Simmer Down - A Summer Session Ale
Sebago Brewing Company

 

 

 

12oz can. Poured out a very clear, golden yellow color with a small, fizzy, white head of foam. It left minimal lacing. It smelled of caramel, toffee and floral notes. Sweet caramel taste with a mild bitterness and lots of citrusy zing. Light bodied and easy-drinking.

 

 

I bought a six pack to chill with at ski condo at Sunday River, hoping to not get boggy from a mid day beverage. Was expecting it to be "OK" and I was surprised to find a great tasting, and refreshing Ale that still retained a nice hop presence. If I chose, I can enjoy one Simmer at lunch and then another after the day close and still be good to move on in the evening.

Enjoyed from a can did not inspect color/head or any other aspect to this Ale other than drinking it. I scaled my grading curve and gave a high rating because it exceeded what my expectations are for a session Ale.

 

Wowie to all the zowie’s, my peeps. I didn’t expect much out of this one given its low score and the fact that it was canned in June; but this one speaks to me like Miranda Kerr in a push up bra. No, really, this one is light and bright like a LSD weekend in Joshua Tree. It’s hoppy, a bit malty, vibrant like a Ginger Rogers dance scene... I’m into it.

Yep!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can to becher pint glass.
The appearance was a stiff semi-murky dark copper color with a finger's worth of white foamy head that slid off at a good pace. Some light stringy lace speckled here and there.
The aroma had some pineapple, orange marmalade, crisp light pine, and slides into the caramel malt at a decent blend.
The flavor was moderately sweet through the prior noted characters and aptly melded together to ride on into the aftertaste in a quick yet smooth malty way.
The mouthfeel was between light and medium bodied with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation felt somewhat smoothed out for the most part. ABV felt appropriate for the "session IPA" style. Light piney bitter harshness rubbing along my tongue.
Overall, as a session IPA I can see it, somewhat, those caramel malts in this give it a bit more body than I may want for a "session IPA" but well, I'd say it works for the most part.

A- Can pours into my glass with a fairly hazy pale yellow body. The head is white with a frothy texture and a height of about one finger. Decent head retention and a small ring deposits just a few splotches of lacing.

S- Somewhat faint but what is there is a good mix of hops and pale malts. Citrus, pine and floral hops with just a hint of juicier fruits balanced by slightly sweet, pale base barley. Oranges come to mind.

T- Shifts quite a bit from what was in the aroma. The hops become more floral, earthy and spicy with just a bit of citrus, fruit and pine. A hint of sweetness and caramel from the grains with cereal, bready and wheaty notes.

MF- Very light bodied with a fairly silky and creamy consistency. The carbonation is on the high side and it ends with a slight floral bitterness.

A promising aroma leads to a somewhat standard flavor with floral, citrus and pine hops. The malts become a bit caramelized in the taste and this interrupts some of the hop freshness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crisp and refreshing, solid APA. Balanced flavor with very good hop profile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L - Pours a hazy orange

S - Clean, mild hops

T - Big citrus, very little bitterness

F - Smooth going down, clean finish

O - Crushable