Summit Unchained #20-Sticke ale

re: the Summit announcement... That will be interesting; I don't think I've ever seen a 12 oz keg!

Also, did you notice in the linked blog is an article about a collaboration beer with Summit and Bent Paddle?

 

I'm not sure when it was released, but I'm drinking one at Ward 6 right now. 'Tis tits.

 

Agreed, picked up a 6er on Friday and it won't last long in the fridge. Quintessential fall beer in my book.

 

Is this the old Alt they used to do?

Also...Who does the Pioneer Press get to write their beer reviews..? I got a feeling they just asked around the office and some kid who attended a couple keggers in college said "yeah hey I can write those for you"

Comment on this Unchained Alt in the Pioneer Press was "like an Oktoberfest but not cloying sweet like most Oktoberfests are" Huh? I guess I never considered most Ofests cloying.

 

I actually find Summit's own Oktoberfest to be way too sweet...

 

I've found a few Maerzens (and Wiesns) to be cloying, and the style definitely focuses on a richer, slightly-sweeter malt profile over hop crispness (dryness). But your average Maerzen will be slightly bitter yet fairly well-balanced.

Hah! That writer's been at the Pioneer Press since 1999, so she's been out of college for a while. I'd lay a $20 on the fact that she's neither BJCP nor Cicerone certified -- and we all know our share of people whose untrained palate will find a beer which isn't bone dry to be cloying, instead -- right?

I'd bet that she's like a lot of people who LOVE food and wine (especially wine) but still regard beer as one or another variation of pale, large-batch lager, only, so I'm willing to cut this gal some slack.

Nope, this is a new recipe altogether. A stronger, hoppier take: http://www.summitbrewing.com/brews/sticke-alt

Of course, a little while back (2005) they released a draught-only variation of the original Summit Alt, "Summit Amber" -- I still see the logo glassware (and tap handles) around at antique shops and breweriana shows:



Back then I wasn't sure whether the brewery was test-marketing it (seeing it was draught only) to gauge the consumer interest. But when I sampled what I thought was their re-visited Altbier, I found Summit Amber to be lighter in both flavor profile and strength than I recall the original as being, and so it didn't do much for me.

 

ISO: Summit Amber glassware

 

Reminds me of Otter Creek's Copper Ale. That was a good beer.

This is a good beer. It'll be my Thanksgiving beer (one of them anyway).

 

I am really enjoying this beer. Went through a couple 6-packs so far.