Sum'r Summer Ale - Uinta Brewing Company

kojevergas

California

2.81/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

12 fl oz green aluminum can acquired at Wally's Wine in Westwood and served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are above average; I usually like Uinta's offerings.

Served cold, straight from the fridge, and side-poured as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a three finger white colour head. Decent thickness. Okay cream. Above average (~3 minute) retention. No bubble show. No lacing as the head recedes.

Body colour is a clear translucent pale yellow; vibrance is decent. No yeast particles are visible.

Overall, it's decidedly standard fare for a blonde. I'm optimistic but unimpressed.

Sm: Pale malts, crisp clean barley, and generic floral hops. Straw. Light vague lime. Some lemon citrus - probably from the hops. Grainy. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable. A mild strength aroma.

T: Blonde malts, pilsner malts. Light floral hops. Clean and crisp. A bit grainy. Straw. Clean barley. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable. Quite simple, but decently put together. No complexity or subtlety here, but decent balance. I like it in a general sense. A bit of vague lime.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Not oily or biting. Not harsh. Clean. A bit crisp. Decent presence on the palate. Decent thickness and body. Doesn't feel custom-tailored to the flavour profile, but it suits it generally. Average carbonation.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable, but largely underwhelming. Not Uinta's best, but I see what they were going for. I wouldn't get it again. The whole Organic thing comes off as a bunch of gimmicky bullshit. I'm less than impressed. A forgettable low ABV beer with little to offer. I wouldn't recommend it to friends.

Low C

Serving type: can

06-09-2013 02:05:30 | More by kojevergas

garuda

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A - Gross yellowish body, clear, but the white head has some good retention and lacing, especially taking style into consideration.

Smell isn't great, some wet, herbal, hay and pale malts. Taste is good though, the light body and medium carbonation lays a smooth consistency on the palate,with subtle herbal hops, some lemon citrus on a white crackery, bready malt base. Finish is crisp and clean, with slight lingering herbal hops.

O - Tough to rate, considering style. For what this beer is brewed for, it's excellent - easy drinking and sessionable while providing a complementary depth of character to keep it interesting. I could certainly drink this all day. Well done blonde ale.

Serving type: can

05-26-2013 19:18:02 | More by garuda

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

How fast do you have to speak in order to pronounce this beer the way it's written? Anyway, this stuff pours a clear pale straw topped by a finger of bone foam. The nose comprises sweet lemon peel, very light biscuit, and a hint of mint. The taste holds notes of thoroughly funky lemon peel, light wheat, a pinch of coriander, and a single miniature crystal of Belgian candi sugar. The body is pretty light, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly watery feel. Overall, this beer just didn't quite do it for me. I get that it's meant to be light and "refreshing" for the warmer months and whatnot, but it's just too thin, too light, too insubstantial to really work, and the Sorachi hops, which actually can work at times, don't express themselves well enough, due mostly to a lack of support. You can have an awesome quarterback, but if he's got no one to throw to...

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 19:50:05 | More by TMoney2591

suspect

New York

3.98/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a standard pint glass. Review written from notes taken on June 13.

A: Crystal clear gold color. Mildly aggressive pour leads to a big thick fluffy white 2 finger head. As it fades and as I drink, there is a ton of lacing sticking to the glass. Very nice looking beer.

S: Grains bring the pain first and foremost followed by lemon zest and orange peel citrus aromas and finally a hint of hop bitter. Nice nose, not overly complex.

T: Follows the nose with the citrus and hops shining more than the grains but they blend nicely and they are all quickly identifiable.

M: Great feel - lots of carbonation in a good way. Nice bitterness at the end with the sweetness up front.

O: This is an easy drinking beer that is big on flavor and at 4% abv, I could knock back a bunch of these on a hot summer day. Wonderful beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 16:40:52 | More by suspect

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer #32 in my great Utah Brew Hunt.

