Peak Organic Summer Session Ale - Peak Organic Brewing Company

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.41/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce twist-off bottle - $1.79 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Best Enjoyed Before: N 13.

Appearance: Pours a hazy, yellow-hued body with small-sized, white head.

Smell: Moderately lemony, but, there's also a little hint of tangerine. Grainy, modestly wheat-scented malts. And a single pat of sweet cream butter.

Taste: Soft wheat character, faintly grainy, lightly sweet, with, as always, the buttery diacetyl tones from the Ringwood. Bright, light citrusy lemon taste pops in as does the bitterness, but, what would be a more cutting hop quality, is, I feel, blunted by the buttery hint throughout. Drying, smooth, buttery-lemon finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Skosh of a medium level of carbonation.

Overall: While I found the twelve ounces agreeable, but I wonder where it finds a home at. It's not overly wheaty and the hops are somewhat muted by the diacetyl character (at least in this batch), so, I do wonder "who is this for?" I could see this being replaced sometime down the road.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 01:08:21 | More by ChainGangGuy

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.59/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle, the guest entry in the mixed pack from this brewer now available way up here in Alberta. I still get my ire up when I encounter a bottle with nothing but the basic gov't and origin info on the label.

This beer pours a slightly hazy, medium golden straw colour, with two fingers of bubbly, foamy, and somewhat creamy dirty white head, which leaves a few low-lying instances of cross-sectioned Swiss cheese lace around the glass as it evenly recedes.

It smells of semi-sweet cereal grain, musty lemon citrus, earthy florals, black tea, and herbal, leafy hops. The taste is more gritty, grainy pale malt, lemon floor polish, a bit of toasted wheat biscuit, softly spicy black pepper, and herbal, musty hops.

The bubbles are a tad frizzy, but at the same time generally ignorable, the body medium-light in weight, and fairly pithy and clammy in its teetering smoothness. It finishes mostly dry, the herbal nature kind of 'winning' by acclimation.

An all right pale wheat ale, I suppose, with lip service being paid to that west coast hop essence, which altogether makes for a whole is better than the sum of the parts sort of deal. Refreshing enough, and worthy of a few more go rounds, I must admit.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 04:11:43 | More by biboergosum

mactrail

California

3.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Not a bad lager with a nice smooch of flowery hops. Otherwise it's very light, with not much malt. Tastes wet and watery with an aftertaste of bitter resins. Golden beer appearance in the plastic nonic replica. Fairly clean in the flavors. Not exactly crisp, but the hop flavor stays with you. Better than most of the allegedly organic beers.

On tap at Burger Tap & Shake, Foggy Bottom, Washington, DC. [Transcribed from 06/07/2012 tasting notes.]

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2013 06:53:37 | More by mactrail

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bleh, screw cap... really?!

Pours a light fizzy 1/2 finger head that fades at a med pace, just a bit of lacing, mostly clear slight hazy golden tan colored beer.

Nose has a cereal grain malt, light sweet syrupy like sweetener with a light lemony aroma, and bit of wheat really gives it a kids cereal like aroma, hint of wit like spices, light fruity aroma, just a hint of grassy hops, little weak straw and dankness.

Taste starts with more cereal grains, sweetness, little syrupy candy like flavor, with light fruity flavors and lemon, with the toasty wheat, again give it a cereal like quality, and a slight step up from Leinenkugel, but that's not saying much. Wheat brings light wit like spices very light, little wet dank hay and grassy hops. Finish gets a bit more bitter with light grassy hops, little dry but more sweet candy cereal flavors.

Mouth is lighter bodied, decent carb.

Overall meh, not much of a wheat beer at all, more like a macro so called wheat, more like candy cereal grains with a bit of fruit, more Leinenkugel like wheat beer than a real wheat. The hops are decent though which might be the saving grace of this beer. It's light and drinkable for a summer beer though, so definitely sessionable, but probably wouldn't get it again. And after all that, there really aren't any "off" flavors, just not the best overall flavors for the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 22:29:13 | More by jlindros

flagmantho

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Best by January 2013.

Appearance: pale golden hue with a light haze and a strong effervescence. Head poured a thin finger of creamy white foam. Not too bad looking.

