Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

TheOtherMike

Michigan

5/5  rDev +35.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A very enjoyable beer! Few beers achieve this combination of high marks in every category.

Appearance is light and clear. Plenty of carbonation. Head is commensurate with pour style.

Smell is crisp and inviting.

Taste is clean, light and straightforward.

Mouthfeel is crisp and refreshing.

Drinkability is rarely matched.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2005 19:50:28 | More by TheOtherMike

Fcip78

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +35.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I remember at O'Neals on South St. back in 2000 there was a special one-off keg of "Sierra Nevada Pilsner". My friend and I must have spent three hours there and drank a bunch of them. Never have I tasted the balance and hoppy carbonation that was in that beer. A couple of years later I saw it was bottled as Summerfest and since then, every summer I buy at least one case of it.

A perfect pilsner, a perfect lager, a perfect beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 22:36:23 | More by Fcip78

Cresant

Kentucky

4.97/5  rDev +35.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured this 12 oz. 2006 brown bottle into a pilsner glass. Clear, pale yellow body topped with two fingers of head. Modest head faded with no lacing.

Smell was WOW. Clean, crispy, spicy. Floral with slight metal. Perle and Saaz hops. Yum.

Taste was fantastic too. Nice interplay of Two Row Pale, Munich malts and grinding fresh hops. Malts ride in the backseat (where I like them). Slight hints of alfalfa sprouts. Nice biting dry finish. This provides all I want in a pilsner (one of my favorite styles) and seems to be a benchmark for the style.

Mouthfeel was coarse and raspy, just as I like in a Czech Pilsner. Medium bodied. I will return again, and again.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2006 02:22:01 | More by Cresant

yzer

California

4.9/5  rDev +33.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager 2008.

Bottling date (on shoulder of bottle) was 08074, or March 14, 2008. My Summerfest was purchased today and was 18 days old.

First of all, this is a Czech Pilsener. I don't find much reason to subject a beer like this to extended bottle conditioning. Enjoy it young while the flavors are bright. With the new SN caps it should keep fine for six months under refrigeration. We're not talking IPAs or barleywines here.

I went into the store today to buy another 6-pack Bigfoot barleywine. It was sold out and replaced by another SN seasonal: Summerfest.

Luckily, I still have some Bigfoot and Celebration laid up on the boat.

After all of the IPAs this winter it was good to run into this old friend. I enjoyed Summerfest 2007 through July of last year before it sold out. In fact, I was drinking more Summerfest than SN Pale Ale last summer.

The 2008 Summerfest has a generous white and thick head, as much as you could want from a lager. There is a torrent of carbonation that swirls up from the bottom of the glass stein and stays active. Nice deep golden color with a little long-lasting lacing: very good for a Pilsener.

Fruity hops from the first sniff, sharp toasty hops with a lot of complexity. It's amazing how anyone can produce such a light Pilsener with that much carbonation and body.

A tangy malt and lingering hops make for a dry and very drinkable lager. I'll be focusing on Sierra Nevada Summerfest and Pale Ale as the California heat settles in.

Excellent.

It's the following day, another bottle of Summerfest and a few more comments are in order.

I just love this Pilsener. The abundant and complex hops of this brew are a delight. I get that warm hops woodiness on the exhale and remember the firt times I enjoyed a very good Czech Pilsener. Crystal clear, golden, lively with a body that reminds you it's a real beer and not a macro.

As much as I would like to see a number of SN seasonals made available year long, this would be my choice. Summerfest has the potential to be enjoyed by a broader spectrum of beer lovers than Celebration, Bigfoot or IPA: three of my bottled SN favorites. Summerfest just isn't around long enough.

Brew up Summerfest all year long. America needs a Czech Pilsener like this all of the time.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2008 00:45:12 | More by yzer

wollybugger

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +33.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Sierra Nevada obviously knows what they are doing. Although still fairly knew in the beer world, Sierra Nevada Summerfest is clearly one of the top lagers I have ever tasted!

I will say that it is good consumed out of a bottle, but on tap it is money. The beer is clear in appearance with a creamy head (my kegerator CO2 regulator is set at 5Lb psi and pours a perfect head every time.) It has an easy entry with a slight hoppy after taste. Summerfest is only 5% abv, so this becomes a great social beer.

