Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager pours a clear light yellow with a small, white fizzy head on top. The foam fades away quickly leaving a few spots of lace on the glass. Lots of small bubbles float slowly to the surface.

The aroma is rather faint. It has notes of lemon grass, a touch of pale malt and a little skunk mixed in.

Each sip of this light bodied beer is watery on the palate with a mild to moderate carbonated fizz. The flavor begins with some notes of lemon and a touch of pepper. In the middle some light grain appears that presents some malty sweetness. It finishes mildly bitter and floral with lingering grassy bitterness and lemon.

This is a tasty, very easy to drink beer. It's well balanced and quite refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 20:35:42 | More by WanderingFool

claspada

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy, yellow-orange color with a small, fizzy white head that dissipates leaving little to no lacing.

Aromas begin a bit grassy with a bit of citric lemon peel. As it warms I get a bit more of sweeter crackery pale maltiness with floral notes.

The tastes are an improvement from the nose with more of a crackery pilsner base malty crisp and sweetness. As it warms you get a hint of lemon and some floral hoppiness with some lingering minimal spicy bitterness.

The mouthfeel is medium to light bodied with medium carbonation. Finishes crisp with a light, lingering spice on the tongue.

Overall this is one of the few summer style beers that I still enjoy and will revisit year to year (along with Anchor Summer and Harpoon Summer). It is the perfect pairing for anything from a backyward BBQ to a nice dinner of Asian or Spanish cuisine. Not overly complex but above average flavor wise for the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 15:15:28 | More by claspada

ChrisPratz

3.93/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours to a single finger with of head that dissipates quickly to a very blotchy veil that covers the top for most of the way down. Coloring is a nice pale yellow thats nice and transparent.

S: Very aromatic. Nice lemony citrus flavors dominate, with a slight skunkyness typical of a czech pilsner. Catching some hints of grass/garden aromatics as well. Very very enjoyable.

T: Nice clean and dry flavorings, very crisp. That skunk from the nose hits u at the start, along with some nice citrus and spicy hops bitterness. Skunk follows in the aftertaste. Not as citrusy as the nose let on but very nice crisp flavors. Def a nice summertime beer.

M: Nice amount of carbonation works well with that skunk flavor and citrusy spiciness. Dry feeling on the palette but lets the aftertaste linger.

O: Not a bad summer brew at all. Def noticeable skunk, typical of the czech pilsner, but with a slight addition of citrus. Would def get this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 04:01:06 | More by ChrisPratz

Hatzilla

California

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Clear straw color with minimal head and lacing.

S: Floral, Lemon, pepper, cereal and grass.

T: Lemony hops and pepper. Malty and clean.

M: Smooth, oily, well carbed with a dry, slightly hoppy aftertaste.

O: A great summer beer from Sierra Nevada. Crisp, light, flavorful, and highly drinkable. A perfect beer for a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 22:57:56 | More by Hatzilla

Farewell_Transmission

4.33/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 bottle.

a- nice head, very light white colored beer. Head fades quickly.

s- smells as if you are in a garden. Very fitting for the style of beer.

t- strong hops flavor very up front in it's flavor.

m- what you would expect from a czech pilsener.

o- this is a very fine beer for a weekend afternoon, preferable with 90+ degrees temperatures.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 21:20:58 | More by Farewell_Transmission

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.88/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 350ml bottle with a BB of April 2013. 2012 vintage (heh). Picked up recently from Trembling Madness in York.

Poured into a tulip pint glass. A bright pale-yellow hue with faint haze and light carbonation. Forms a decent head of creamy white foam that lasts for a few minutes before dissipating. Aroma of light malt with subtle notes of floral hops and citrus. A hint of grain and noble hop character. Nice.

Tastes of light malt with a crisp bitter finish. Notes of faint grain, mild citrus, aromatic noble hops and stewed hops. Dry, with a suggestion of sweetness and a slighty spicy quality. A restrained bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is light, smooth and tingly, with good body for the style. Somewhat astringent, with an aftertaste of bitter aromatic hops.

Tasty - a quality lager. The flavour/aroma is subtle but nicely balanced and drinkable. Good malt, and the hop aroma has a citrus edge to it. An unmistakeable 'SN' aroma lurks in the background - perhaps the yeast strain? At any rate, worthy of your time. Grab one if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 23:11:33 | More by jazzyjeff13

Mojo

Alabama

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a light straw with a massive 4 finger soapy head that never quite goes away. Substantial lacing is left on the glass. Smell is very subtle, but I picked up apples, fruits, and a floral aroma. Mouthfeel is excellent with lots of carbonation. Taste is malt and fruit, well balanced with nice hops on the finish. I recommend this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 01:46:24 | More by Mojo

slassy

Ohio

2.95/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: Pours a very light and marigold yellow. Hardly any foam, just some traces on the top that fade quickly.