Smell: a little bit of creamy wheat smell with a nice fruity aroma of banana, tangerine, and a little lemon; quite tropical, really. I tend to like fruity pale wheat ales; they really fill the bill for something like a summer session beer.

Taste: nice and light malt character; not quite as wheaty as the malt in the aroma, but not bad. The fruitiness comes through in the flavor as well, and the overall effect is quite balanced and pleasing. Quite good.

Mouthfeel: light bodied but with a surprisingly good carbonation and creaminess. I was not expecting this!

Overall: this beer is definitely as-advertised: a great summer session ale. It also happens to suit my palate quite nicely; I'd definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 16:07:24 | More by flagmantho

yesyouam

New York

4.18/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Peak Organic Summer Session Ale is a very clear, golden ale with a thick, fluffy, white head that has great retention and lacing. It has a very earthy smell with a fresh hop aroma that's bright and citrusy. It smells great. It's medium light bodied, smooth and soft. The finish is quick and dry, leaving the mouth a little slick. It has a nice, tight, dry, bitter flavor with lots of lemon peel and a hint of grass and herbs. The bitterness lingers for a while after the taste. This beer is a very pleasant surprise. It has a lot more flavor than I was expecting and it's very refreshing. I'm a fan.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 15:12:10 | More by yesyouam

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a weisse vase, the beer is a slightly hazed, vibrant, bright, goldenrod coloring with a slim, filmy white coating on the surface. Aromas of toasted grains and a surprising hops presence. Bitter and slightly resiny on the nose, which is a nice change of pace. Flavors are definitely hop-centric, with a green, peppery, bitter influence overshadowing a subtle toasted grain backbone. A little unbalanced on the palate. The aftertaste is light, crisp, and clean, with some citrus influence on the green hops characteristics. Crisp, light, and slightly drying finish. Very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 00:23:20 | More by GarthDanielson

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.45/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

L - chill hazed golden color with a white head that thinned out but still left waves of lacing.

S - tropical and citrus fruits with some earthiness in the background.

T - full of tropical fruit and citrus, it's sweet, it's tart and it's all held together with a solid malt backbone.

F - crisp, light and refreshing.

O - one the better examples of the style done organically, cool!

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 19:53:40 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - A touch hazy yet bright yellow bodied. Head is as expected with some good lacing.

S - Nothing mind blowing just a good wheat profile, lemon zest, and mild hops.

T - Wow that's good. I really like the balanced between the lemon and hops with a great wheat body.

M - Session ale indeed. Too bad I only had one.

Overall I may just get this again. Organic ales kick ass.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 05:45:29 | More by DrDemento456

argock

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a Shaker pint at Beer Run (Charlottesville, VA).

A: Slightly hazy bright yellow with 1/2-finger of stark white big-bubbled foamy head with good retention and globs of lace.

S: Fresh, bright citrusy hops with lemon, pineapple, and orange with some pine thrown in for good measure. The maltiness is not insignificant with wheaty twang in there.

T: The flavor is superb with a solid wheat and pale maltiness but overthrown by huge tropical fruitness of mango and pineapple with big juicy citrus lemon, orange and grapefruit notes. Plenty floral in the hops department as well. A really delicious well-balanced hoppiness which hits a lot of different angles on its way down.

M: Light but a little more than intended and needed so due to overzealous carbonation.

O: This drinks like a lightened version of Little Sumpin' Sumpin' -- big hops flavor with the wheaty tanginess. Tone down the carbonation by 20%, and Peak would have a real winner. As spring/summer beers go, this is a can't miss. I was really impressed with this brew.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2012 01:16:53 | More by argock

berliner07

New Hampshire

4.93/5  rDev +33.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Probably my favorite summer beer. The aroma is loaded with bright citrus. Hop character up front, then a rush of nice wheat flavor, contrasting the hops really well. Finishes dry and clean. Nice carbonation. I could have many of these on a warm summer day, and appreciate the taste of each one. A gem.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2012 12:31:35 | More by berliner07

SunDevilBeer

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Enjoyed on a pleasant cool summer night.

Pours a bright yellow with a decent head. Smells a bit soapy & lemony.