Sierra Nevada is always impressive and once again they don't dissapoint. Treat yourself this summer, and tap a Summerfest

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2010 21:17:30 | More by wollybugger

billybob

Massachusetts

4.88/5  rDev +32.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

poured a slightly opaque straw yellow color with a head equal to your pour style and leaving fair lacing on the glass. spicy hop smell. taste slight bread, spice hop. mouthfeel medium, smooth, very well balanced. very easy beer to drink very enjoyable put it on your list.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2007 17:58:55 | More by billybob

TroyS

Idaho

4.85/5  rDev +31.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I got this years Summerfest at MarCellar's in Idaho Falls, Idaho. It's a really great brew with nice smooth overtones. Yum yum. Some hints of banana. This brew is very clear and doesn't have much head to stick around. It's really really good beer. Go get some! Cheers! PlS. I'll have to add a pic later - saving bottle;)

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2009 19:50:50 | More by TroyS

jlenik

New Jersey

4.83/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into my Victory Prima Pils pilsner glass.

a: clear, pale, and golden. an offwhite eggshell colored head about a fingers worth that remained for a few minutes.

s: a little hoppy and a little like straw.

t: sweet citrus with a balance malt aftertaste

m: crisp, clean, and refreshing.

o: a great summer beer. I love pilsners and this was definitely a winner again this year.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 00:30:04 | More by jlenik

DogFood11

California

4.8/5  rDev +30.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

What a difference a couple of years makes. Not to this beer but to my palate. As I sit here enjoying my first summerfest of 2007 I decided to take a glance at my original review. What a load of crap it turned out to be. Either this beer got incredibly better or my palate changed drastically because this is an excellent Czech Pilsner in the elite class. Lawnmower beer at its finest.

Poured into a pils glass it forms a Ivory white 2 finger head that falls to a solid cover. Yellow body with medium carbonation.

There is a nice earthy backbone throughout this offering. Plenty of snappy saaz hop bite and also adds a soft dryness to the backend. There is an underlying wheaty/grainy taste but it stays right there in the background. Tremendously smooth and drinkability is off the charts.

Notes: The best American made Czech Pils I've had to date.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2007 00:22:01 | More by DogFood11

MirkoCroCough

Croatia (Hrvatska)

4.8/5  rDev +30.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

2010 edition poured into Great Lakes pint glass.
Clear golden goodness. Sunlight harnessed into beer.

Very light clean smell. Grassy and delicious.

So refreshing and glorious. Everything in balance.

Crisp and refreshing.

Could consume seven seas worth of this beer. Amazing.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2010 17:17:47 | More by MirkoCroCough

stuckonhops

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +29.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice clear golden with lots of tiny little bubbles forming a nice head that falls slower than what you may be used to from a lager style. Smells of light lemony citrus and lightly buttered breads. Taste is slightly grassy and slightly bitter. One of sierra nevada's "Lighter" flavored beers. Not extremely complex but keeps you coming back for more and more.

Very easy drinking while throwin horseshoes on hot days as well as just relaxing watching a game with the Air Conditioner on. Works well on all occasions. Better than miller for a "lawnmower beer" anyday.

very crisp..very tasty...definetly reccomend this for anyone..

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2009 20:02:56 | More by stuckonhops

FuzzyGuy84

Virginia

4.68/5  rDev +27.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Clear, golden color with a big fluffy white head. Excellent lacing and consistant carbonation.

S - Fruity hops come through easily. Balanced is the key word here.

T - Like a transformer, there's more than meets the eye here. What seems clean and simple at first reveals an underlying complexity as you drink more and more. Clean beginning and a pointed hop finish with a range of subtle tastes throughout. I love this beer.

Mf/D - Complex and drinkable? Holy cow.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2009 19:48:39 | More by FuzzyGuy84

arguemaniac

Virginia

4.65/5  rDev +26.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Just the right amount of residual malt sweetness blends perfectly with a delicious, smooth caramel grain character and it’s all balanced by a firm, leafy Saaz hop spice. Slight apricot malt fruitiness and more of that assertive hop bitterness in the surprisingly lengthy finish.

