Hop Sun (Summer Wheat Beer) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

TheDinger

South Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Growler from GBX poured into a pint glass. Nice clear golden pour with a generous 2 finger head. Smell was hop forward with the piney, floural hit that settles into some of the bready malts and cloves. A bit strong on the hop smell was distracting. Taste was also hop forward with te pine hitting initially followed by floral and malts. A good hit of bitterness at the end. Some of the cloves and fruit are felt in the middle. Pretty well balanced after the hop hit. I prefer more bread, malts on my wheats, but this was interesting. ST usually goes over the top with their styles and this is definately different. Feel was okay with some hop dryness and quite a bit of carb. Overall- AN intersting take on the style. A bit too hop forward for me, but worth the try. Pretty complex for a summer brew. Wouldn't turn one down-

Serving type: growler

07-29-2012 17:40:57 | More by TheDinger

PDXHops

South Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler poured into a weizen glass. Bright see-thru yellow with a fizzy white head that soon reduces to a skim. This actually sticks around pretty well and leaves some scattered lace.

Yeasty and husky grains aplenty along with a nice snappy lemon presence in the nose. Along with the lemony bite of wheat, a combo of earthy/spicy/citric hop notes make for quite a flavorful brew. Some lingering sweetness blunts the crispness of the finish, but it's overall pretty lively and goes down easy. Nice choice for escaping the heat on my front porch.

Serving type: growler

08-02-2011 19:26:09 | More by PDXHops

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Growler is only a couple of hours old...

A - Mammoth airy egg shell colored head with a rocky top and comprised of varying sized bubbles... Pretty impressive retention... The color is a very pale yellow straw... A moderate amount of medium paced extremely graceful carbonation flutters throughout... A tad bit of lacing clings to the glass as the session proceeds...

S - Lemon... Orange zest... Fresh cut grass... Some crisp wheat... Some subtle floral notes... A bit musky deep down... Cereal...

T - Orange zest... Lemon zest... Wheat... Bready malts... Subtle distant notes of golden raisins... A very subtle earthy floral hop finish, the bitterness of which is a perfect compliment to this brew...

M - Light bodied... A bit on the thin side... Just the faintest prickle of carbonation... Light... Refreshing... Clear and fairly crisp...

D - A simple and refreshing American Pale Wheat Ale that makes for a terrific seasonal offering...

Serving type: growler

06-04-2011 01:14:55 | More by philbe311

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a golden yellow color with the a fluffy white cap

S: Wheat, fruity but mainly citrus

T: Light citrus, wheat, slight hop bitterness

M: Light body, light booze, good feel for the style, well carbonated

O: A pretty good beer overall. Good beer to drink on a hot summer day.

Serving type: growler

05-24-2011 13:07:33 | More by barleywinefiend

Billolick

New York

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From a growler obtained fom good ole DeCiccios in Ardsley, NY. Pours lighter goldeny amber, near white head and tehn leaving expansive zones of lace on the glass. Lemon and fresh hop notes in the nose. Ahh summer time and the time is right for zesty, refeshing summer wheat beer, this one continues on what the sniff has started, more citrus, more fresh hop bite. It all adds up to an assertive take on the style, full of flavor, zest, citrus, hop character and summery goodness. More quality brew from NY state's own ST

Serving type: growler

06-16-2009 06:18:13 | More by Billolick

scootny

New York

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A crisp hoppy summer ale. Golden hue with a light and fluffy head. Nice amount of carbonation and bits of lacing.

Smell is soft and hoppy with light wheat and malt. The hop combination is the star here.

Taste is a crisply structured pale ale with a hop oil finish. Just a touch of wheat in there. A delicate malt and wheat backbone that seemed too light to me at first blush is on the second night perfect. A touch of graininess and light grass. Finish leaves a dry faint crackery taste and a bit of phenol. Feel is light with soft crispness in the carbonation with a lingering dryness in the finish.

An easy drinker. Quenching and with a low abv for sessioning.

Serving type: growler

06-13-2009 02:36:14 | More by scootny

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured this one into a glass, and it has a yellow color body with a small head. The smell has a citrus hop aroma with a quick malt hint in there also. The taste is refreshing of citrus and hops and some wheat, not much else going on. The mouth feel is very smooth and well carbonated.. Overall this is a really good, easy drinking beer and is refreshing also.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 02:57:24 | More by chefhatt

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: very clear. blond body. bright. head is bright white and frothy. retention is good. spotted lacing.

S: very herbal. green tea. not oxidized, seems like it may be on the way though. green tea is all I can think of.

T: an earthy, herbal hoppy flavor. a little bit of chewy grain. slightly bitter. finish has a very hoppy bitterness to it that stays into the finish.