Man this is kind of an oddly sweet beer. At first I was thinking: what the heck? And I was also thinking: do I need to get milk tomorrow? Actually, that last part is a lie. The beer does seem to have a defined sweet tone to it, in a malty kind of way. But also in a way that brings grain tones into the mix as well. Hearty ones, but not in a way that overpowers things. The overall verdict is that this is a pretty good blonde ale. A bit thick and hearty for the style, but it's alright. At least, worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 06:26:56 | More by RblWthACoz

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A bright clear blonde with a mild haze and a 1/4 inch of head that quickly reduces to a mild lace ring.

S - Smell of bright leafy hops and a mild grain profile. Citrus and lemon highlight.

T - The balance of hops to malt is great. The profile is crisp and grains and noticeable but sweet and wheat like.

M - Light and crisp. In no way watery for such a low ABV.

Overall a sure fire winner of a summer ale worth a six pack a sitting.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 03:23:55 | More by DrDemento456

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a crystal clear pale gold, with 2 fingers of foamy bright-white head. This retains with a rich dollop of froth right in the middle of the glass, which soaps the sides of the glass with thick lacing. The aroma smells grassy, spicy, and citric with some supportive bready sweetness underneath. The hops really give a bold push here in the nose though overall, with that spiciness in particular stickng out.

The taste is a light green citrus to flavor to it that while well balanced by the grainy sweetness of the malts, still spread a leafy and spicy bitterness out into the profile which lingers in the finish with some steadiness. The mouthfeel is lighter to medium bodied, with an overall smooth creaminess to it and just enough of a prickle to keep this crisp on the tongue.

This was certainly a pretty hoppy take on an American Blonde and I didn’t mind one bit. This was flavorful, crisp and light on the palate, making for a pleasant drinkable experience. Uinta has been doing nicely for me this summer with these quaffable lighter beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 19:20:45 | More by Kegatron

UCLABrewN84

California

3.45/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottled on 6/6/12.

Pours a hazy light yellow with a 1 inch foamy white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt/grain, and some mild grassy and hay aromas. Taste is of malt/grain, grass, and some herbal hop flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is easy to drink but the aroma is a bit weak in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 03:52:22 | More by UCLABrewN84

mactrail

California

3.7/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Citron-yellow color in the glass. Big, blindingly white head. Very tangy and spritzy in the mouth.

Pleasant hint of citrus-- a "bright" taste. Nice nose of flowery hops. A perfumey flavor that goes nicely with the light body. Pretty subtle, overall, but so clean without any off flavors that the brew carries it off. It's such a fine line between flavor and no flavor, but the hoppy kiss and hint of biscuit taste is quite agreeable. It's a summer beer, all right.

From the 12 oz bottle purchased at Emigration Market in Salt Lake. Check out their selection of Utah singles.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 05:15:03 | More by mactrail

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.15/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A-Pours clear straw with seemingly millions of rising bubbles.Head is textbook. Slightly off-white with a consistency mixture of both foam and froth. Head leaves light lacing slashes along the glass.

S-Doughy like semi-cooked bread. Hops are light clementine flesh and fresh sprouted grass. Nose boasts enough intensity for a light bodied Summer brew. Lemon rind.

T-Sweet Animal Crackers laced with a citrus tang. A soft balance between sweet breaded malt and passive hops. A simple flavor.

M-Light bodied with softer carbonation than expected. Extremely easy to imbibe. 4%ers need to be easy to drink right?

O/D-An unbelievably forgettable Summer Blonde that is nearly $11 for a six pack. Quite an incognito brew with a soggy price tag. My lack of success with Summer seasonals continues.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 21:01:46 | More by VelvetExtract

oberon

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Not a style I would go to often but I was grilling yesterday and this was nice to have all afternoon.Poured into a standard pint glass a clear lemon tinged light golden with a thinner white head atop.The aromas were actually quite complex with lemony hops,toasted cereal grain,and a hint of biscuit.Lighter mouthfeel was expected but it didn't deter much from the beer,bright lemony notes along with a grainy element that lingers into a nice finish.One of the better beers I can think of if you want a low alcohol but flavorful blonde ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 14:17:06 | More by oberon

vkv822

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz : tulip snifter

Pours a clear, bright yellow with a fizzy white head.

