Narragansett Summer Ale - Narragansett Brewing Co.

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: 2 inch head with a rocky top, gold in color, clear, high carbonation

Smell: faint pine and grass

Taste: sweet grass, caramel, and pine hops at the end.

Mouthfeel: high carbonation, sweet start then the hops kick in to make it slightly bitter, light bodied

Overall: Best thing I have had from 'Gansett and what I would describe as a perfect lawnmower beer. Enough strength and beer taste to quench the thrist and keep on going. Complex enough to make me want the full six.

Serving type: can

06-15-2011 14:32:18 | More by tigg924

plaid75

New York

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a medium straw hue with a four finger rocky white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a husky grainy malt with a light lemon zest.

The taste featured light grainy malts with lemon and a grassy hop.

The mouthfeel was typical of the style.

Overall a tasty summer refresher. Simple and quaffable.

Serving type: can

07-12-2011 15:20:23 | More by plaid75

portia99

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16oz can poured into a Dogfish Head signature glass.

A - Pours a super clear, rich golden color with a thick finger plus of foamy, soapy white head with good retention and leaving behind thick lacing all over the glass.

S - Extremely grainy on the nose with a fruity and metallic hoppy bitterness that cuts through. Sugary sweet malt rounds and smooths a bit.

T - Sweet malt up front on the first sip backed up by a mid level hop bitterness, a bit of earthy and metallic hop? flavors. Finishes quite dry, smooth and intensely bready/biscuity. Maybe a bit of lemony citrus mixed in there too, but I'm not sure that it isn't that I just wanna taste that in there.

M - A bit on the thin side, tending towards watery. Carbonation gives a feel that is soft and smooth from its lower intensity level. Goes down like water.

O - Hmm, what to say about this. I'm pleasantly surprised and disappointed all at the same time. I had heard from a number of trusted BA's how good this beer is and finally got around to trying it. Well, it is way better than I expected it to be when I first saw this on the shelves earlier this summer, but I had heard what a nice hop profile this has...and I just don't get it. Maybe this has been on the shelves (or actually fridge) of the beer store for a while and the hops have faded some, but it just wasn't as expected. However, this is definitely a better than passable summer thirst quencher. A day of working in the yard, a round of golf, a day on the deck or at the pool - this will work fine. A bargain for $9/6er of 16oz cans, but not enough to it to make it into my regular summer rotation.

Serving type: can

07-26-2011 23:09:00 | More by portia99

regspeir

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to victory4me for sharing this. Pint can into a standard pint glass. Pours golden yellow with a large 3-fingered white head that, even after some time, still was almost a finger's worth. Lacing was thin but present throughout. Nose is sweet with elements of lemon, grain and toasted malt. Taste was lemongrass, sweet malts, and hints of grassy hops. The finish is dry, crisp and light. The mouthfeel was on the light side, as expected, and mildly carbonated. This was a pleasant surprise and, reported inexpensive, would be a go-to summer standby…except we don't get it here (that I am aware of).

Serving type: can

08-21-2011 23:47:59 | More by regspeir

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Finishing up the ol tallboy 6-pack, a good purchase to start off the first weeks of June with.

Pours into a pint dark yellow with a massive white head on each pour. Retains at a finger eventually, great lace. Beastly.

Smell is tame but pleasant, some paleish malts and graininess back up herbal+light fruity hops.

Taste has more strength. Decent amount of hop action, but an overall restrained little light fruit plethora (grapefruit, lemon, citrus) along with some herbal hops. Grainy and buttery malts give way to a nice toasty finish. It starts out 4 worthy, but the overall flavor seems to fade after some time.

Mouthfeel is a bit watery but overall fine considering the ABV. Despite the crazy appearance, carbonation is somewhat modest.

Overall, good, definitely a little tame but nice hops/flavor for the low ABV+style. Easy drinkability and price will probably make this a regular summer purchase for me.

Serving type: can

06-18-2012 14:42:22 | More by Chico1985

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear, golden yellow with a tall, thick white head, this beer produces some beautiful lace. The beer is light in complexion and fruity in aroma. Estery, slight malt, a touch of herbal hops, distant citrus. Nice. The flavor is light, as is the body. Nice for summer, but it does give us a little complexity and intensity. Slight sweetness, but the finish is abrupt. Good summer brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 01:39:32 | More by Suds

Kinsman

New Hampshire

3.7/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Crystal clear golden body with a nice fluffy and sticky white head about 2 fingers thick to start.

