Summit - hitting with limited releases...

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by MNAle, Oct 22, 2014.

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  1. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    Is it just because I'm paying more attention, or is Summit really hitting the mark with their recent Unchained and Union series releases? Add to that the anticipation of their next two...

    Unchained 15 Fest Bier
    Unchained 16 Herkulean Woods - I just bought the remaining stock from my local (small) liquor store
    (just coming available) Unchained 17 Harvest Fresh IPA, a fresh hopped IPA.
    Even though I'm not a regular IPA drinker, I plan on trying this one.

    Union Series #3 Southern Cape Sparkling Ale - not a bad light session ale
    Union Series #2 Rebellion Stout - bummed I missed that one
    Union Series #4: 3X Mild Ale (coming soon - looking forward to this one)

    Both Fest Bier and Herkulean Woods should be in consideration at Summit to add to their regular line, perhaps as seasonals. Southern Cape would make a good second summer seasonal from them as well.
     
    #1 MNAle, Oct 22, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2014
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  2. Helgy

    Helgy Initiate (0) May 22, 2014 Minnesota

    I completely agree! I think the Unchained series took a little bit to get going but every one I have tried I liked. I heard Unchained 17 should be hitting shelves this week, I'll be getting 2 six'ers of that. I really enjoyed Herkulean Woods, and such a bummer you missed out on Rebellion Stout, really nice stout! The 3X mild ale sounds good too! Would a 2X mean a regular ale and a 3X mean and imperial ale? Would have been a nice play on styles calling it a mild imperial ale, haha.

    I do wonder if any of these will become part of their regular or season lineup?
     
  3. UncleLankyFrank

    UncleLankyFrank Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2014 Minnesota

    I was a little late to the game, missing everything before Unchained #13 and Union #3. Where have I been?! I really really liked both beers.

    Southern Cape was a perfect Summer beer. Super sessionable at 4.4% ABV and delightfully refreshing with its big bubble -almost champagne yeast- fizz. I also love the Wiamea hops. For such a new variety, these were put to excellent use in this ultra-pale ale. I normally wouldn't even drink a beer this light, but I kept going back to it all Summer. Our liquor store had such brisk sales of Southern Cape that Summit was unloading 10 cases a week by the end of inventory.

    I am also deeply digging Herkulean Woods! Maple syrup and Spruce tips sound way over the top for a lager, but both are so subtle and serve the malt and hop profiles so well, I don't think I could have identified either addition. Discretely balanced and very unobtrusive for what could have been really crazy beer. It's been selling very well by word-of-mouth (and our strong recommendation).
     
  4. MNBeerGeek

    MNBeerGeek Initiate (0) Jun 25, 2013 Minnesota

    Unchained certainly had a bit of a lull, but one of the first ones (maybe #2?) was a belgian golden ale that was fabulous. Loved the Fest bier.
     
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  5. BuckettOfBeer

    BuckettOfBeer Zealot (506) Mar 19, 2010 Minnesota

    The people are demanding it: more Festbier!!
     
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  6. GeezLynn

    GeezLynn Initiate (0) May 10, 2009 Colorado

    Agree with each of the beers MNAle lists. Summit has put out some great stuff lately.
    Rebellion was a nice, bigger dry stout.

    I wonder though, how easy it would be to make some of these beers regulars or seasonals given need to source unusual/expensive ingredients and the extra few dollars price tag for the Union and Unchained Series? Typically, people are willing to pay more for unusual/new beers for awhile, but eventually most move on to the next thing once they become just another (slightly) higher-priced easily available beer.

    That said, making Festbier a seasonal seems doable and something a lot of people would be excited about.
     
  7. Baudette

    Baudette Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2007 Minnesota

    I'll be a happy man when they brew a dopple to be sold at stores.
    Whenever that will be.....
     
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  8. wookiemofo

    wookiemofo Initiate (0) Apr 12, 2010 Minnesota

    Kind of makes you wonder, what would become of Summit if they put that effort into reformulating their existing recipes. I get that they sell and bring in the cash... But I don't know too many people that drink their regular lineup anymore. Seems to act as the gateway to better things around here.
     
  9. Chaz

    Chaz Grand Pooh-Bah (3,668) Feb 3, 2002 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Never gonna happen. Lagers are boring! Remember? :grinning:
     
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  10. Baudette

    Baudette Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2007 Minnesota

    How easy I forget.....:confused:

    NO brewery in Mn brews one sold in stores....kinda sad.
     