I think this is my favorite Sierra Nevada beer (besides perhaps Celebration, but even that one isn’t as drinkable) and it’s certainly my favorite summer seasonal. This exceedingly refreshing brew is exceptionally drinkable with balanced, flawless flavors. I only bought the six-pack a day or so ago and I’m already on my last bottle. Guess I’m gonna have to go out and get some more…

Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2007 17:36:28 | More by arguemaniac

scorched

Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +26.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Without going into the normal details, this is absolutely, hands-down, the most refreshing beer I have ever had. It is so hot where I am and this cools me right down. Its too bad this isn't out all year long. Drinkability is VERY high and mouthfeel is exceptional

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2010 22:13:35 | More by scorched

yemenmocha

Arizona

4.6/5  rDev +25%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

**sampled first week of release in my location, early Summer 2008

Pours a luminous pale gold, very slight haze, and stark white head that retains a thin head for the duration of the pint.

Nose is Saazy right off the bat, some citrus, and grainy malt aromas.

On the palate this beer starts off a little malty sweet but an incredible crispness & dryness takes over and dominates. Herbal & metallic hops take over, and finish is dry and very crisp.

Immensely drinkable, refreshing, and certainly better than the imported Czech lagers on most of our shelves.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2008 04:42:00 | More by yemenmocha

jamesdr1968

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +25%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I just bought my first case of the year (2010) tonight. I was very impressed with it. Not your typical SN offering, because the hops are a bit muted. To be honest, this reminds me of what a good, every day American beer should be like. Unfortunately, here in PA (with tax), it costs $36 a case. So, not the best choice for an "every day" beer. Color is a lovely golden hue. Nice head on it, although not nearly as thick as their standard pale ale. Smelll is light, crisp, sharp. Taste is a very good balance of hops and malt. Really smooth. Grainy is a good word to use to describe the taste. Mouthfeel is fine, just right. This is an almost perfect beer for those warm-weather days. A reasonable ABV (5%), so you can drink a few and still maintain a coherent conversation with your buddies.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2010 01:05:42 | More by jamesdr1968

Thrasher

Oregon

4.58/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A very credible lager coming from the aleheads at SN. Pale gold, crystal-clear with wispy, lacey head. Gentle aroma of musty yeasts and flowery hops. Malts are light, sweet and bolstered by big hop quality that lets you know this beer was brewed on the left coast! Otherwise a note-perfect European lager that goes down easy, refreshes the palate, quenches the thirst. The tempered but defiant hop kick is flowery, sweet, and really creates a summer feeling. Drinkability is beyond the pale. This is a unique beer and an excellent one. It's one of the best summer seasonals I can think of, and I enjoy it more than the overplayed currently-shadow-of-its-former-self SN Pale Ale. This beer should be a no-brainer for a BBQ, it's light enough for daytime drinking and should stand up to spicy meats and sauces. Furthermore, everyone will be pleased with it; the more adventurous drinkers have some toothsome hops to wrap their tastebuds around, while the quivering timid masses have a light, pale, cleansing lager that is very non-threatening. Pour it into a tall pilsner glass with a huge head.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2003 15:26:36 | More by Thrasher

rtratzlaff

North Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appears a light golden bodied beer with a bone white head that fades and doesn't leave much lacing.

The aromas are earthy spicy hops above a sweet malt character.

The flavor is slightly sweet with a strong hop flash and mineral character that cleans the palate well.

Crisp mouthfeel with adequate carbonation. For a Czech Pils, this one has a bit more body.

Tasted next to Pilsner Urquell, this beer is slightly lighter in appearance, more aromatic, and more character all around.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2009 17:04:23 | More by rtratzlaff

mzwolinski

California

4.55/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Crystal clear and golden in appearance, with a very thin head. The aroma is led by a lovely graininess, and a clean, lager-like hoppiness. Deliciously tasty, too. A bit spicy, with a lightly bready malt body, a husky grain flavor mid-palate, and a snappy, floral/lemon peel hop finish. Light and crisp in body and eminently drinkable. Good stuff!

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2003 05:18:07 | More by mzwolinski

MNJR

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I read the label on the bottle twice and read the entire packaging very carefully before buying this, so I wouldn't get another flavored "summer" beer as in Anchor, or a summer wheat (like an Oberon - not a style I care for). Thankfully, this is just a great, simple beer that is what a "summer" beer should be - refreshing, thirst quenching, not too strong or full-bodied, and goes down easy. I should note that I had the 2008. I was surprised to see reviews going back to '06 - I'd never found this in Chicago before today.

