Summer Solstice - Anderson Valley Brewing Company

jondeelee

Massachusetts

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

Summer Solstice opens with a mildly yeasty, malty nose, full of the aromas of baking wheat bread, light brown sugars, and wheat fields, along with touches of apricot and orange at the edges, the latter almost too delicate to notice. The effect is that of an enticing bowl of hot cereal with fruit slices. Noticeably absent in any marked quantities in the nose are spices, which, given that the label notes "natural flavors" and "special spicing" have been added, is quite peculiar, but refreshingly so, since in many beers the spices seem more intent on bashing you with a hammer than caressing you with a feather.

On the tongue, the first flavors are of brown sugars and wheat, though the grain flavors quickly pick up steam and equal themselves to the sugars. Soon afterward a good, subtle spice blend emerges, the spices so delicately balanced and finely nuanced that no single spice emerges as overpowering. The mix is somewhat peppery, with touches of, perhaps, coriander and kola nut (at least that's what I attribute the slight Dr. Pepper taste coming from). Fruit esters are light and hardly noticeable, but some apricot comes through at the fringes. Hops are hardly distinguishable, mostly adding just enough bitterness to counter the sugars, but since the beer only has 4 IBUs (according to Anderson Valley's website), this is hardly surprising. The aftertaste is an evanescent continuation of the main flavors. Mouthfeel is medium-light, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is good beer, keeping in mind that it's brewed for hot summer months, and therefore the flavors are purposefully kept light. Despite this light quality, the flavors are quite distinguished and delicious, and the beer is thankfully not over-spiced. It is slightly too reminiscent of a soft drink for me, reminding me in this sense of a weak cross between a Dr. Pepper and a Coke, but is most certainly better fare than the average summer seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 21:28:39 | More by jondeelee

visionaries

California

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

05-23-2013 17:37:41 | More by visionaries

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

05-23-2013 15:27:59 | More by InspectorBob

plato

South Carolina

3/5  rDev -18.7%

05-22-2013 23:35:50 | More by plato

amishbooze

Michigan

4/5  rDev +8.4%

05-22-2013 22:19:22 | More by amishbooze

johntfox

Florida

4/5  rDev +8.4%

05-21-2013 00:36:09 | More by johntfox

touchmeimsac

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

05-20-2013 13:35:03 | More by touchmeimsac

AlexChillton

Arizona

4/5  rDev +8.4%

05-20-2013 05:40:21 | More by AlexChillton

NJB145

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%

05-19-2013 01:53:40 | More by NJB145

twax

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

05-19-2013 01:42:46 | More by twax

BRYeleJR

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +8.4%

05-18-2013 22:07:01 | More by BRYeleJR

CelticAleMan

California

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

05-18-2013 00:36:16 | More by CelticAleMan

soccerfancooch

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

05-17-2013 04:13:19 | More by soccerfancooch

Hermthegerm

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.4%

05-17-2013 03:04:20 | More by Hermthegerm

-ronin-

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

05-17-2013 02:09:15 | More by -ronin-

eulerthegrape

California

4.5/5  rDev +22%

05-16-2013 17:56:51 | More by eulerthegrape

Bromine

Florida

4/5  rDev +8.4%

05-16-2013 10:35:19 | More by Bromine

magictacosinus

California

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Thanks, Jon. Poured out of a 12oz bottle into a tulip pint glass. Bottle says "natural flavor" was added, but I for the life of me would not be able to know what it is... And neither does their website for that matter.

Pours a dark brownish amber body complete with 2 fingers worth of head that dwindles down to pretty much nothing. Carbonation is not too present. No lacing to speak of. Average body retention and character, but definitely good to see a summer beer taking on a different appearance.

The aroma is very heavy and toasty, almost like whiffing straight into a box of biscuits coated with citrus and vanilla. This took me by surprise, especially as this barely is a combination of flavors that I get in a summer beer. In fact, I'd go as far to say that it smells like S'mores, believe it or not! Cinnamon, wheat, candied cream, and a bit of caramel and milk chocolate are all present here, but it's not a dessert beer by any means. It contains a spiciness that overlaps these flavors, only to bludgeoned by all the caramel and toffee. There's a syrupy sweetness that I've gotten with every AV beer to date, except for their oatmeal stout, which makes it cloying. There's also a candied fruity flavor (I'm going to go with oranges) that persists, and while not pleasant, it's not necessarily horrible. I'm enjoying the variety of flavors, but not the sweetened caramelized backdrop so much.

Right from the start, I can see where this is a cream ale with added spices and citrus notes. The cream is instantly there, and melds itself with the caramel and candied orange notes, only to finish with a bittered, toasted barley flavor combined with brown sugar. Again, this never gets to the point of excessive sweetness (although the syrupiness is ridiculous), but it isn't something that I could down quickly either. As this warms up, there are notes of butterscotch (which makes me wonder if Irish yeast was used), as well as sweetened elements that make this resemble caramelized orange sorbet of sorts. Definitely similar to orange sodas as well, which the brewery seems ready to agree on. The cracked barley finish is a little distracting, and the hop profile is pretty low, but I believe would not have contributed so much to the beer's flavor. Luckily it's pretty thick, as I would hope all beers of this style to be.

Considering the fact that summers in NorCal in the far north (where AV is located) are usually pretty chilly, rainy, and misty, I could see this as a perfectly enjoyable beer to have during the days where the weather becomes mild during the season in the region. While I enjoyed a lot of the sweetened, creamy flavors this has to offer, the bittered, flaky finish, as well as the enormous syrupy, sludgy body, makes this one something that I patiently sipped on. I'd pair it with food in a heartbeat (think fruit-glazed butter fried lamb with sweet potatoes), but on its own, not so much. More of an ambivalent dessert than a quaffable summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 05:23:59 | More by magictacosinus

notchucknorris

California

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

05-15-2013 04:53:02 | More by notchucknorris

leftstagebrew

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

05-13-2013 16:59:51 | More by leftstagebrew

cw13

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

05-11-2013 16:21:17 | More by cw13

caels1991

Georgia

4.36/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz can into Red Hare Brewery Pint Glass.

App- It's a very simple, true to form beer. Fairly clear through with a great dark gold, copper, and amber color. Slight bit of chill on the glass, but very welcoming. Poured about 1.5 finger creamy off white soap-y head.

Smell- Very soft smell, some hop, malt, and confectionery sweetness. Not too much going on, but nothing to really turn off the drinker.

Taste- Sweetness. This is definitely a great beer, it is a bit on the sweeter end of the scale. Lots of vanilla, honey, sugars, almost reminds me of malty Nougat in drink form. Cannot get enough of this, especially as someone who is a huge fan of sweet, dark, and heavier beers. A great summer beer I would recommend to people who are looking for less hop and more "flavor" out of their lighter and easier Ales.

Mouth- Very crisp, but coating mouthfeel. Feels much the way you would expect based around the taste.

Overall- I have heard people say this is like Cream Soda for adults and I get that. It definitely has a Cream Soda like quality and it comes out strongest in the mouth & taste. The nose is definitely a more "beer-like" aroma, it's not unappealing though if you were to introduce this to someone. All in all, an easy quality drink. If you are looking for something sweeter, something that's a bit more than your typical summer-y Ales, this would be a great starting point.

Serving type: can

05-10-2013 12:50:18 | More by caels1991

largadeer

California

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%

05-09-2013 22:28:06 | More by largadeer

IRONRakkasan

California

4/5  rDev +8.4%

05-09-2013 21:48:33 | More by IRONRakkasan

hoerr

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

05-09-2013 19:27:03 | More by hoerr