S: Mainly malt mixed in with some floral tones...which almost smell like freshly mown grass.

T: Not as malty as I anticipated. Some mild sweetness, but no other flavors are too pronounced to this tongue.

M: Extremely light and 'fluid'. Carbonation level is perfect- enough at the beginning of a sip to be interesting and reminiscent of soda but not annoyingly strong like you get with many beers.

O: Very refreshing, and not by bad by any stretch, but certainly forgettable. Wouldn't be a bad session alternative to drinking megabrews.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 03:56:49 | More by slassy

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.83/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance – Poured a light golden color with a two finger white head. The head fades rather fast to leave a moderate level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma was of a light b ready malt mixed with notes of lemon and pine hop aromas. Light, but quite refreshing.

Taste – The taste was overall much hopper then I would have originally expected. It began with a malt base with some light notes of a caramel nature. A citrus hop flavor was present up front. While mainly lemon in taste it did have some grapefruit mixed with in as well. Soon some pine hop flavors come to the taste with the lemon hop tastes also being accentuated by a lemon peel taste. These flavors take the taste to the end. Overall it has a crisp flavor with some nice hoppy notes.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer was of average thickness with a carbonation level that is rather average. Both made it very drinkable, but yet did not take away from the maltier and hoppier flavors.

Overall – A great session beer on a warmer day. It has a nice lighter-yet pronounced enough hop flavor to make for a crisp, refreshing, flavorful beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 00:00:47 | More by Darkmagus82

fixscott

4.18/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is one of the best pilsner style lagers I have ever had from an American brewery. I wish that it was a year round offering. The "kick back on a summer night" thing I think is more about marketing than anything. It is easy drinking but still quite complex. If you are accustomed to huge IPA's or stouts this may seem like a beginner beer. However, This can stand next to any pilsner in the world and command respect. This is no adjunct lager.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 22:47:06 | More by fixscott

SouljaSaia17

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Another Sierra Nevada I have been looking forward to drinking this summer, but have not had a chance yet.

A: Pours a light, golden color with a 2 1/2 in bright whit head.

S: The smell is somewhat of Lemon Grass followed by a malt sweetness. A little honey and orange undertones, with a bready blandness at the finish!

T: Definitely a Saison type character with the grassy notes and lemon sweetness. No banana, but has some tropical fruit characteristics with hints of honey and bready notes that compliment the dryness of the finish.

M: Not a lot of carbonation, but a fruity, sweet character to this summer beer.

O: Very drinkable but complex, just like Sierras Nevada does it. I like the style as well as their other brews. Too bad I took so long to try this, would have been a session beer for me. A very unique summer ale for those trying to deviate from the norm!

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 04:44:59 | More by SouljaSaia17

augustgarage

California

3.58/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2012 vintage. Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Radeberger pokal.

Brilliantly clear golden maize liquid capped by a highly active smattering of beige foam. Average lacing and retention.

Malty aromatics with a distinctive spicy note from hops. Delicate.

Sweet and slightly spicy flavors unfold on the palate dancing back and forth between malt and hops. Faint honey notes and a vague floral component emerge in the medium finish.

Light bodied and just a touch oily.

Delicate, quietly complex - not outstanding, but a decent and refreshing rendition.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 03:53:49 | More by augustgarage

WMEugene

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Slightly hazy golden color, but see through in parts. Nice head that dissipates rather rapidly once it calms down. Faint lacing.

S - Nice light malts and grassy/floral hops. A few notes of citrus, particularly lemon.

T - Nice Pilsner taste that strikes a balance between hops and malts. Slightly aggressive in the hops, which is nice for this style. Undercurrent of citric flavor.

M - Medium bodied, crisp. Cuts a little in the mouth - not bad, but not as smooth as one would hope.

O - Sierra Nevada Summerfest is an enjoyable summer lager that will quench your thirst. Nothing outstanding, but solidly put together.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 23:33:35 | More by WMEugene

AwYeh

California

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass; thanks to Jesse13713 for sharing one of his bottles with me.

A: Pours a thin, clear yellow color with two fingers of white head and considerable carbonation bubbles visible.

S: Lots of grassy hops backed up by a faint, indistinct malty sweetness.

T: Very similar to the smell; I predominantly taste grass and that same sweetness. There isn't a lot going on, but it's well balanced and very refreshing.

M: Thin-bodied, smooth, and very crisp from the moderate-high carbonation.

O: A solid beer to stock your fridge with in the summertime; its refreshing quality and low ABV mean even a 12-pack of this wouldn't stick around too long.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 19:06:01 | More by AwYeh

MouthfulOfchris

Texas

3.38/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear pale golden color with a thick white creamy head that disappears quickly and leaves no lacing left behind.

S: smells of light malted grain accompanied with a mild sweetness and just a hint of lemon peel.

