Märican Biere Bought and Drunk...

Nice. I'll make a point to try it if I'm ever in their distro territory.

 

Yeah, I haven't quite figured out why they limit their availability -- and it's even pretty hard to find here in Illinois where distro is plainly listed. But the spot that I go where it's carried seems to be keeping it available. I need to find out who the local distro is...

 

Is this new that Spaten is brewing Dinkel Acker?

 

Keep up man!

No -- we've discussed this in the past (even you and I -- right around the time SH Brands announced Dinkel Acker would be coming back), around 20 years ago* (give or take) Dinkel Acker had a deal with Spaten to brew their Pils and Dunkel for bottling and export to the U.S. -- and they were great, as Tongo and I were reminiscing in one of the latest American Pilsner vs. Euro Pilsner threads.

Spaten kept the deal even after Interbrew bought them, but had to bow out after the whole conglomo became AB-InBev. If you remember, it was the whole reason I was excited for DA to be back, but the Stuttgart brewery isn't matching the Spaten brewery's quality at all.

*It was my "house" 12 pack thru most of the '90s into the mid-2000s.

 

oops. Sorry, I never knew that. I didn't even realize Schwaben Braeu exported to the US until S&N picked it up. I lived in Germany from 92-06, so I am not knowledgeable at all on German export during that time.

 

No apologies -- just surprised you don't remember the discussion backing the early re-introduction days of the DA cans.

 

Local grocer has SN 12 packs on sale, couldn't pass up some Summerfest. Full introductory disclaimer: I really like this beer and always have, if it was available year-round I'd probably switch it out with Trumer as a house beer. To that, it's very comparable to Trumer, yet it has more hop bitterness throughout, a distinctly drier finish, and that husky graininess I always get from beers brewed with North American 2-row.

Nevertheless, this beer is delicious; clean and yet complex at the same time -- difficult to accomplish in a lager, speaking volumes for SN's brewing skills.

 

Yup, this is exactly what I get/got from Summerfest. I had a Rothaus side-by-side Summerfest a few weeks ago. Apart from one being labeled a Czech pils and the other a German, the husky graininess you speak of stood out to me.

I had the Summerfest first, and it was exactly as labeled, a crisp lager. Bitter and hoppy, but not over-the-top and in the way, just enough to please me and make the beer crisp and drinkable. Pils malt was there, albeit not as pronounced as in my favorite German pilsners, and the American 2-row showed up as well. It all came together nicely, and I always will buy and enjoy Summerfest.

I drank the Rothaus after it, and the pils malt really shined, making its presence felt upon the first sip. Not as crisp, a more balanced pils, with the sweetness of the malt making the beer insanely drinkable. This flavor profile was there in the Summerfest, but it was mixed in with graininess and bitterness from the American 2-row and hops. Different mouthfeels as well, Rothaus being smoother, and Summerfest crisper.

 

I hope to try this myself, sometime. In the meantime, I noticed the same locals now carrying Summit Pils -- one I've tried in the past and felt similarly as I do about SN. They're also carrying Lagunitas too, a very pricy "craft" beer around, but I may have to get some of each for an Ami Pils comparison.

I need to get across the border soon, too. Sprecher's Summer Pils ought to be on shelves and I didn't get any last year. The last time I tried it, it was outstanding.

 

Ballast Point's Longfin Lager. Not a lot of specific info on their site about the beer, other than a reference to some amount of Pilsner malt in the grist.

Probably one of the quieter and more subtle American takes on a helles lager I've had. In some ways, it doesn't work entirely, because the malt character isn't especially distinctive. Then again, what it lacked in malt character, I thought it made up for in a quietly refreshing aroma, grassy, slightly malty, and, best of all, with an almost saline like note, which I understand to be the work of very light DMS. I've always encountered DMS as distinctly vegetal. This manifestation was much more pleasant.

In the end, like any decent lager, it was eminently drinkable. It's not on the level of my favorite domestic versions (Ninkasi's Lux and Victory's Helles), but, when had nice and fresh like this one (just six weeks old or so), it ain't a bad pinch hitter.

 

http://www.livescience.com/4313-key-smell-sea.html

Don't know that I've ever smelled "fishy," but there are times when an import will have a "fresh" smell similar to the air I've smelled over the oceans.

 

Seems hard to find Minnesota's Summit beers around here these days -- they used to be pretty prevalent, but not so much any more. So when I saw their Pilsener I thought I'd give it a try since it's been a while. Enjoy by June 21, 2015 -- not bad. And I didn't realize this brew is on the session side at 4.5% ABV.

This beer isn't hitting me as grainy as it had in the past, more nicely bready. Freshness? New recipe? Hard to say, but the Saaz hops are pretty apparent and I've come to realize the herbal spiciness of Saaz weighs heavy on my palate. The first bottle isn't too bad, but the second starts to get a little heavy. Fortunately, the malts (North Dakota grown Moravian strain 2 Row) balance without adding to any heaviness.

Slightly citric and dryly bitter in the finish -- a pretty nice beer at $9 a sixer. Of course, it was the last six-pack on the shelf. Gonna need to talk to the beer manager at this store.

 

Hmm, I may need to re-visit. I haven't had it in a few years since I think I was put off by the graininess you mention it used to have.

Plus, I can get 12 packs for 12 bucks out the door!

 

What do the experts think of this beer?
Here are my thoughts:

Another attractive Sierra beer, lighter than Summerfest, extremely effervescent. Getting some Weizen characteristics in the nose, subtle banana and clove, also some lemon. Definitely hoppy in taste, slight citrus and coriander flavor. Very dry finish.

Reissdorf is the only authentic verizon I have tried. That beer was very delicate, some sweetness on the mouthful. Sierra rendition is very enjoyable but assume it's hoppier and has different yeast than true German style?

 

This time you're ahead of me, and maybe others. Haven't seen this at all in stores, and I'm in a lot of liquor stores.

 

I have not had the Sierra Nevada Kolsch (yet) but I have homebrewed a number of Kolsch beers (about a dozen batches). I have always used German hops to brew my Kolsch beers and German Kolsch yeast (Wyeast 2565).

I really don’t know which strain of yeast Sierra Nevada used to make this beer; they just list Ale yeast. Maybe Bill (@sierranevadabill) can provide more insight here?

There is no denying that Sierra Nevada thought ‘outside the box’ wrt hopping! Using Simcoe (and even Strisselspalt) as a finishing hop is intriguing!!

Below is from the Sierra Nevada website:

“Ingredients

• Yeast Ale yeast
• Bittering Hops German Magnum
• Finishing Hops Strisselspalt, Simcoe
• Malts Two-row Pale, Pilsner, Wheat, Acidulated “

Cheers!

 

The yeast strain is our house Kolsch strain (I'm sorry, I don't know where it originated) but we've been using it for years. We really like the fruity berry/grape aromas it produces.
I'm really pleased with this recipe for Kolsch. The American hop note is there, but really in the background so the Strisselspalt can shine. 100% of it was brewed in North Carolina and added to the pack.

Bill

 

I love the celebration. and I had some very powerful beer farts that night so proud of its malt power

 

Haven't seen the Summer Pack in my area yet. Weizen characteristics in a Kölsch? Hmm.

 

I personally don't find any weizen character in the yeast. It's a fruity Kolsch strain for sure, but I don't get banana at all, and I think the lemon note is hop driven rather than yeast derived.

Bill