Floral, grassy hops upfront, with a solid malt backing.

Lemony, grassy, floral hops, cracker malt backing.

Crisp, clean medium body, lightly fizzy carbonation.

A well done American Blonde. Lot's of flavor, but easy drinking and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 08:59:42 | More by vkv822

Tone

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, gold color. 3/4 inch head of a white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of slight earthy malt, caramel malt, sweet malt, hint of yeast, and a hint of citrus hops. Fits the style of an American Blonde Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of yeast, pale malt, hint of wheat, hint of citrus hops, slight caramel malt, and a hint of spice. Overall, good appearance, aroma, feel, blend, and body.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 14:15:30 | More by Tone

JustinAniello

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A murky golden brown. Foamy head that turns into a nice lacing and cap that sticks to the sides of the glass.

S - Even though there isn't any in it, this smells like honey. There is a light orange smell behind it as well.

T - Malt followed by orange, a little sweetness. A hop bitterness shows up as you swallow. Might be a little of that honey in there as well trying to compete with the hops, can't quite tell.

M - Light body with the right amount of carbonation for the style.

O - Pretty good beer for the sum'r season. Gives a decent amount of flavor and the light hops is a nice finish. Would certainly share a few over a barbecue.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 23:24:59 | More by JustinAniello

Jammies

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A- pours a pale gold with minimal foam. not much retention

S- slight maltiness and grassy smell.

T- a little malty. There is a minimal grassy taste, but the malts overwhelm the flavor

M- light. This would be smoother except for the malts that coat the entire mouth.

O- decent beer. Would be great in the summer. The only real complaint is the excessive use of malt.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 15:32:27 | More by Jammies

isualum12

Idaho

3.15/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Picked up a growler at Brewforia tonight in Meridian Idaho....Love the place

appearance: Golden yellow. Almost looks the same color as Budlight. Pure white head on beer that sits low. leaves some lace on the side. lots of activity in the glass.

Smell- Not much. Rather plain, some light fruit/citrus hidden in there.

Taste- Just not sure what I need in it. Orange? Lemon? Just not sure. It feels like it is missing something. There is a bit of wheat flavor with a bready light flavor. At first I didn't like it but I tried it again on the second night and really enjoyed it.

mouth-feel- lots of carbonation. very actice beer

Overall- Much better the second night out of the growler...

Serving type: growler

08-10-2011 02:16:41 | More by isualum12

pi5porter

Utah

3.85/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - nice see through golden color, nice foamy head but not too much.

S - A hint of something, i have a bad nose.

T - nice taste like a blonde, a citrus hint and and a not so good after taste.

M - It has substance but not as much as a darker beer, right where it should be.

O - Good not but not Great i wouldn't buy again over the wasatch kolesch.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 05:18:04 | More by pi5porter

Billolick

New York

3.53/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle, "Bottled on 5/27/11"

Pour: Golden straw, near clear, white head that stays as a film and leaves respectable strands of lace.

Wheaty malt sniff

More wheat infused malt flavorings and just a hit of drying hops in the finish.

Nothing more then expected, decent summer quaffer

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2011 21:51:25 | More by Billolick

rinhaak

Massachusetts

2.3/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

11 oz. bottle poured into a Sam's perfect pint glass.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this certainly wasn't it.

This beer pours a very light and pale gold with a full head. The nose - which is fairly uninteresting - is a little malty with overtones of fresh hay.

The taste really conjures images of a farm field. Lots of hay, German malts, and an almost sweaty flavor. There is almost a rusty quality to the beer - something I might expect more in a red ale than this Blonde.

While I appreciate the crispness, dryness, and low alcohol content, the flavors are so offputting that I found this to be most unpleasant. However, I feel that this isn't a poorly crafted ale, hence I cannot legitimately rate it lower - despite my near thorough unenjoyment.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 22:10:04 | More by rinhaak

dtivp

West Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pale straw gold with a one and a half finger white head with good retention and moderate lacing.

Aroma of citrus and floral hops

Taste of floral hops, light bready malt and tropical fruits.