Aroma is slightly sweet with some biscuity and cereal grain notes. Slightly grassy hop presence but overall the aroma is fairly light.

Biscuity and bready malt profile with just a hint of malty sweetness and grain husk. Hops hint at a bit of lemon zest and grass but really are in the background.

Mouthfeel is crisp and refreshing and at only 4.2%, this is pretty light. Overall, I'm really enjoying this and I think the brewers hit the nail on the head with a light refreshing summer beer that has more flavor than your typical summer beer.

Serving type: can

06-22-2011 22:10:26 | More by Kinsman

Finn

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a nonic: Gansett Summer presents itself beautifully with a clear, straw gold body and a thick, fluffy white head that hangs out for a while. Aroma is modest, but good, with a distinct citrus component mingling with sweet and grainy notes. Its flavor is modest as well, but well done. It is a 4.2% summer beer after all. There is just a faint hint of the citrus coming thru, but is second to a very crisp, clean, refreshing malt profile, which seems as though there is some wheat in there too, which lightens the whole affair. The mouthfeel is nice and creamy however. I gotta say the lacing on this one is impressive. Overall, a very well done summer blonde: crisp, clean and to the point, although those looking for a more "robust" flavored summer beer (oberon, hop sun) may be dissapointed. But for what it is, a clean, lower alcohol summer ale, I enjoyed it, and would probably get it again.

Serving type: can

04-25-2012 01:17:03 | More by Finn

celticfutblclub

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16 oz tallboy poured into a pint glass.

A - a straw yellow color with some light carbonation. a nice fluffy white head recedes slowly and laces quite well. the head was very nice but the body itself isn't that impressive.

S - grass, lemon, pepper and herbs. interesting aroma off this. not what i expected but quite nice.

T - malt hits up front with a mostly bread taste. grass and pepper again with a little bit of lemon. good hop bite at the end of it.

M - very lightly bodied which is perfect with an average amount of carbonation. definitely leads to some puckering at the end when the hop hits.

O - this is quite a nice summer brew and definitely worth picking up for the price. i thought it was going to be a bit better than it was but again not at all disappointed. it must be noted that its an extremely drinkable brew.

Serving type: can

05-17-2011 23:10:34 | More by celticfutblclub

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This just popped up in Philly, glad to see it. Hoping they send all their stuff down eventually. 16oz tallboy in a glass.

Bright Olympic gold color with just a touch of bronze holding through. A aggressive pour yields a nice inch of white stuff that is semi creamy, but dwindles real quick leaving small islands, faint lace.

Smell is pretty pale malty bold with some underlining earthy hops that bring some grass in to play. The citra does not come out like in other beers that use it, but this is a American blond. This smells pretty nice for what it is.

A really smooth and well balanced blond. Not bitter and not overly sweet. Getting some faint fruit under the pale malt with a small sweet spot towards the end. Earthy hops are mad light so don't expect a Citra blast, just expect it to balance out the sweetness from the malt profile.

Feel is light bodied with light carbonation, just enough to keep the beer from dying at the end. Not bitter, not overly sweet. A simple American blond. I could drink a lot of this stuff at 4.2%

Serving type: can

04-20-2012 02:45:35 | More by onix1agr

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A big shout out to woodychandler for the hook up. Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a golden color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of hops, some grains. Taste is a good hop/malt balance, some citrus flavor. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a refreshing and enjoyable beer.

Serving type: can

06-23-2011 22:24:12 | More by tone77

samyoung

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Trader Joes representing the Narragansett brews well; I've also gotten the average lager and stellar porter. On my first trip to the Chelsea TJs picked up a six pack of tall boys at a nice price for NYC - $8.99.

A - Slightly orange straw color.
S - Whiffs of hop and malt.
T - This is where the beer blows me away- great hops and ale flavor, I was expecting a wussy summer quencher - this is for sure an ale.
M - Pleasant at first, quickly dissipates.
O - Very good and very drinkable summer brew - this is definitely my pick for the summer.