Tastes light, lemony & a faint pepper. Nice balance, easy to drink. Upon more sips taste a faint bit of the big D (diacetyl) in the background...due to being brewed @ Shipyard? Lol.

Decent beer I would drink during the summer in small amounts.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 02:53:07 | More by SunDevilBeer

KyleVick4

Florida

2.48/5  rDev -32.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: Poured a clear copper with quickly dissipating head. No lacing.

S: Smells piney and spicey.

T: Tastes coppery with pine and spice up front. Not much to balance the spiceyness

M: Watery and dull fair amount of CO2 which is good for a summer beer

D: Glad I only got one of these, not a terrible beer but definently below my expectations

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 21:03:17 | More by KyleVick4

rinhaak

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

It's currently 85° outside, and I'm cleaning house. My house doesn't have AC, and I'm working up a sweat. It's time to crack open Peak Organic's Summer Session Ale.

This is everything a summer ale should be: light, crisp, and full of flavor. Pouring a very light golden yellow, it's very bright and springy in the mouth. Full of hop flavor, it balances nicely with a malted wheat undertone. There's a nice bitter citrus (primarily lemon) flavor as well that helps to really keep it refreshing.

5 as the overall? Yes. When it's hot out, when I'm working up a sweat, I want a flavorful beer that refreshes me, rejuvenates me, keeps me going, but still tingles my taste buds. This is exactly what Peak Organic's Summer Session Ale, and I encourage you to reach for one this summer.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 18:36:40 | More by rinhaak

shand

Florida

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint.

It pours a slightly hazy golden color with two fingers of head. Very high visible carbonation. The aroma has clean malts, wheat, hops and citrus. The taste is good, it's got a nice citrus and wheat presence at first, dying down to some clean malts, toasted grain, a touch of hops, and still continuing citrus presence. The mouthfeel is light and heavily carbonated, and the drinkability is very good. This is just a really good American Wheat. It's very flavorful for it's small profile. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 22:49:39 | More by shand

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Into a nonic pint glass:

A: yellow colored body with a large white foamy head and had a clear body. The head dissipated to a finger's worth after a minute. It left some spotty yet sporadic lacing around the sides of my nonic. The carbonation was rising slowly and lightly.

S: clean sort of light malt, some citrus was involved and some slight pine

T: bittersweet through the citrus, the pine stayed in the background in the taste. The hops came out slightly in the taste.

M: light, very sessionable, sweet clean aftertaste and finish, balanced carbonation was felt

O: decent sessionable summer ale, for what its worth, I might have this again

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 00:22:36 | More by kangarooAdam59

jb413

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured a golden orange with a small one-finger white foamy head and clear body. Head had little retention before shrinking down to a ring. Refreshing look. Essentially no lacing.

S - Clean malt, slight citrus, spice.

T - Straightforward light bready malt backbone with some slight lemon and grass. Peppercorn-like spice throughout. Some faint hops on the way out. Decent flavor.

MF - Clean, light-bodied, lively carbonation, semi-dry finish. Highly drinkable of course.

O - A decent session ale. Bready, some citrus and peppercorn. For what it is, it's not bad.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2012 02:26:46 | More by jb413

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From 12oz bottle to Bruges hybrid glass on 4/19/12
*From notes

-- Thanks to Mario for passing me a sample of this --

A: Clean sunshine golden. Filtered to the Nth degree, yet it's a real beaut. A decent pour yields a 1.5 finger bone white head. Solid lacing and a good collar follow.

S: Lemon. Freshly cut grass. Other then that it's pretty low key.

T: Mellow is a good way to put it. Lots of lemon scone all over, with a really creamy, buttery edge to it. Maybe a bit of diacetyl? Had I not known this was dry hopped with Amarillo hops, I wouln't have guessed. Their pretty much absent from the flavor profile. As the name states, it's merely a pleasant summer session ale.

M: Plenty of summer bubbles. Almost too much, in fact. The weight is on point, though it all comes together a bit thinner then I'd like.