M: moderate amount of carb. light bodied.

D: very herbal. a little too tea-like one-note for me. not sure if this is a past its prime issue (as the born-on date was a bit blurred). not my ideal summer brew, but not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 01:48:10 | More by Jimmys

acevenom

Louisiana

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a glass mug. The beer pours clear golden with a thin, white head and lots of visible carbonation. The beer smells of lemon and pine, but not in an overpowering manner. I get some of the pale malt and the wheat in the smell as well, which brings a nice light breadiness. The flavor is pretty hop forward for the typical American wheat beer, but like in the aroma, the citrus and pine don't overpower. There's some nice back end piney bitterness. I also get some of the lightly bready malt, which provides some nice backbone. The body is light to medium with high carbonation. The beer is highly drinkable and goes down smoothly. This is an excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 01:01:28 | More by acevenom

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.81/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle poured into a shaker.

Appearance
Pale straw with 1 finger of white head. Excellent clarity and very lively carbonation.

Nose
Fruity Pebbles and lemon.

Taste
Fruity Pebbles with touches of lemon pith. Tangy wheat with light bready malts. Finishes clean with some fruity esters and a hint of pine.

Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, clean and refreshing.

Overall
A really refreshing Wheat Beer that tastes like everyone’s favorite breakfast cereal!

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 13:20:24 | More by justintcoons

CloudStrife

New York

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a tulip. DOB 03/18/13.

A: Pours a clear golden amber with a 1.5 finger dense white head. Not a ton of visible carbonation. Some rings of lacing from when I sipped.

S: Has a decent amount of hop that you notice right up front. Wheat going on in the background along with some pale malts. A solid earthy/grassy character.

T: Balanced blend going on here. Hops are controlled but flavorful with wheat really rounding this out nicely. Aftertaste is a bit more on the malt side with a lingering breadiness.

M: Medium to full body with ample carbonation. Crisp and refreshing mouthfeel. Easy drinking.

Overall its a tasty summertime brew. Perfect for the warm weather. Not a bad intro for those moving from wheat beers to pale ales.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 01:52:03 | More by CloudStrife

fitrock2112

Ohio

3.28/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured the Hop Sun into a pint glass.

A- The beer pours light yellow with a finger of white head that fades rather quickly. It looks like the standard BMC beer. This beer has to be filtered because you can see right through it. Not your typical wheat here.

S - Smells ok, but does not fit the profile of a summer wheat beer. Clear, clean, and bit too much hops for a wheat. Think pale ale or IPA for the hop profile.

T - Something funny about this one, is it Pledge in a bottle? Good God its not that bad. Some more hops, light, I mean really light wheat flavor at all. Just not working here.

M - Smooth beer, medium to high carbonation.

O - Not what the doctor ordered, its not your typical wheat beer here. Its not a drain pour by any stretch; by contrast, not a bad summer beer. Close to a pilsner though.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 20:54:05 | More by fitrock2112

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.86/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from tap at tap and mallet Rochester. Pours a golden clear color with no head. Mellow hop and pine aromas...some lemon. Taste is wheaty mellow hops with a big lemon finish. Its somewhat bitter but still pleasant. Its easy to drink and a nice summer brew.

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2013 00:18:51 | More by DrinkSlurm

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.19/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a beautiful golden color. The head is a two finger white shade. I love its creamy texture, and the lacing it leaves behind. Aesthetically, this one is hard to beat - even if the utter lack of yeasty haze makes me wary.

S: The hops here are a little disappointing, only providing a light tone of lemongrass and grapefruit. The wheat base obviously doesn't provide much aroma itself, and without any notable yeast esters, the nose in general simply underwhelms.

T: The flavor profile is better, if utterly simple. An initial salvo of lemongrass hops gives way to some finishing wheat flavor. It certainly tastes like this one is somewhat loaded with Centennial hops. Otherwise, it's not terribly interesting.

M: Like the appearance suggested, this is very clean for a wheat ale - in this case, not a bad thing. The light, dry, and crisp texture is aided by carbonation that isn't overdone. This is one you could easily chug.

O: This one's okay. Maybe I'd like it better on a warmer afternoon (summer brews in April, what's next...Oktoberfest brews in August? Wait don't answer that) All in all, I'm a bit let down considering how much I enjoy a great hoppy wheat ale. Having said that, it's worth trying, if not seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 18:18:06 | More by ThisWangsChung

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a Weizen glass.
5.1% ABV, no date.
(Reviewed 06-06-11 - from notes)

A - Bright golden yellow in color, Hop Sun is faintly hazy and topped by a long lasting white head. Patchy lace clings to the glass following it's departure.

