Extra Pale Ale
Summit Brewing Company

From tap - pours a nice medium golden color, head that receded quickly. Nose is very sweet grains, taste follows with a very caramel-type grain flavor. Finish is sweeter with some hops/dryness. A+

From a 12oz can. Enjoy by 06/14/2026
How have I not reviewed this till now?
This beer has a clear amber/golden color to it. There's a thick slightly off white head to this beer - 3 finger in size. The head is long lasting and leaves great lacing on the glass.
The aroma has a slightly earthy scent to it. I get hints of pine in the aroma. There's a slight grain aroma in this beer.
There's a malty flavor right away. Lots of biscuit and grain flavors here. This flavor then gets a honey like sweetness in the middle. The finish has a pleasing bitterness to it from the hops.
Great body to this beer. It feels slightly stick and my throat feels coated from the beer long after I down the beer.
You won't go wrong with this no nonsense beer. It hits the target very well.

Feels like a cross between a strong, flavorful IPA and a nice cold lager to refresh with on a hot day. This is the best all-around beer for me because of that.

 

 

Tried in bottle at Cosetta's, pretty refreshing!

 

 

 

Draft at burger Moe's in St. Paul, MN

 

(16 oz pour at Target Field now)

Medium amber colored liquid, good clarity; foam would not go away... on the nose: Honey kissed toasty bread crust, fruity highlights; old school craft pale character... Spicy hop bite on its graham crackery malt foundation; moderately dry, vaguely mapley caramel coated pale malt aftertaste... Lightly rounded edges to its body and residual finish; resin/unfermentable contour, but the zippy warmth in the aft helps keep it relatively dry... Wasn't until I was noting the mouth feel did I notice that have this as an English pale ale here; the minerality and hop expression may present as English, however, malt flavors say American amber ale to me; not bad for the game, but it's making me hungry (2177)

 

 

Pours a nice medium thick head, off white, lacing white. Malty, buttery, and faintly floral aroma. The flavor is malty, biscuity, and citrusy. With a decent mouthfeel, nice carbonation, a lingering dry finish, and a faint sweet malt flavor, Overall, it has a balanced taste of bitterness and sweetness and is crisp, lingering stickiness, and very refreshing.

Body was a deep gold with a healthy white head plus excellent lacing. Aromas of grains, biscuit, crackers, malt. Pronounced hop bitterness on the first taste, with some malt notes following. Medium mouthfeel with slightly above expected carbonation. Well crafted, a bit more bitter than I expected. Good to have in the frig when you want some beer variety

 

Rarely see these guys anymore in Chicagoland. (Is this the same old story of dealing with Illinois' Beverage Commission?) Bought this copy from Woodman's Kenosha. Glad to finally have Summit's flagship. They are now over 35 years old, making them a second generation brewer and still independent and not unlike my #2 favorite brewer, New Glarus, who also is old and doesn't distribute in Chicagoland. For that similarity and general longevity, I give Summit's Extra Pale some very good Overall Hugs.

Summit's invention here of a traditional style is the American hop profile. But much of the rest of Summit's Extra Pale is recognizable as typical English: particularly the soft mouth and sweet malts.

A bit thin in body but pours with a thick white head, lace, and great taste! Very drinkable.

For context, not a huge IPA fan. Like something a little less. For me this is it. My personal favorite across types. Hoppy enough to not be bland, smooth enough to not snap your head back on the first sip, and low enough in ABV so that you can drink a "few". Summit's been around long enough that they aren't hip anymore (Sam Adams anyone?). Too bad. Their EPA, Porter, and Keller Pils are all best of breed.