Nice golden color, very light aromas of a vaguely malty honey, and light orange citrus. But, what you taste is just damn good beer. Hops arrive on the tongue after the swallow with no bitterness, but the classic lager malt flavor is not compromised. Very clean and nearly "light," except for the more medium body, and fine, smooth carbonation. The head remained 1/2" high down to the bottom of the glass. Truly enjoyable, and ridiculously drinkable. Seems like the perfect beer for seafood in the summer.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2008 23:04:37 | More by MNJR

generalnotsew

Tennessee

4.55/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Very pale straw yellow. Typical Adjunct Lager look but it did yield quite a nice head. Follows the style just a little too closely to the big boys.

S: Crisp, light refreshing sweet cereal malts. I also get a bit of fruitiness. Would give higher if the smell was a bit more potent but still very good.

T: Mmmmm. Tastes a lot different from what I remember last year. Actually a bit hoppy and tart with the sweetness from the cereal and corn backing it up. I never thought I would give a lager a 5 but this is pretty damn tasty. I am really starting to enjoy the style more these days. It is actually exploding with flavor. Taste buds are being pulled in all different directions.

M: Love the way it feels in my mouth. So cool and crisp and very well carbonated.

D: This is the kind of beer that has dangerous levels of drinkability. So what you will about lagers they will always be the easiest for me to get down.

I am quite impressed with this. Wasn't expecting much but damn! I really, really like this beer. Wish more BMC peeps would give this a try and see what they are missing in a good beer. Highly recommended!

Note: This is 2010 version.

Revisited nearly a year to date after my first. Review 2011.

Got a good 2 finger head on the poor but sadly it disappeared within minutes. It does have some tight lacing and body is a remarkable golden yellow. Sweet sticky grassy hops on the nose with a nice clean malty snap. Taste is a kind of tart with underlined sweetness with a slight spicy hop kick. The slightly bitter aftertaste carries over quite nicely. Mouthfeel is spot on. Nice subtle carbonation and not overbearing. Only downside is the tartness can be a little puckering. Overall this is a damn tasty Lager and I am starting to enjoy lager flavors more and more since I stopped drinking them when I got into craft beer. I would like to see more brewers make a good lager like Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada can.

A: 4 S: 4 T: 4.5 M: 4 O: 4.5

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2010 03:46:11 | More by generalnotsew

avylover

Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is a great summer offering. It is refreshing, light, and has great subdued taste. Pick this one up

Pours a very clear yellow, with a tinge of orange. Aroma hits you with some grainyness, and a subtle scent of citrous hops. Taste is clean and refreshing. There is a good laid back maltiness, much like a budweiser, but a slight dose of flavoring hops spices this up a bit. Fruity, yet still very light. this is not cascade crazy like many SN products. Just hopped well enough to balance and add some taste to a clean lager. Clean mouthfeel, good dry finish, with a refeshing aftertaste. This is a great lighter offering - the perfect summer - or session - brew

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2004 01:55:38 | More by avylover

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This crystal clear light golden beer throws out a perfect 2 finger foamy head. It clings nicely to the glass as I drink. Beautifully subdued spicy noble hop aroma layered within a nice little pils maltiness. The taste of this beer is great. A nice malt backbone provides the foundation. Spicy little hop accents make their presence beautifully throughout the experience. A perfect blend of malt and hops for this summer brew. Highly drinkable. Very good beer.

Disregarding weizen style beers,because there are a lot of great summer weizen beers, this is one of the 2 elite summer brews that I have tried. (The other is Goose Island Summertime Kolsch.)

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2002 18:45:47 | More by Bighuge

Lordbacchus

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - nice straw color with just the right carbonation

S - good balance of malt and hop aroma

T - nice and dry. a few malty and "peppery" notes up front with a great hop finish at the end. Czech Saaz hops - Taste is very nice. Right on target for a Lager.

M - great mouthfeel. not watered down.

D - I would definitely buy/drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2009 15:18:03 | More by Lordbacchus

TastyTaste

Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Crystal clear bright gold in color. Fluffy white head settles in nicely and remains for the bulk of the beer. Light citrus in the nose and also some floral hops. Taste is excellent. Hops are bold and spicy, malt is full yet smooth. This is a great summer beer with hints of citrus (lemon and grapefruit). Excellent, I will definitely enjoy more of these this summer.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2005 02:32:50 | More by TastyTaste