O: It's certainly not Gumballhead, but it's a tasty little number in it's own right. Not as complex or hoppy as I'd have liked, yet it's something you could bring to a party and not offend anyone. I'd prefer more complexity, but in the end it's still quaffable and easily approachable.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 19:36:29 | More by Rhettroactive

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.6/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled from a bottle at the April 7, 2012 Keene, NH Beerfest. The pour is pale yellow with a fizzy, short-lived head. The aroma has a moderate malt character but there is also a citrus, or more likely a pineapple character. The wheat is playing second fiddle. The body is light, which is typical for the style. The taste also brings out the same sort of light malt, citrus flavor with an extra tart finish winding things down. I could see having a few of these on a hot, summer day.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 01:47:26 | More by puboflyons

chinchill

South Carolina

3.83/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottled dated best by Oct. 2011 served in a pint glass.

Pours a hazy golden color with a 1 finger off-white head that reduces to patchy coverage rather quickly.

Smell: Fruity aroma featuring lemon and peaches. Also some biscuit/toasted grain.

T: More apricot and lemon come out in tasting. Wheat grain taste is subdued, as I prefer, mainly due to the fruitiness and the hops. The hops, with mild bitterness, come to the fore in the finish.

Medium-thin body with good, lively carbonation and a semi-dry finish.

O - A nice dry and lemony pale ale that fits the label of Summer Session Ale"

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 01:55:55 | More by chinchill

gestyr

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a goblet.

A: Pours a clear straw color with a very reassuring stream of very small bubbles rising through the glass. The head is thin and goes away quickly.

S: Citrus, wheaty, malty

T: Citrus followed by wheat some malt a bit of spiciness and then a touch of hops.

M: Light bodied with the right amount of carbonation.

O: Very refreshing. A good summer beer. Peak Organic brews some very good beers and this is one. I will look for this one again.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 23:27:07 | More by gestyr

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a 2" white head. Clear bright straw yellow color body. Smells mildy of citrus. Taste has some citrus peel plus malt and a mild bitter hops finish. Certainly a step up from other summer ales, and quite refreshing, but not overly complex. Definitely above average though, and so far I've liked every single thing I tried from Peak Organic.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 08:51:21 | More by MoreThanWine

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a single at EuroMarket. For such a light beer, the Ringwood (creamy, earthy fruit) character is too heavy. There is, however, a pleasant fruity citrus burst that remind me of Citra hops and Narragansett Summer Ale. The hops are complemented by a mild, sweet wheat bread. The body is appropriately light and drinkable for session/summer beer. Worth a try if you enjoy Ringwood beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 03:25:11 | More by tempest

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Peak Organic Summer Session Ale

A: Hazy golden body beneath a short head of bright white foam. Average head retention and lacing.

S: Hoppy: citrusy and grassy. Mild grainy malt.

T: Quite citrusy and grassy. Surprisingly hoppy. Subtly tart and lemony to the point that I had to question whether there was lemon juice added to it. Lightly malty, and gently wheat-ish. Well-balanced starting with a dollop of sweet malt upfront, becoming more tart across the middle, and finishing dry and grassy with a firm, residual bitterness.

M: Medium-light bodied and crisp with a standard carbonation level.

O: A decent summer ale that actually tastes like "beer". Hoppy and refreshing!

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 14:48:39 | More by NeroFiddled

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Golden yellow with great clarity. Effervescent carbonation, two-inch bubbly white head. Good retention.

S: Spritzy lemon. Grassy, floral, and citric hop profile. Biscuity malt and bready wheat. Light, vague fruity esters.

T: Blast of lemon and citric tastes up front. Oily hops are mildly bitter. Pale malt tastes surface after the initial wave of hop tastes, with a twang of bready wheat not far behind. Mild buttery tastes are reminiscent of an English style pale ale. Hop tastes turn herbal and grassy towards the end. Finishes dry with bready and buscuity tastes and grassy hops.

M: Light in body, but full and very creamy in the mouth. Lively carbonation adds refreshing crispness.

O: One of the better summer seasonals I've had this year.

Notes: The mild buttery taste I picked up was a tad distracting, but this is nit-picking. It isn't enough to detract from the overall drinking experience. This beer is very easy to drink and very refreshing. Tasty too. You can't really ask for much more from a summer seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 18:05:23 | More by ryan1788a5