Serving type: can

08-03-2011 19:39:23 | More by samyoung

mdfb79

New York

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to jslot38 for giving me a can of this to review. Poured from a 16 oz. can into my Duvel Green tulip.

a - Pours a somewhat hazy bright yellow color with one finger of fluffy white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of light citrus hops, light lemon, bready malts, wheat, floral notes. Light but pretty nice overall.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, wheat, grains, bready malts, earthy and floral notes. Tiny bit less citrus then the nose but nice.

m - Light body and moderate to high carbonation. Super easy to drink; a tiny bit less carbonation and it would be amazing.

o - Overall I thought this was a really good light blonde ale. There is some nice citrus hops to it and a lot of wheat and bready malts. Not super flavorful, but a really nice summer beer, and way better then most lighter beer options. Would have it again.

Serving type: can

05-05-2012 20:33:35 | More by mdfb79

Durge

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Rubby for passing this on for a try. This summer treat is an anemic gold color with few signs of life but it does produce a voluptuous white crown of foam and gobs of lacing in retreat. The nose picks up a pretty pungent skunky wheat bread with a hint of cider. Hard to say whether this is good or not so good, but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt...I'm thirsty. The flavor is light but not at all complacent as I get more skunky bread, wheat and sunny citrus hop. Very crisp with a delicate but deliberate carbonation that peppers the palate pretty aggressively. This is clearly a nice choice for sessioning/partying. Light bodied, near watery but held together by the lively feel. Lots of bread and a tasteful hint of bright hops to make this a very serviceable thirst quencher. Take it out on Narragansett Bay the next time you push off from the docks at the East Greenwich Yacht Club, bring some chips and salsa and a few Ghandi Bots for dessert, and all you need is a good friend or two to make it a great evening.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 04:31:24 | More by Durge

racer2k

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this in the original packaging 16oz. can

A: Clean pale golden color with a frothy white head. A nice clean looking beer.

S: Forward hop aroma with hints of citrus and cracker malts on board. Very nice smell to this beer.

T: Light floral hops and malty sweetness are present along with a hint of grassy tones and some spice. Very nice crisp hoppy finish to this beer. Fantastic balance!

M: Light body beer with moderate carbonation and excellent drinkability to this offering. This beer has "Session" written all over it.

O: Very nice summer beer that is refreshing, balanced and quite tasty. The only challenge with this beer is that I have not had an opportunity to get any more as demand is strong.

Serving type: can

07-29-2011 19:38:31 | More by racer2k

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Medium yellow with a fizzy white head. No lace or retention.

Mild maltiness and some slight citric hops in the nose.

Wow, am I surprised by this brewer. Citric hops, but not overdone. Nice malt to balance out the spicy hop bite. Light bitterness and malt in the end.

Medium body with nice carbonation.

I am shocked. Highly drinkable, with nice balance of bitter and malty with nice hop character. I would buy this again.

Serving type: can

05-12-2012 00:21:07 | More by OtherShoe2

wedge

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear yellow color with a frothy white head. Mild juicy, oily citrus aroma over some fresh grain...simple and pleasant. Increased grainy sweetness comes through in the flavor with some earthiness and a snappy citrus zest finish. Light bodied, well carbonated, very crisp, and damn drinkable. This is nothing outstanding, but it's a perfect refresher for the beach. I personally like a little more cracker/biscuit malt in my Blondes, but this is tasty as-is. This would fit in with a cooler full of hoppy pilsners quite well.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 21:54:56 | More by wedge

JMD

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Light dirty straw color with frothy white head that fades slowly and leaves some light lacing on the glass.

S: Light grains and toasty wheat. Some light hops as well.

T: Much more flavor than I expected after smelling it. Grassy with some bisquity malt. Lightly hopped with hints of lemon zest. Pretty refreshing.

M: Light bodied with moderate carbonation. Perfect for a summer beer.

D: I was pleasantly suprised with this beer. Flavorful and interesting, I could drink these all day. At 4.2 ABV, this is a great summer beer. Perfect while your roasting on the beach or hanging out at a backyard bbq.

Serving type: can

09-02-2011 23:22:19 | More by JMD

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16oz can purchased at McKinnon's in Portsmouth. Pours a crystal-clear straw-yellow body with a good inch of surprisingly persistent off-white head. Smells sweet and bready with hints of lemon zest. Tastes bready at first with a good bit of lemon-like hops toward the finish. Light and effervescent. Super-drinkable. A lot more to this one than I thought there would be. Really good.

Serving type: can

05-24-2012 00:32:53 | More by MrHurmateeowish

taez555

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a clear yellow body with a white head.

Nose is light and malty smelling with some hops.

