Summerfest Lookout Thread (2023)

Old, big micro prejudice.

 

I'm sure it is romanticized by me and others. But that's part of the fun of beer (and food), in my opinion.

 

It would be cool to see a Sierra Nevada set up a proper, dedicated, traditional lager brewhouse and spin up a line of lagers for sale in the 6x12 format at competitive prices.

They've got a solid track record of producing consistently at scale and of hiring the talent necessary to do so. Maybe I'm just pining for a regional brewer to deliver that selection of lagers to my area, but I also think SN could do it well.

 

35x2+1 here. Just a Lager should be the title of a definitive analysis of modern craft lagers.

 

Don't get the "logic" or whatever....in this line of thinking - it is not "late spring" - we are a month in (barely) to spring now - and here, temps and the weather are all over the place....late summer and early fall here, on the other hand, are very similar most years....anyhooo - I always am amused at how people judge beer "seasons" differently....it is quite comical
Cheers!

 

Summerfest is at my local beverage center and the beer finder was correct, I'll be drinking some today or tomorrow. Can't wait!

 

To large measure that sums up typical criticisms of SN in various threads. Folks miss the brands they used to make prior to 'doubling down' on producing IPA brands.

And some people, like me, are frustrated that all too often the year-round SN brands at my local beer retailers are all too often old (e.g., many months old sitting at room and sometimes warmer conditions).

I recently read a post by @tolar111 where he found some fresh (canned last month) Sierra Nevada beers in the stovepipe format. This past weekend I looked in the stovepipe refrigerator of my local supermarket and there were no fresh Sierra Nevada beers in there but I will continue to look.

Cheers!

 

In my area (Southeastern PA) the first couple of weeks in September will have warm days but often it cools down at the end of the day. I enjoy drinking Oktoberfest (Pale Oktoberfest, Amber Oktoberfest) beers at the end of the day sitting on my backyard patio.

Cheers!

 

Grabbed a sixer in Kalispell, Montana yesterday.

 

Here I am in southern California, you know, the state where Sierra Nevada started and has their main brewery, and the Summerfest closest to me is apparently about 50 miles away.

I suppose it will eventually find its way closer to me, but by then it could be a couple of months old.

Reminds me a bit of when Firestone Walker came back out with Pivo Pils. Firestone is even hundreds of miles closer to me than SN, yet to this day the closest I can find Pivo to me is about 100 miles away, while I'm reading here about some guy in Bumfuck Egypt scoring packs of it. God the distribution around here sucks.

 

Okay, anyone know how to decode Scrimshaw's dating? @unlikelyspiderperson

I'm having a couple post-workout Scrimshaws this afternoon and bottom line -- it won't replace Summerfest (or Trumer) for me.

There's a lot of DMS and Diacetyl going on in these bottles -- and a very buttery mouthfeel. But again, dates aren't clear.

The beer guy at the local said this case just came in, but who knows what the distro is bringing him?

 

I was specifically responding to your post/statement of: "With the changing climate in the Northeast, September is becoming a fourth summer month."

As I posted, yes during the day there will be some warm temperature days but if you (or anybody else in the "Northeast") are willing to wait until later in the day (e.g., early evening) the temperatures will be cooler.

Cheers!

 

You're right, it's not logical, it's completely emotional. I have an emotional connection to drinking Octoberfests when it's cool out that I simply don't have with Summerfest. And yes, we're in early spring, not late, brain-fart on my part. But early spring, mid spring, late spring, any time summer, none of that matters when it comes to drinking Summerfest. I'll happily have it as soon as my body feels the air getting consistently warmer. Similarly, I don't really want Sierra Nevada Celebration outside of late-November and to 12/31. That beer, like all Oktoberfests is one that I much prefer to enjoy at a certain time, as it contributes to the overall enjoyment. Again, all of this emotional.

 

Yep, it’s hot here in South Texas until at least the middle to end of October. That’s why when the first Oktoberfest hits the shelf in late July, I just start drinking them, because colder weather will still be months away. Why wait.

 

I hear you on the freshness piece. Luckily, one of my favorite Oktoberfests (Copper Legend) has fresh batches coming out for much of the fall.

 

To Summerfest being considered a summer seasonal -- I'm not sure why SN chose a Pilsner for that one -- Pilsners being year-round everywhere.

I'm sure it has more to do with a light lager being unique to micro/craft brewing back when it was first introduced. A pretty bold move for a micro brewer back when -- and pretty "innovative," I dare say!

 

A few years ago a brewery local to me (Workhorse) waited until mid-September to release their Oktoberfest beer. I went to the brewery the day of the release to purchase that beer and I said to the taproom manager "Thank You" and "I appreciated that they waited until September to release this beer".

Cheers!

 

Nowadays it seems that anything that isn't an IPA is considered a seasonal.