a lemony freshness that's great for hot days.
May 27, 2026
Photo of ScaryEd
Reviewed by ScaryEd from New Hampshire

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can

Pours a clear, chill-hazed pale gold color with large 3-finger sudsy white head. Great retention. Leaves plenty of sticky cobwebs.

Aroma is grainy and biscuity up front, followed by some grass and lemon zest. Lightly floral hop aroma.

Taste follows the nose: Sweet biscuit malt, cereal grain, grass, and lemon zest with a modest spicy hop finish.

Medium light body with moderate carbonation. Faintly dry on the finish.

This is a good, crushable Czech pilsner. That's it. That's the review.
May 25, 2026
Photo of iguanodon
Reviewed by iguanodon from Utah

3.86/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz can. Pours clear gold with a small white head that fades quickly. Nice carbonation. Aroma: not much, faint malty sweetness. Taste: sweet malt, grass, bitter finish. Nice pilsner for hot weather.
May 23, 2026
Photo of WheatiesWin
Reviewed by WheatiesWin from Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Good summer beer if you like a lighter IPA. I realize it’s a lager but it comes off hoppy to me. I do not like hoppy beers so this isn’t for me. Not super hoppy, but too hoppy for my taste.
May 18, 2026
Photo of Snorcross97
Reviewed by Snorcross97 from New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a crystal clear golden hue with a light cream color head. Fairly light on carbonation. Notes of lemon and biscuit. Heavy in malt sweetness and fairly bitter. Summerfest is fairly one dimensional and doesn't do enough to separate itself in a crowded and competitive lager/pilsner field.
May 04, 2026
Photo of blueshawk69
Reviewed by blueshawk69 from Kansas

3.94/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
(review from July 2017) Excellently flavorful, crisp & refreshing lager/pils with good heft on the palate & goes down fast & easy. Great on a hot summer day.
Apr 18, 2026
 
Rated: 4 by NorbertB1974 from Germany

Apr 15, 2026
 
Rated: 4.43 by datstankadank from New Jersey

Apr 05, 2026
Photo of ttoadee
Rated by ttoadee from Texas

3.49/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
RB transfer
Feb 28, 2026
Photo of zotzot
Reviewed by zotzot from Vermont

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Drinking out of a stemless Teku glass.
Pours a clear light gold color with a medium head.
Crisp smell of mown grass, wheat.
Weak mouth feel.
Compared with most lagers, nice sweet taste of malt with maybe hints of biscuits.
Feb 07, 2026
 
Rated: 4.09 by Ejcqx4 from Massachusetts

Dec 24, 2025
 
Rated: 3.54 by Mortarforker from Texas

Dec 07, 2025
 
Rated: 3.75 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Nov 30, 2025
 
Rated: 3.75 by heysuz from Indiana

Nov 30, 2025
 
Rated: 3.73 by Otter-the-Beer-Man from Maryland

Oct 13, 2025
 
Rated: 3.29 by mltobin from Connecticut

Oct 11, 2025
Photo of Specialmick
Reviewed by Specialmick from Connecticut

3.53/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look...Pale yellow with no haze and a white carbonated head
Smell...Citrus lemon zest. grass, and light hop. Bread and yeast for sure
Taste...bitter lemon zest and hop followed by an overlapping dryness finishing both bitter easily
Feel...slick and smooth with no lacing but never under carbonated
Overall..A solid beer and true to a more German Pils... Very bitter on the finish and dry. Very good and would have again because I guess they change it up a little every year
Sep 16, 2025
 
Rated: 3.78 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Aug 14, 2025