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  11. loudmouth

    loudmouth Initiate (0) May 24, 2010 Wisconsin

    I think they have a West Coast IPA in their regular lineup that's pretty solid, can't remember what it's called........
     
  12. BrettHead

    BrettHead Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2010 Nebraska

    Someone is drinking a lot of EPA somewhere :slight_smile:

    And they did reformulate the OG IPA and Horizon Red.
     
  13. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    Maybe true for the BA types, but we are a minority.

    EPA is a major big time seller; there is no way (if I were running Summit) I would mess with that one at all. In fact, over the year, I do buy EPA a fair amount. It is a solid go-to beer, especially for groups (but I also still buy it just for me as well).

    I don't know their capacity, but adding a second seasonal for each "season" should be possible, I would think.
     
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  14. morimech

    morimech Grand Pooh-Bah (3,803) Nov 6, 2006 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    Unchained:
    #1 Kolsch- A fabulous, dry, crisp, refreshing ale. Mankato Original supposedly is the spiritual successor
    #2 90/- Scottish Ale- Was not crazy about this beer. Earthy and medicinal also overcarbonated
    #3 India Style Rye Ale- What a glorious beer this was. Those of us that drank it, still long for it.
    #4 Belgian Style Golden Ale- Another that I thought was rather forgettable.
    #5 Imperial Pumpkin Porter- Not a fan of pumpkin in beer, but I thought this was definitely more drinkable.
    #6 Gold Sovereign Ale- Here we go, a fabulous British-style ale. Love it.
    #7 Honeymoon Saison- My least favorite Summit beer ever.
    #8 Black Ale- A real good hoppy black ale. I can taste the black!
    #9 Dunkel Weizen- Did not care for it. Not much difference from an average hefeweizen.
    #10 Abbey Ale- The best Belgian-style beer Summit has done to date. Great.
    #11 Old 152- Excellent rye flavor and spice. Loved it.
    #12 100% Organic Ale- Good C-hop dominate, small IPA.
    #13 Another IPA- An over-hopped English IPA that I did not care for.
    #14 Biere de Garde- Another rather forgettable Belgian-style beer from Summit.
    #15 Fest Bier- Perfection. Honestly I do not know how it could be better.
    #16 Herkulean Woods- Really like how the spruce and maple syrup work together.

    Union:
    Meridian Session Ale- Anyone remember this beer? I certainly don't.
    Rebellion Stout- A great stout that disappeared very quickly. Wish I bought all I could the one time I found it.
    Southern Cape- I drank a lot of this over the summer. One of the better beers Summit has brewed.
     
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  15. MN_Beerticker

    MN_Beerticker Initiate (0) Jul 10, 2012 Minnesota

    I've been impressed by nearly every (Biere de Garde was a bit mediocre) Unchained and and Union I've tried thus far. I am glad that Summit gives their brewers a chance to mix it up and display their talents.
     
  16. Chaz

    Chaz Grand Pooh-Bah (3,668) Feb 3, 2002 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I managed to sample all but a couple* of the brews from the Unchained and Union series, and to my mind Summit has hit the mark with most of these beers in turn. Not a bad track record at all, eh? :slight_smile:

    P.S. @Baudette, I agree. Maybe they'll oblige us with a packaged version of their beerhall exclusive Doppelbock?

    *Packaged or draught. Did not get around to sampling any of the special or barrel-treated versions, when they were made available. :slight_frown:
     
    #16 Chaz, Oct 23, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2014
  17. MNBeerGeek

    MNBeerGeek Initiate (0) Jun 25, 2013 Minnesota

    Well and how could we have made it this far without just giving Saga an honorable mention?! :grimacing:
     
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  18. Verbl

    Verbl Crusader (469) Feb 7, 2009 Minnesota

    I loved the pumpkin porter. My favorite Summit ever. Fest Bier is a close second.
     
  19. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    C'mon... this thread is about the Unchained / Union series beers. You need to put a bit more effort into it!

    Unchained 17 Harvest Fresh IPA is going to be Sága with fresh hops! :slight_smile:
     
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  20. MNBeerGeek

    MNBeerGeek Initiate (0) Jun 25, 2013 Minnesota

    All threads are Saga threads. @mothman knows.
     
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