Summerfest Lookout Thread (2023)

I bought a 12 pack yesterday and I noticed there weren’t many 12 packs left. I may have to go after another one.

 

I picked up a 24 pack of Summerfest at Costco outside of Sacramento. Good deal at $28.




Great pool beer as it went over 90 degrees this past weekend.

 

The closest Total Wine to me had the 12 packs for $16.49 recently. I just checked their website now and they jacked it up to $21.99 in a matter of days.

 

So my last trip a Total employee caught me looking at the 14.99 price tag on the shelf to make sure I wasn't crazy. I explained to him. So basically since I caught that price tag still out they gave me that pack for 14.99 that day but I noticed they took the tag down to.

At first there was no Summerfest in the fridge. I believe they seen it was selling on the shelf and moved some to the freezer and that's where the new updated 18.49 price tag is located.

It's getting into the price range for locals and other tasty selections in that pale lager style. It's good but not that good. And it's just getting older. More $ for older beer.

 

Michael, let us know if you witness a restock. I am wondering if perhaps Sierra Nevada produced this year's Summerfest at a reduced amount since apparently the last year this beer was made it did not sell all that well.

Cheers!

@SierraTerence

 

When we entered the liquor store in question the lady in charge greeted my wife with: "Welcome to the hood!". Well, apparently what they call the hood in Denver, which is rather unlike the hood in Philly. When I asked the young man behind the counter if they had or could get Leffe Brune (a weakness of mine, which I have not seen anywhere lately) he asked, innocently enough, "What's that?"

 

Bought a 12 pack last week, but fridge is fairly full so will be a few weeks until I get to drinking it. Store only had like 6 so figured I would buy for summer while it was available

 

Well, I found a 12 pack of scrimshaw that is one day fresher than the summerfest. 4/5 on the scrimshaw, 4/4 on the summerfest.


Having them side by side, I like the summerfest more than I have in any other setting. At first it was notably crisper tasting than the scrimshaw and made the scrimshaw taste much maltier than usual.

As I delve into it though I really appreciate @steveh 's ping on the hops in summerfest. As j worked through these two the impression I'm left with is of summerfest as a very modern beer while scrimshaw tastes much more traditional.

Like I said, this side by side has given me the greatest appreciation of summerfest I've gotten. But scrimshaw still wins out for me.

Also, I think I see what Sierra Nevada is doing with the new package. Check out the other side by side I did with summerfest


That new SF can sure invokes the image of the two most iconic norcal pilsners.

I need to do a triangle tasting with all 3 of these before I finish this summerfest.

I'm not buying anymore of it, but I did buy 3 6 packs to support SN's decision and offer my hand to those of you who love this stuff. Hope they make it again next year. Hope they put it in stovepipe singles too.

 

@unlikelyspiderperson -- FWIW, I saw Scrimshaw cans the other day... caught my eye, but I was on the hunt for something else. Catalogued for future inspection.

But you know? I think I'm sticking with Trumer.

 

I believe others have pointed out that the Scrimmy in cans is brewed in San Jose.

 

I'll try to remember to check that. But Gordon Biersch-brewed beers have been a favorite for many years.

 

I discussed the 'new' Summerfest earlier today in the NBW thread:

Summertime Blues

It is not officially summer yet but for many people Memorial Day is the ‘unofficial’ start of summer And, today’s beer is definitely “blue” as you can see the color of the can in the photo below.

Oh, and a good Memorial Day weekend to you. As posted above a time to be thankful for those folks who sacrificed for us.

Today’s ‘new’ beer is Sierra Nevada Summerfest. I have consumed Summerfest in the past but this year’s version is brewed using a new recipe so as far as I am concerned it is a new beer.

So, what is ‘new’ about this year’s version you may ask.

Well, from a marketing perspective the folks from Sierra Nevada decided to brand this beer using the words “Summer Lager” as you can readily see on the can’s label. To the best of my recollection, I have never had a “Summer Lager” before so this is a first for me.

As regard’s the recipe, below is from the Sierra Nevada website (with bolding by me):

“Alcohol by volume: 5%

bitterness units: 28

Malts: Munich, Pilsner, Two-row Pale

Hops: Magnum, Saphir, Tettnang, Tradition

Yeast: Lager”

In past versions of Summerfest, the hops used were:

“Bittering Hops: Perle.

