Summer Solstice - Anderson Valley Brewing Company

rah1734bones

3/5  rDev -18.7%

05-01-2012 05:16:03 | More by rah1734bones

Rihup

Illinois

5/5  rDev +35.5%

05-26-2013 02:50:43 | More by Rihup

KFBR392

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Solid red color. Good amount of lacing on the glass and a solid head on the pour. Good carbonation but overall nothing too crazy.

Smell: A lot of the creamy dairy one would expect. Some aromas of apples, fruit, slight molasses, and taffy. The aroma is certainly not overpowering, you have to dig for it a bite. The bright creamy accents jump out the most.

Taste: One of the better cream ale tastes I've had. So much of the dairy and taffy on the front. The body and finish have many of the same accents which overall are just muted. Yum, the front end keeps you coming back for more.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and buttery.

Overall: An easy drinking summer beer. A good one to give to your non-craft friends. Not as much traditional character as one would hope but overall isn't a bad brew to sip on.

Serving type: can

05-25-2013 06:38:15 | More by KFBR392

ohyayitstrey

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%

05-25-2013 06:01:47 | More by ohyayitstrey

Circleo12

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +22%

05-25-2013 03:01:01 | More by Circleo12

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