Summit IPA Collection -and- India-Style Black Ale

Thanks for the link.

There are several things of interest (to me, anyway) in the linked announcement...

They seem to be shaking things up a little in their regular lineup as well as the variety packs. Two of the 30th anniversary beers will become regulars. (I wonder if any current regulars will be retired...)

In addition to the black IPA, a hefe and a wit will be box exclusives. It'll be interesting (to me, anyway) to compare the Summit hefe with the Schell's hefe, even though I'm not a big variety box guy.

On the disappointing side is that the next Union Series beer, a RIS, won't be until December 2017, apparently. But the 19th century recipe and heritage barley will definitely make it worth a try.

 

Every beer in their current lineup is noted in one of the variety packs besides Maibock. There is a good chance the Hefeweissen is the one that used to be their summer seasonal. It was pretty good, but definitely not as good as Schell's. It's weird that they are adding so many new beers to their lineup after they dropped Frost Line Rye because of a packed schedule. I heard they are now also contract brewing for Boulevard.

 

Oktoberfest in July! Summer Ale in April!

Bummed that Frostline Rye won't be making an appearance yet again this year.

 

That pushing-the-season timing is fairly typical these days with most brewers.

 

Thanks.

Thanks; I do remember that beer now. The wording in the announcement implies this one is a new attempt... "... introduce two box-exclusive occasionals perfect for grilling season: Summit Hefeweizen and Summit Wit Bier. The new styles will also be available on draught." (Well, I can hope... )

Perhaps it was the 30th anniversary beers that packed the schedule. And, they used to contract brew for Finnegans, didn't they?

 

Stoked to see Keller Pils making a return in 2017, but will be bummed if the only way to get it will be in the Summer Seasonal mixed pack with Summer Ale, Hefe and Wit. I would love to crush 12pks of that beer all summer long, but wouldn't really drink the others.

 

They still voluntarily contract brew for Finnegans and will probably continue to do so until Finnegans final opens their brewery. I have no idea what sort of volume they produce for them or Boulevard. Finnegans is apparently the fifth largest beer brand in Minnesota.

 

I hate to disagree with people but their Hefe-weizen didn't hold up to other great wheat beers of the time.

 

And Scandia Ale was a wit. I wonder if they are just bringing those retired brands back. I liked Summit's Hefe. I agree it was not up to Schell's, but I still slammed many of these because it was easier to get than the Schell's.

 

Personally, I liked Hop Silo quite a bit more than the 30th Anniversary Double IPA...wish they would brought back Hop Silo instead.

 

Me, too, but I'm not a big IPA/DIPA buyer so ...

 

I debate within my mind whether the people at the marketing firms that come up with names like Finnovation Lab + BrewTel are so enthralled with charts and numbers that they lack the interpersonal skills necessary to understand that most people who are into craft beer see completely through such blatant marketing, and are accidentally succeeding in finding an alternative market, or are actually smart enough to know that there are enough people out there who lack the critical thinking skills to realize they are being tricked into drinking mediocre beer with a 'funny' name attached to it.

How's that for a stream-of-consciousness run on sentence?

 

My position of Summit brewing a hefe and a wit: If Summit wanted to brew a great Bavarian style hefe, and a great traditional style Belgian Wit they could easily do so. They have the facility, quality assurance, and Damian McConn (is he the big guy it TC brewing now?). However, they have yet to try brewing either of these styles in a traditional manner.

Summit Hefe wasn't a bad wheat beer. It was a slightly above average one. It wasn't an American Pale Wheat Ale brewed with a neutral American ale yeast that gave it few esters and little flavor. It, to my palate, was brewed with a hybrid American/Bavarian yeast that gave it enough esters that I don't feel Summit was wrong in calling it a Hefe, but not enough that it was a traditional Bavarian style one. It had a long life helping them become what they are today, but in the end it didn't hold up in the modern day craft beer scene.

Summit Scandia was an over spiced beer. At least it was to my palate. I don't recall having a beer from any other brewery (domestic or foreign) that was described by the brewery as being a witbier that was as over the top spiced as Scandia. The spices were traditional witbier spices, but there was just too much of them. It was an average at best beer on an overall scale, and a D- beer on a to style scale. (I know both overall, and style scales have their place, but this post is about style.)

I hope the hefe and the wit in this upcoming package are new beers as I plan on buying it, but if they aren't at least I'll get to learn how my palate has changed.

 

Has the IPA Collection (with the India-Style Black Ale in it) appeared in stores yet? (My favorite local did not have it as of yesterday... the only place I've looked.)

 

It started rolling out this week. I thought the Black IPA was too style which is to say it was a mess. Black IPA is something that just shouldn't exist. I have no idea why so many people like it.

 

I wanted to try this but wasn't going to suffer through 3 Horizon Reds and 3 True Brits to get to it.

 

While I wish it was available separately, I'll look at the extra beers as an opportunity...

I haven't had True Brit for a number of years, before I was "officially" reviewing beers, so I'll view it as an opportunity to taste it again at my current state of beer appreciation.

The last time I had a beer from Summit called "Horizon Red" it was classified as an Amber / Red Ale, not an IPA. So, again, I'll look at this as an opportunity.

Besides, nothing from Summit ever even comes close to drain pour territory, and they will only be about a buck apiece.

The store that is on my drive home has them in now, so I'll pick up the IPA sample box tonight. Probably be a day or two before I try one, though.

 

I see it in a similar way. I can try some styles I haven't had in a while, and find out if my palate has adjusted to enjoy these. I'm looking forward to picking this up.