T: The taste is clean and crisp with an initial sweet malt flavored followed by a floral hop bitterness and a dry finish.

M: A low bodied beer with a medium carbonation

O: This is a decent overall Lager. Sure there are many lagers I would rather have but this beats the big american beers any day. It is light and refreshing to drink on a summer day if you had them lying around.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 22:18:58 | More by MouthfulOfchris

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Light straw color. Fluffy white head.

Aroma: Huge citrus bomb. Lots of lemon and lime covering up almost the whole aroma. A little breadyness.

Taste: Citrus up front and a little hop bitterness at the end. Bready in the middle.

Mouthfeel: Lots of carbonation. Pretty smooth, medium body. Not quite as drinkable as I had expected.

Final Thoughts: I can't wait until summer comes to an end and breweries start pushing their fall and winter seasonals. That being said, this was a very interesting take on the pilsener style. In fact, it almost tastes like more of a 'Summer Ale' which is definitely what they were going for.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 06:01:17 | More by JamesMN

NardiByNature

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured this into a tall pilsner glass – it’s a very clear gold with a very white head that settles down into a cap over a couple minutes. Carbonation is relatively sedate. Nose contains the usual suspects - faint lemon, honey, grass. For a pilsner the nose isn’t so spicy. The taste is great – floral and crisp and it has a nice bitter-sweet balance like any good summertime lager. Very crisp and leaves me wanting another sip. Given the right setting (hangin out on the roof with some friends and lawn chairs on a sunny day for instance) this beer would be absolutely perfect.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 20:51:06 | More by NardiByNature

TheRealBigC

Nevada

4.28/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Love this beer in the summer time. Golden color, light & crisp hoppy aroma - nothing special upfront - but a true delight to drink. It's got a mild hop kick to save it from being an ordinary pilsener and goes down nice and easy. A fantastic session beer for those summer nights with friends.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2012 23:41:14 | More by TheRealBigC

ExMachina1

Tennessee

4.33/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First off, this AIN'T a Czech Pils. Sierra Nevada doesn't claim that it is--they call it a European Light Lager--and it's really not anywhere close to the Czech style either...the color's too light, the IBUs too low and the overall presence too fleeting. That said this is a GRrrrrEAT Euro lager, a beer worth having on hand year round!

Pours a nice straw-gold with a puffy white head that fades at a moderate rate.

Aroma is of subdued, fresh hops with a little sulfur coming through. Body is round and refreshing with a modest bitterness and a light malty graininess. I noted faint phenol and sulfur but perfectly acceptable for the style. Finish is dry and the overall impression is crisp and refreshing. Really really nice. Eminently drinkable.

This is an underrated beer and an underrated style.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 22:21:35 | More by ExMachina1

kojevergas

California

2.9/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a Uinta pilsner glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are average.

Served refrigerator cold and allowed to warm somewhat over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a one finger beige colour head of slight cream, okay thickness, and average retention. Clear yellow colour. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Clean malts, bland hops, and some barley. A very boring and bland aroma. Average strength. Not particularly appealing.

T: Clean malts lend it body. Background floral hops give it a little character, but not enough to save it from its simplicity. There's very little going on here. No yeast or alcohol notes are present. There's some malty sweetness on the climax. The finish is bland, but at least it's a change of pace from the body - some crystal malt is all that really comes through. Bland and boring all around.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Thick enough. Acceptable carbonation.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable, but mundane. I'm pretty underwhelmed - but hey, it's Sierra Nevada. I wouldn't get this again, but it's a decent little pilsener. Probably best on draught.

C

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 01:28:34 | More by kojevergas

phishsihq

Colorado

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sierra Nevada Summerfest is a Czech Pilsner, and pours a clean and clear pale gold. Topped by one-inch of white head, lacing is minimal. Grain and malt sweetness blend with citrusy hops and a bit of spice. Clean Pils Malt flavors meet a slight sweetness before a citrus hop backbone brings hints of lemon zest that linger through the finish. Moderate in carbonation, Summerfest is medium-light in body. GREAT for a hot day like today!

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 22:06:12 | More by phishsihq

DaveBlack

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Crsytal clear golden beer with a fair amount of carbonation that collects on the sides of the glass and results in a good 2 fnger head. The head has little retention and leaves no lacing.

S: Very clean smelling, some grassy grains and a slight floral hop note. Subtle, but nice.

T: Much like the smell, the taste is rather straight-forward. A grassiness up front, some biscuity notes, and a slight hop bitterness at the finish. Leaves the mouth with a grainy taste that is quite pleasant. Not all that exciting, but tasty.

M: Light body, high amount of carbonation makes this a very crisp summer brew.

