Ipswich Summer Ale - Ipswich Ale Brewery

Todd

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle. Pours a hazy pale golden beer with orange-y hues, thick bubbles and a thin white lace that wisps down to a light filmy head. Unfiltered.

Some nutty yeast in the nose, fresh wet malts and a hint of fruitiness.

Nice mouthfeel. It's light, but even and slightly chewy in parts. A bit juicy too with notes of apple and pear that gets cut with a crisp citric hop snap and some carbonation. Bready underneath with just enough malt sweetness to balance and add some depth of tastiness. A bit tannic towards the finish, with notes of grain husk and a coarseness on the palate. Slightly drying.

As far as summer-style brews go, this is not a bad choice at all. It is what it is, and does it well.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2005 16:59:56 | More by Todd

Jason

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

Thin white lacing that sticks a bit, bright orangey hue ... nearly clear. I ended up leaving the yeast dregs in the bottle.

Mild fruity juicy aroma, honey malt and nutty yeast in the nose as well.

Pretty damn smooth with a moderate body, biscuity and bread crust on the palate. Burst of crispness upfront. Nice hop flavor with the bitterness balancing well with the malt. Hint of lemon rind and pear juice. Light nutty yeast in the back, finishes semi-dry with a herbal hop.

Hands down the tastiest summer brew in New England, it help that it is unfiltered as many summer seasonals are too clean, too crisp and strip filtered.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2005 01:37:13 | More by Jason

scotorum

Massachusetts

3.99/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

NB: The label on mine has a blue background behind "Summer Ale" rather than the yellow one pictured here. More important, the color is significantly darker than blonde, more of a medium orange. Otherwise, on review it seems to have characteristics similar to what others have described here.

Bought on sale in a twelve pack sampler.

Filled a tulip glass from the 12 oz. bottle.

a. Nearly clear medium amber. Finger thick white foam receded to a nice foamy film with significant and persistent lacing which suggested good quality.

s: Nothing notable at first, light hop sting in the nose as it was drunk.

t: Nice malt-hop balance! An impressive blend with the hops somewhat bold, but subdued enough to make this a wonderful summer session ale or meal accompaniment.

m: Smooth, light to medium heft, nice!

o: One of my new favorite summer beers! Easy drinking, yet sips with enough character to make you want to drink it slowly and savor it. So glad I have three more from the twelver. Definitely won't disappoint. If you live in its apparently limited distribution zone, buy some now before it's discovered and gets more expensive!

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 02:58:37 | More by scotorum

PaulD

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

06-12-2013 23:07:44 | More by PaulD

FrankL66

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

06-10-2013 14:11:25 | More by FrankL66

MA08

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +13%

06-09-2013 04:22:39 | More by MA08

hockeyfighter19

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +6.4%

06-02-2013 16:13:17 | More by hockeyfighter19

Dools9

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-19-2013 02:42:23 | More by Dools9

Celtics76

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +6.4%

03-28-2013 17:38:29 | More by Celtics76

liquorpig

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -26.9%

12-07-2012 22:58:51 | More by liquorpig

tommyd313

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

12-07-2012 01:35:57 | More by tommyd313

Proclarush

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

11-30-2012 17:33:16 | More by Proclarush

BeerNacho

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

11-21-2012 04:22:29 | More by BeerNacho

ACD

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

09-19-2012 18:31:10 | More by ACD

cortez

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.4%

09-12-2012 05:26:13 | More by cortez

bpowers315

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +6.4%

09-07-2012 00:18:08 | More by bpowers315

trevorpost

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

08-26-2012 22:37:04 | More by trevorpost

Gregwa

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

07-26-2012 22:36:03 | More by Gregwa

skiit13

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -20.2%

07-16-2012 23:23:36 | More by skiit13

DavidHamilton

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

07-14-2012 01:20:47 | More by DavidHamilton

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle was poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: The beer poured a one finger head. It is a golden straw yellow orange color with great clarity and bubbles coming up through the glass.

Smell: Very bready and sweet. Hops produce a lemony aroma that is just great for the summer time too.

Taste: Tart and lemony characteristics followed by sweet and bready notes. Lingering bitterness at the end of the sip, but not in a bad way.

Mouthfeel: smooth, light to medium bodied, low to medium carbonation, and easy to drink.

Overall: A nice beer for the summer time. Hot and steamy here in Boston and happy to have enjoyed this cold one.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 02:05:51 | More by Flounder57

Tank77

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

07-10-2012 20:08:20 | More by Tank77

ONN8

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -20.2%

06-24-2012 00:25:32 | More by ONN8

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle served in a standard shaker pint.

pours a cloudy, dull golden-yellow while yielding a nice frothy/creamy, 1 and 3/4" beige-colored head. very nice retention; a bit of patchy lacing. nose is a pleasant surprise. after working my way around a few middling renditions on the 'summer ale', this one offers an aroma i can get on board with. good amount of citrus (primarily lemon and orange) with a bit of of a malty presence.

flavor doesn't disappoint, even if it doesn't necessarily blow you away. the citric flavor pulls through, along with a slight hoppy bitterness to accompany the malt character. again though, for a summer beer this more than fits the bill. medium-light bodied mouthfeel, crisp and easy to drink.

overall this one is a keeper. a tasty, refreshing summer beer with a little more to it than you typically see in summer seasonals.

(originally reviewed: 07-07-2011)

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 03:51:40 | More by BostonHops

Brad007

Vermont

3.63/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a mild gold with a one-finger head into my glass. I notice that many IPAs tend to be a golden color but never the kind that inspires confidence.

Light and crisp with only a touch of hops in the nose Blonde ales typically attempt to balance both the hops and malt.

Easygoing flavors on the tongue with an emphasis on biscuity malt.

Lingering sweet, buttery malt at the back makes for a tasty mouthfeel.

Very nice summer ale. Drinkable and highly enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 23:18:49 | More by Brad007