Finishing Hops: Saaz, Spalter Select.”

Also, for this year’s version the brewers at Sierra Nevada made an interesting choice for the barley malt using some Thunder barley malt. You can read more below (with bolding by me):

“Barley is an excellent crop to have in a farming rotation, especially when grown using no-till practices. Retaining above-ground plant material after harvest, coupled with below-ground root structure, protects and enriches the soil. Additionally no-till barley can be much less input-intensive as many of its counterparts, especially conventionally grown wheat. These attributes are why it can be a helpful crop on the landscape in critical watersheds; supporting soil health, building soil carbon, and improving water quality. The benefits of barley are enhanced by growing a winter-type variety - which is sown in the fall, opposed to spring - providing ground cover through the winter and spring months when the soil can be most prone to erosion.

Recognizing these unique elements of barley, Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC) decided to grow the grain on existing agricultural fields in the uplands of a ranch it conserved on Oregon’s Wild and Scenic John Day River. WRC transferred most of the ranch to the Bureau of Land Management, protecting 10 miles of the lower John Day and the critical lower miles of Thirtymile Creek, the most important steelhead spawning tributary on the lower river. However, WRC kept the upland agricultural lands in production and worked with a neighboring farmer to grow no-till barley as a carbon-friendly, salmon-safe crop. Thunder, a winter barley bred by Dr. Pat Hayes from Oregon State University, has become the predominant variety on this acreage. What was initially conceived as a small pilot project, is now in its sixth year of producing high-quality malting barley. WRC’s experiment is clearly demonstrating the viability of growing a truly fish- and climate-friendly crop in the high desert of eastern Oregon.

To further the story of conservation and the land’s ability to provide high-quality and valued agricultural products grown in a sustainable manner, enter Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. A crop is no good without a market, and this lot of barley has found a nice home with the Chico, CA based brewery who has always kept its eye on high-quality, low-impact brewing. Sustainability is embedded in all of their processes, tracing all the way back to the field where their barley is produced. The revival of the infamous Summerfest release provided an excellent opportunity to showcase what’s good for the land, is good for the people. Joining this partnership was Great Western Malting who took possession of the Thunder barley and was able to preserve the identity of the grain throughout the malting process to ensure this special barley found its way into the 2023 Summerfest release.”

https://ambainc.org/news-details.php?id=64417ab4a8e5e

What does a differing selection of hops and barley mean for this “Summer Lager”? As the wise owl likes to say: “Let’s find out”.

Served in my Polish Pilsner glass:

Appearance:

Straw yellow in color with a BIG white head (which dissipated quite quickly).

Aroma:

An enticing combination of bready malt and lemon-like & herbal hop aromas. This aroma sorta reminds me of a fresh Firestone Walker Pivo Pils,

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with a combination of bready malt and lemon-like & herbal flavors. There is a moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Light - Medium bodied with a medium carbonation level. There is a dry finish.

Overall:

I enjoyed drinking this beer; it is very good. I appreciated the balance of malt and hops flavors.

It has been a while since I had a Summerfest beer (e.g., the beer was discontinued, etc.) but it seems to me this is the ‘best’ Summerfest version for my palate.

Cheers!

 

I don't believe I have ever had any versions of this beer, but since Trader Joe's has dropped Pilsner Urquell (dadgummit), I will certainly grab one of these if it shows up at TJ's.

 

Yesterday I bought 2 twelve packs of Summerfest, that makes 6 since the reintroduction. The two I bought were the last ones on the shelf. Today I had to go back to the same supermarket and saw that the Sierra Nevada stock had been replenished with the exception of Summerfest, so I assume it’s gone in my area for the year. My twelve packs were dated 4/23/23. Got a twelve of Snappy bottles dated 3/30/23, which is ok.

 

And I would buy it and drink it

 

Isn't it usually the first week in August?

Maybe I'm just thinking of when I first see it around here.

Start another thread, man.

 

In the recent past Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest beers were packaged in July. Maybe in a couple/few weeks you will see a beer that is intended for fall time* drinking?

Cheers!

* Or perhaps in the 'modern era' seasonal beers have a very different meaning?