Summit Winter Ale | Summit Brewing Company

3.52/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Unfortunately, the season has passed for this one, but even if it hadnt, it still wouldnt be my favorite. this is sort of the craft beer of the old school, malty amber ale, brewed with just a little more body and hops for the cold months, but the craft beer movement has evolved beyond this now i think. deep amber in color, brick red even, with a short lived white head. some nice toasted grain and nutty malt sweetness to this, fairly earthy and substantial in both nose and taste, without as much overall caramelized sweet weight as anticipated. a hint of maple, coffee cake, and toffee, all without spices or adjuncts from what i can gather. sort of english, also sort of hoppy, with a little more bitterness than we usually see in amber ale types, its hoppy as it goes down for sure. medium body, relaxed carbonation, sturdy beer and likely someones favorite, but i look for a little more in my winter beers these days. summit is near and dear to me because they often embody and preserve the old school in their beer, but this one seems tired to me. not the best of their seasonal offerings, but still quite satisfying and enjoyable in the right context, which will next occur sometime in november...

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3.8/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

4.04/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2.26/5  rDev -39.2%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

4.37/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

4.14/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This is a very interesting beer. Its like nothing I have ever had. I had it poured in a glass at Toasted Frog in Fargo. Summit is a great brand by a great Brewmaster, who started making Summit before craft beer really took off. I had it with a chicken risotto and it was great. Its hard to identify all the tastes that are going on, coffee, toffee, caramel, and malts. Just because of the taste alone, you gotta try it, you won't be disappointed.

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4.35/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

3.78/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

3.8/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Look, dark amber with a thin head.

Good, interesting smell, toffee and caramel.

Add subtle coffee notes to the taste.

The feel is refreshing, not to heavy, good beer to sip on and enjoy the different flavors.

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3.63/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

4.01/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

4.16/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.13/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

4.29/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

4.34/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Rich toasty malts, and piney hops. Sweet smelling. Hints of darker fruits. Cinnamon raisin bread. Out of season, but hops are still present. Piney and almost minty. Cracker basemalt is noticeable.

Pours dark ruby/brown. Good clarity. Decent sized off white head with good lacing and retention.

Juicy malts. Pumpernickel bread. Caramel and brown sugar. Some raisin but less present in the flavor than the nose. Less hop character on the palate, but still some balancing bitterness. Complex malt character. Juicy and full with a nice cracker base.

Medium full body with medium carbonation. I know I've said juicy twice already...but fairly dry finish. Lingering hop bitterness and toasted bread.

Complex and rich but surprisingly drinkable. Has held up quite well.

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3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

3.7/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

3.34/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Has all the hallmarks of a winter warmer appearance, light brown, lesser brown head 1/2". Aroma was nutty, mildly boozy, some brown malt.

Taste mildly sweet, mildly boozy, mildly hoppy. Plenty of malt, smooth. Even some tree like dark fruit note. Good format, cheap, solid option here.

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3.82/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

3.53/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

3.54/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Carmel flavor is upfront. Bold flavors and medium feel. Good for one or two.

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3.59/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown in color with minimal light penetration. There's a half inch of tightly packed beige resting on top. Light lacing on the glass. Aroma is comprised of caramel and chocolate. I taste plenty of dark chocolate and light malt. The mouth is lightly silky and smooth.

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