O: A surprising offering from SN (at least as far as I'm concerned) due to the subtle use of hops rather than the Cascadian avalanche that I've come to expect. This is a a clean, refreshing beer that is great fr a summer's day.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 04:04:02 | More by DaveBlack

Jadjunk

Georgia

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

Sierra Nevada's Summerfest is a Czech Pilsener-Style Summer Seasonal Lager. It has been Sierra Nevada's Summer seasonal for many years. According to the label: "Summerfest is a Pilsner-style lager brewed for enjoyment on warm summer days - featuring a slight malt sweetness, delicate spicy and floral hop flavor, and a crisp, refreshing taste."

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a Sierra Nevada pint glass. Served at 48º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Beer pours a frothy white head that thickens as it recedes gradually. Body color is a pale yellow with a very slight haze. Carbonation is light but spritely. Overall a nice appearance for the style. 3.5

(Smell) A 50/50 blends of Pilsener pale malts and a mild, grassy and floral hop. Yeast tones are slight, with some cracker and a clean, crisp aroma. Other sweetness may come from a hint of honey or honey malt which adds a slight depth of flavor to this beer. Potency is medium. Mild but approachable aroma overall. 4

(Taste) Flavor starts up with a crisp mild malty profile first with a lasting sweet mild dry cracker and honey finish paired with a bit of hop resin. Balance is nearly there, although the beer is a touch sweeter than the average Pilsener. It lacks potential hop flavor and bitterness. Largely enjoyable but there's some minor tweaks to be made to the flavor profile to optimize the potential this beer has. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Sweet, slick texture with a bit of froth. It perhaps could benefit from a more pronounced crispness throughout. Body is light and alcohol presence is mild. 3

(Overall) I enjoyed this beer although I found some criticisms that differentiate it from the average pilsener, most notably the sweet profile with a dry honey cracker flavor and a smooth, slick texture that doesn't excite the flavor much. In this regard, this may be a beer worth trying due to some original flavors. 3.5

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's
Summerfest Crisp Summer Lager
3.55/5.00

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 21:35:32 | More by Jadjunk

davecavemaster

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is famous for one of my favorite beers of all time, their Pale Ale. Many people only know them for the Pale Ale, but they have a lot more. Sierra Nevada makes Ales, Lagers, Seasonals, a Stout and Limited Editions. You can check out their site here. The company is not in the Sierra Nevada mountains like the name implies, it is in a town north of Sacramento, California called Chico. The company's founder was an avid backpacker, and he named the company after his favorite place to hike.

Seasonal beers can be hit or miss, although a seasonal from Sierra Nevada comes with higher expectations from the drinker. Summertime brings us the Summerfest "crisp summer lager."

The beer pours a fluffy, pillowy head that clings traces to the sides of the glass. The color is more pale yellow than golden, and a steady stream of bubbles rises from the bottom center of the glass. The aroma is of malt and a slight trace of citrus. When you first taste the brew, you get the malt taste. This is quickly followed by the hit of citrus, and then finishes with a nice hoppy bite.

The beer is "crisp" as described, and it has just enough citrus to make it interesting. This beer does not make the common seasonal mistake of overpowering the drinker with gimmicky flavors. Overall it is a light and refreshing brew, that has good carbonation and is extremely smooth and drinkable. This is a great summer beer that you can drink during your BBQ or on your pool deck and not get sick of it. In a marketplace full of crappy breweries looking to make a buck during the summer, Sierra Nevada comes through with an offering that is different, refreshing and never lets you forget that you are drinking a "beer."

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 00:48:13 | More by davecavemaster

N3rdM3t4l

Oregon

2.53/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz short bottle into standard pint. fridge temp.

A: pale apple juice colored VERY clear. Tiny thin white bubbles made a "head" that disappeared right away. The it was like watching lemon lime soda fizz up in a glass. Lots of tiny bubbles streaming to the top and disappearing into nothingness. No ring to speak of.

S: Bit of pale malt on the nose and faint hops. Smells a little astringent (but that seems to be common among cezch pils). Smells a little sweet. Pretty lackluster here too.

T: The malt backbone of this one is pretty noticeable, surprising since it the smell of it was only enough to say "this is beer, it is made with malted barley" which is something even poor quality macro's can say to an extent. After the bit of dank malt flavor passes it becomes a tad metallic before the hops really shines. No real bitterness but an alright hop presence. I expect some hops from something calling itself a pilsner. A little floral, like dandelions. The end of the drink is so far the best part but not redeeming.

M: As it should be; thin, light, and crisp. The carbonation is soda like, you can feel it give a little bite on the tongue. Refreshing to drink.

O: Not impressed with this, it is refreshing though. It delivers on the promise printed on the label "crisp summer lager." Good thing the label doesn't say "outstanding pilsner flavor, like you have never seen before!" because then it would be lying. It tastes fine but isn't anything special. Easily sessionable and if I went to a friends house and they offered me one I wouldn't turn it down.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 03:55:32 | More by N3rdM3t4l