Taste is medium to light bodied with a very 6 row type malt grain body. Immediatly hits you with this very mildy cracker and adjunct malt body mixed with hops. Really very reminisant of an English mild or light IPA! The 4.2% abv is crazy since it really allows the light hoppines and light body to shine in a crazy lawnmower/IPA style of beer.

Wow, it seems like every summer ale is lemon this or wheat that, Narraganset does an English mild/IPA with a perfect balance of macro beer and session ale. This beer would be amazing on cask. Such a unique style, this might actually give the Gansett Bock a run for the money.

Serving type: can

05-28-2011 00:29:06 | More by taez555

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16oz can into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a clear gold body under a lofty 3-finger head of creamy white foam. Ok retention, lots of lace. Lovely.

S: Malts predominate, with both clean sweetness and a rather off-putting huskiness coming through; some enticing leafy, fruity hops peek through at times, but are never a truly major factor. Pretty solid, but not entirely cohesive.

T: Follows the nose pretty closely, minus the harshness: sweet malts up front, tropical fruit from the hops on the tail end. Fairly crisp finish, but never quite bitter. Really, really pleasant.

M: Smooth, moderately carbonated body; substantial for the style, but nowhere near heavy. Quite nice.

O: This is a terrific little summer thirst-quencher: it's simple enough to drink lots of without thought, but just interesting enough to reward any attention that you may pay to it. I may well pick up a sixpack to enjoy at the beach some time. By far my favorite Narragansett product that I've tried.

Cheers!

Serving type: can

07-29-2011 17:06:12 | More by woosterbill

greybeardloon

Rhode Island

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Canned on March 25, 2012

A: Yellow with a substantial head, good retention and lots of lacing.

S: Mostly graininess with some citrus hops. Nothing special.

T: Again, grains and mildly sweet malt. No real breadiness, and the malt is pretty simple. Hops are juicy and citric, almost lemony. The hops linger on the palate with a faint bitterness. It's a fairly mildly flavored beer, but it all works together.

M: Light, good carbonation.

O: This is a simple and insanely drinkable beer. It is significantly more appealing in the warm weather.

Serving type: can

05-13-2012 00:16:02 | More by greybeardloon

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a crystal clear medium yellow in color with a light amount of visible carbonation. The beer has a two finger tall dense white head that reduces slightly but has good head retention - leaving a solid half finger of head covering the entire surface of the beer with a much thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant lacing is observed.

S: A light to moderate aroma for this beer, there is a light grapefruit/citrus hop presence along with some pale malts.

T: This beer is quite hop forward with a light amount of grapefruit and citrus hops - slight bitterness but not overly aggressive. That is quickly followed by a pale malt body that gives it a little bit of sweetness. The beer has a clean finish with a light hint of lemon.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: This beer is very refreshing, enjoyable, and easy to drink. I would love to have another one of these, it was surprisingly good (not that I should be too surprised as I have liked each of the beers I have had from them). The hop-forward flavor with the grapefruit hops was quite enjoyable.

Serving type: can

05-15-2012 23:23:12 | More by dbrauneis

metter98

New York

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is clear yellow in color and has a very light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high white head that faded away, leaving some bubbles on the surface and a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of grapefruit and passionfruit in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell but flavors of citra hops are a little bit stronger. The slightest hint of bitterness is perceptible.
M: It feels a bit more than light-bodied and very smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very easy to drink and is a perfect beer for the summer. It has a bit of citrusy flavors similar to a West Coast IPA but these are very subdued.

Serving type: can

06-29-2012 19:39:18 | More by metter98

gatorguy

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

O - Kind of a pale ale appearance, golden color with a bone white, finger and a half head. Leaves some lacing.

S - Light smell, but gives hints of citrus and even some passionfruit. Mmm.

T - Citrus profile is evident, mostly grapefruit, some lemon. There is a light hint of passionfruit as well, nice. Hop bitterness is low, pine flavor is also fairly light from the hops. It's clear they were going for drinkability here. malts are sweet and balance the tart citrus flavors. Finishes clean.

M - Very light and effervescent. Clean and crisp, nearly perfect.

O - Great summer beer. It's almost like a light pale ale if that makes sense. You get the flavors of a pale ale, but with less bitterness. Impressive that 'Gansett pulled this off.

Serving type: can

08-28-2012 18:01:37 | More by gatorguy