Summerfest Lookout Thread (2023)

It's as good as the original. Maybe even hoppier?

 

If anything it seems like the aroma went down a notch but the flavor went up a notch- a tradeoff I'm quite happy with. Especially since the flavor has that noble Hallertau quality to it.

 

Finally had one by itself yesterday and I'm glad to report it's everything I remember it being. Very flavorful summer lager!

 

Finally found a six pack, chilling ad we speak.

 

I was out running errands and on a lark I decided to stop at my local Retail Beer Distributor to see if Summerfest has finally arrived. The answer is no.

But I did see that Fiddlehead IPA in a 12-pack (12 ounce cans) has finally arrived to my area. Woo-Hoo! As I was paying for this 12-pack I felt like I had won the lottery.

Cheers!

 

Pity they don’t release it in a stove pipe.

 

One of the locations near me only had six-packs -- and only one left.

But yes, Summerfest in house. Canned 3-21-23 -- and just now showing up around here.

Anyway... Big herbal hop nose and initial hit of flavor. Balanced out by a sweetish, crackery-grainy malt backbone, but herbal bitterness finishes in the aftertaste and finish.

It's got very similar characters as past SF renditions, but I agree with some reports of the hops being amped up just a bit more than years past.

There's an herbal character to the hops that I can only describe as cedar-like -- though not pine resin, just a little sharp in its flavor. But it balances well with the grainy malts.

@SierraTerence -- thanks for bringing this back -- I'm on the lookout for 12-packs!

 

Picked up a 6 pack today, as good as ever. This beer was canned on 03/21/23 can’t remember the last time I saw any Sierra Nevada product that fresh in northern NJ.

 

Maybe because it's seasonal? Have you bought any SN seasonals lately?

Me, I guess I'm being hyper-critical because I know the distro, but I'm surprised this beer just showed up.

 

Got a 12-pack for my wife Friday. I'm going to "steal" one soon. If any of you remember my previous Sierra Nevada comments here over the years you know that I always complain about their poor/late distribution in CT. I wasn't expecting to see this until July.

 

I buy Celebration every year as soon as I see it. The Pale Ale here always seem to be at best to be between 60/90 days old.

 

Can't remember the dates on the last Celeb I bought -- and whether they seemed somewhat old. Have to keep that in mind this season.

Then again, same silly distro.

 

Additional picture from my tasting.


One thing I noticed was the fast head crash -- very similar to other canned beers I try. @zid

 

From my understanding because of the way Sierra Nevada conditions their beers for 2 weeks after packaging, it was canned 3/21, shipped 4/4 and you have it 3 weeks later. 3 weeks fresh is pretty great for SN. Silverlining!

 

The leg where my local distro failed.

 

Yeah, I would think only the can-conditioned labels. Don't think SF is one of those.

 

It seems like I am a little late to the party. I picked up 2 sixers during lunch break. I’m looking forward to drinking one or two tonight. I went back and read my review from 2008 and I gave it a 3.83 rating. Evidently from my review, it went well with my wife’s crab cakes.

It’s probably my last purchase of the year considering I like to drink Victory Prima Pils, Troegs Sunshine Pilsner, and Sly Fox Pikeland Pils during the summer months.
Cheers!

 

I'm not informed enough to say yay or nay on that.

 

I'm not sure if they still mark their cans as "canned conditioned," or if they only condition bottles.

@jesskidden -- any insight, or has it all gotten muddied between canning and bottling?

Or, do a search.
https://sierranevada.com/faq/what-beers-do-you-bottle-condition/