Mouthfeel was light body with moderate carbonation, very crisp and dry.

Overall a very light, refreshing beer to be enjoyed on a nice hot day, low alcohol allows you to partake on a few while working outdoors.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 23:34:11 | More by dtivp

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Quaffable light ale.

Presentation: 12 oz brown capped bottle. Bright green label with an illustration of a reclining patio chair and an overall pop/contemporary feel. Shows off USDA organic certification. Shows bottling date (03/29/11). Served in a tulip glass.

A - Slightly hazy straw pour with a nice frothy head, good retention, surface memory and nice lacing.

S - Aroma is fair if a bit soft and generic, light malty hint with a citrus touch.

T - Pale malt, hint of lager at first that fades quickly, citrusy notes over pale malts. The Sorachi hop works softy but nicely here, adding a characteristic small touch of lemongrass rounding up the finish. Maybe I would have liked it a bit more prominent but it would have probably broken the sense of a light summer brew.

M - Nice light body with crisp carbonation and a slight dryness in the finish.

O - An easy drinking light ale with a good sense of flavor.

Notes: A couple of months since bottling so maybe on a fresher version the Sorachi might shine more on the nose and palate… Still it is still holding up pretty well. Last year I was curious to try it and this time I did not want to let it go by despite the pricing… Too expensive for what it is. Otherwise this would make for a fine easy social refreshing ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 14:03:39 | More by Daniellobo

DrinkingDrake

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Golden yellow that is slightly hazy. Almost no head just a bunch of large bubbles sticking to the sides. Light/Pilsner malt aroma with some lemon grass. Somewhat sour like macro lager. Flavor is carbonated and crisp. Extremely pale/sour malty let down. There is a light grassy hop finish that separates it from the category of bad macro brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 00:00:10 | More by DrinkingDrake

alenonbeeradv

California

3.78/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a - yellow and hay hues. pretty musky and non transparent. little to no head but a slight collar around the brim. medium carbonation level no the eye.

s - smells like the desert or something. succulents in the sun. it really reminds me of summer. juicy fruits and flowers. also a little earthy and dank from the hops. grainy and nutty malts.

t - very refreshing. not an overwhelming taste whatsoever. slight hibiscus and melon. very crisp and clean. light transition into a soothing light malt finish.

m - very mild and refreshing. low - medium carbonation. pretty quick finish.

o - i could definitely see myself drinking a few of these under the hot sun. never been to utah but id assume this would be perfect when its hot there. nice one.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 00:49:00 | More by alenonbeeradv

beagle75

Iowa

3.8/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip pint glass.

A: Clear, pale golden color with one finger of diminishing white foam head. Heavy lacing remains on the glass and bubbles rise uniformly in the column at a metered pace.

S: Very mild with soft carbonic acid and crackery malt. A whiff of transient floral hops is also present at times.

T: Begins off-dry, with fairly husky pilsner malt and delicate grassy, floral, and lime citrus hop aromatics. Flavors tend to run together more as the taste progresses, yielding a slightly unctuous carbohydrate quality. The finish sees the strongest influence of acidity--though still restrained--providing an airy carbonic quality, with bitterness never really showing up.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, wet and creamy on the palate, with low carbonation.

D/O: The lightest ales are a simple pleasure when they are served in a seasonally appropriate fashion--when refreshment becomes a bigger part of why we drink. This beer is no exception, with the ability to quench a powerful thirst and still provide an interesting, if understated, display of malt and hops.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 22:32:02 | More by beagle75

Nerudamann

Oregon

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

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Look - pale golden color, a little murky...not quite clear, with very little foam, but what's there is off-white colored.

Smell - a little bit of a wheat-like smell...not sure why. Citrus-like hints are there too.

Taste and Mouthfeel - bitter sting at the very beginning that morphs into a full on bite at the end. More malty and no wheat in the taste. The taste of the hops are there but not the flavor. Texture is pretty smooth, but a little bit more toward the watery side.

Overall - not a bad brew, but also not very interesting. Good tasting.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 03:04:15 | More by Nerudamann