Summit declares that Summer is over!

My distributor has had Pumpking and Warlock in for almost two weeks now, and Leinie's Oktoberfest will be rolling out tomorrow. I'm sure every brewery has a different reason for releasing some of these seasonals so early, the one I hear about the most is that they don't want to interfere with other beer production later in the year so they try to get it out as quickly as possible. That could be a complete line of BS though.

 

Not quite sure we've declared that summer is over. Summer Ale is still out there. Southern Cape is still out there, too -- and makes for some bad-ass summertime beer cocktails, too - see this video:

We all know this is a gray-area "tail wagging the dog" sort of thing between consumers, beer producers and retailers. It's never a perfect dance. Some beer-lovers expect these beers and the industry tends to adjust to those expectations. That being said, Oktoberfest is a great beer that's easy to enjoy even this early later in the evening around the bonfire or on a cool lake. I knocked out a sixer of cans in the first part of this week thanks to the Polar Vortex 3.0. The beauty is also that all four beers in the Fall Sampler hold up nicely with time when stored cool/cold. So you can have it standby for when it starts to snow next week. Our next Unchained 16: Herkulean Woods (due out mid-August) is also a higher-gravity lager, but it's going to be just what the doctor ordered come those chilly night post-State Fair.

 

In case you want a bit more information on Unchained 16:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/summitbeer/14690667933/
It's like a Double California Common, brewed with spruce tips and maple syrup and lagered for wee bit.

 

Before people start bitching AGAIN, I just want to say I'd like to see more year round octoberfest beers. Because they're not "octoberfest beers"... They're fuckin' marzens, and they're awesome no matter the weather.

 

@joelwlcx Great point. That was former brewer Nate Siats' specific goal with the last Unchained 15: Fest Bier. That beer was one for all seasons, all reasons! I, for one, would love to see that go year-round one day. Chip @ Summit



Stat sheet:
http://www.summitbrewing.com/brews/fest-bier

 

Eh, Schell's summer is pretty weak. Goosetown, Dark, and no Chimney Sweep. Pretty lame lineup. What season used to have Emerald Rye? That was a good season.

 

I wasn't just talking about summer seasonals. Schell's is one of a very few breweries I know of that release their seasonal beers during the correct season. And let me suffix this with the fact that I am a fan of most of Summit's beers. I'm not trying to take a cheap shot at them. But seriously, release your beers in the right season.

 

Schells Hefe should be out sooner.

 

Agreed partially , I would like to see it out three or four weeks sooner. However, it is still out during the summer season. When does Summit Summer Ale come out, mid spring. Oktoberfest, July. Winter Ale, September. Maibock, February. It's a consistent thing with Summit that all their seasonals are out three months before their particular season starts. Schell's is pretty consistent with their seasonals being released within their season, and I respect that.

 

Well, I'm camping right now in Western Wisconsin (Hudson). I'm cold. Seriously, I love it, but I'm cold. I'd like to think that the wizards at Summit anticipated this wonderful, colder than average weather and went ahead brewed/released their Autumn seasonal a bit early. Thank you Summit! It's beer. Who gives a fuck?

 

Yeah no argument on the Summit side of putting them out too early but like you said I would like to see Schell Hefe by the first or second week of June at the latest...Memorial Day would be perfect..

 

I wouldn't call it just a Summit problem. It seems that seasonals are coming out earlier and earlier every year from a lot of breweries.

 

No doubt it's an industry wide problem. I was just picking on Summit, because this thread is about Summit.

 

Referring to this as a "problem" is comical. Awww shoot, this beer I like is out earlier than I personally want it to be!

Real problems.

 

It's the AUTUMN sampler. I can be an asshole too. Lighten up a bit.

 

Huh? I was telling him that beer is included in the sampler that people were discussing if he wasn't aware. How was I being an asshole?

 

It's a beer website. I think anyone posting here understands that the idea of this being a "problem" is wholly within the context of inconveniencing one's choice of entertainment and not an actual problem.

What sucks is that you do associate these beers with certain times of the year. When it's hot as shit out, I don't want to drink an Oktoberfest. I want that when it gets a little chilly and the leaves start turning, and I'm wearing a sweatshirt at tailgates. My guess is that there are many others who feel the same way. When they start rolling fall seasonals out in the middle of summer it means that there are going to be winter seasonals in fall, and if the point of these beers is to pair them with the season, then why aren't these breweries actually pairing them with the season? If they want to make these beers year-round, that's fine with me. I just want to be able to drink them in prime condition at the time in the year they were meant to be consumed. I don't think this is a ridiculous request given the context we've established here.

 

Right? I'm not positive, but I'd bet this cold, 24ounce can of HG 800 that August Schell's wholesaler of record for the East Metro basically thought that the Schell's Hefe Sampler package was not worth palletizing for retail drops.

They are pretty amped-up about Arminius, of course. <--- insert smiley face + eye roll, HERE.

^ That. And if I might humbly submit? One of the best traditional Hefeweissbiers in the U.S. needs better distribution.

 

Meh, if it's good drink it, who F'n cares what "season" it is or not.

 

I was also very confused by SwinginParty's comment towards you. I went back and re-read the thread to figure out if I missed something, but I don't think I did since I read it just the way you described it.