Cranky Woodsman
Summit Brewing Company

Scrappy notes from autumn 2018.
5.2%ABV 30IBU Oak smoked malts, maple syrup, lacey barley from Alexandria, MN. Rich mahogany color, toast, graham cracker and smoke, cascade hops, citrus, light sweetness. Just smooth as the day is long. It is very tasty & toasty. Excellent beer.

 

 

 

 

 

a nice beer, just right for fall, has some curious grains in it apparently, smoked oats and some kind of rice if i understand, the complexity from them is subtle but important in a clean brown ale like this where every little wrinkle is noticeable. its got a nice chestnut color and good clarity, with a autumnal aroma of a classic nut brown spiked with a little maple syrup and that hint of smoke from the mash, mellow on both counts, but also obvious. i love the complexity of the flavor, way more nuanced than most brown ales like this, and with a little bit of biscuity yeast character all the way through it. i really like the depth, some body from the oats, a little cocoa to it, mild maple, toffee, and fallen leaves, very woodsy, i want to be wearing flannel and splitting firewood or something, it really is built for the season, i love the way it correlates to the weather. so many oktoberfests and pumpkin beers right now, this is a wonderful change of pace for a seasonal, and it seems right in the wheelhouse of what these guys do best. a great malt driven beer thats not sweet and is really drinkable this time of year. chocolate and light smoke and toasted nuts, id have a fridge full of this if it were available in colorado...

This beer pours a clear brown ruby with a solid head. The aroma is gentle and sweet with hints of toasted walnut, woodsmoke, and juniper. The flavor starts with easy going malt of toasted almond and walnut, with just a hint of campfire smoke, roasted maple, and again, a hint of juniper. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and soft with fuzzy carbonation. Overall this is a really pleasant, slightly unusual brown ale, smooth in body, but with enough smoky notes to keep in interesting, and an odd junipery herbal quality I find intriguing.

Saddle broen in color, fluffy head with good retention. Faint smokey aroma and finish. Good drinkability.

Poured from a 12oz can into glass. Can is from a sampler pack. Best by date stamped on can bottom is '12/21/18'.
Clear, dark amber colored body. Each pour brings forth a thick off white head. Leaves behind sheets of lacing.
Aroma is smoky and nutty, with a little sweetness.
Taste is pure brown ale, with the additional smoke from the malts. Initial impression is sweet, then the dark roasted malt and smoke come in. The ending is rather bitter. I can imagine there is a little maple there (can feel it on the teeth) but it is very subtle.
Rather thick mouth feel for a brown ale. The foam head is very pleasant to sip through. Good carbonation.
I liked this beer because I like the smoke, but this may be off putting to others. Enjoyed the progression from sweet to bitter. Good change of pace brown ale.

 

 

Pleasant smoky / sweet aroma. Dark amber; heavy carbonation; thick off-white to light tan head, receding slowly, leaving a trailing thick lacing. Thick-ish feel at first, but transitions to thin. Initial flavor is smoke, a touch of sweetness before moderate bitterness takes over in the middle, finish, and aftertaste. The finishing taste is NOT sweet, but a bit bitter. Plenty going on in this beer: smoky, touch of sweetness, nice body, just enough bitterness for a clean finish. Could use a bit more from the malts, though. If you don't like smoke or brown ales, it is not for you. Otherwise, give it a try.

 

The wild rice, smoked malt, and maple syrup are all so subtle in this beer to not even bother to mention. It is a nice brown ale with a bit of hoppiness.

 

Look: brown, large billowy head, great lacing. Aroma: molasses and wood smoke. Taste: much the same...maybe a bit more smoke. Mouthfeel: medium bodied, velvety texture. Comments: it's a bit simple, but still has some nuance. I like it, but wouldn't buy it again.

Enjoyed on tap at Angry Trout in Grand Marais. Pretty solid brown ale with a bit of a smokey taste.

 

Oddly mild-acrid smell. Nutty and malty too. Pure clear cppper. Smooth finish. Pairs well with Copenhagen.