S - Soft wheat notes brighten up the seasonally awesome aroma. Mild earthy hops provide both aroma and good balance to the pale malt backbone. A touch of resiny citrus and bitterness comes through in the nose.

T - Earthy tones from the hops work well with the pale malt and wheat. The base is there but it really allows the hop variety to be explored. Spicy citrus finishes the beer out with a refreshing zest.

M - Crisp, clean, and light-bodied, the feel showcases every great thing about an easy-drinking summer beer right down to the lightly dry, mildly bitter citrus hop finish.

O - Southern Tier captures the easy-drinking bliss and flavorful, hoppy compounds together very nicely in Hop Sun, a refreshing, tasty hot day treat!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 20:28:56 | More by BeerFMAndy

matjack85

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I picked this up as part of a build-your-own six pack for $9.99 at the Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL. 12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

Mild floral and citrus hop aroma. Not very strong.

Not much flavor to this either. Mild lemony citrus tatse, a little bit of sweet wheat malt, and then a nice mild bitterness that lingers into the aftertaste.

Light body and low to moderate carbonation.

This is a nice, light summer beer, but it didn't have any wow factor to it.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 11:43:02 | More by matjack85

Guden

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Cloudy copper with just a hint of a white head that fades quickly to a few bubbles.

S- Not a whole lot, a little bit of honey and citrus.

T- A pleasant mixture of citrusy hops, sweet malt and wheat, and a refreshingly bitter finish. Hop Sun is a pretty apt name, it's a little like drinking liquid sunshine.

M- Creamy but moderately thin with a low carbonation. Works well with the sweet and hoppy balance.

O- A really nice beer. I haven't cared much for ST in the past but this one hits the spot, even a few months after its peak.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 23:58:17 | More by Guden

zac16125

South Carolina

2.83/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into a Weizen glass

A: Pours a crystal clear, light straw yellow with just under 1 fingers width of bright white colored head. Head dissipates fairly quickyl and leaves effectively no lacing. Looks like an AAL, only brighter. Blah.

S: Fair amount of spice, a touch of wheat, lots of adjunct-y flavors, a hint of vinegar-like harshness. Yuk.

T: Very mild. Some spice, citrusy hops, and wheat. Again some adjunct-like flavors. Not a lot going on here, but I like the interplay of hops and wheat.

M/D: Light bodied, fair amount of carbonation, drinkability is good as is expected with such a light offering.

O: Overall, its meh. I'd probably never purchase this again, but its better than your standard Bud, Miller, Coors.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 20:58:16 | More by zac16125

oline73

Maryland

3.48/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a goblet.

Appearance: The beer pours a clear golden color with an amber hue. There is a half finger of off white head that goes away almost completely.

Smell: Very mild. Getting a bit of sweetness from the grain. Reminds me of a pils.

Taste: Very light and slightly sweet. I'm picking up the light grains as well as some pilsner like malt. The finish is slightly bitter.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a good amount of foamy carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: Very light and crisp. Definitely reminds me of a pilsner. I might have another given the chance.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 03:19:18 | More by oline73

Bills453

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - hazy golden yellow. Looks quite refreshing. Inch white head that lasted for about thirty seconds then fizzled down to nothing.

Smell - honestly...wheat and grass. Can picture myself on a football field when sniffing his one.

Taste - refreshing and quenching mouthfeel, wet on the palate. Taste of wheat. Bitter citrus and grapefruit in the end.

Mouthfeel - see "taste"

Overall - a decent showing for a wheat beer, but I have had some that I like more. A little better than average.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 00:56:46 | More by Bills453

claspada

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy pale golden color with a minimal white head that leaves a bit of lacing as it recedes.

Aromas begin with some subdued honey/pale malt sweetness with some emerging semi-sour wheat malt notes. The hops add a solid dose of lemon pith and generic citrus.

The tastes begin with a tangy wheat maltiness with some definite citrus notes from the hops coming through. Sweeter malt falvors emerge as it warms but luckily the citrus hops stay strong into the finish to balance the flavor profile.

The mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is mildly bitter and semi-sweet but mainly freshing and quite crisp.

Overall this is a solid summer, sessionable hoppy wheat beer. Nothing too revolutionary and I think the wheat and pale malt sweetness are a bit distracting. They take away from being able to identify the hop aromas and flavors and while I normally enjoy a nice balance in my beers, session beers needs to stand out in one way or another of just come across borning and weak bodied.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2012 19:57:14 | More by claspada

mdagnew

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle bought online from Beersofeurope.co.uk

Poured a light golden coppery colour... white head poured smallish and faded to light frothy layer... barely any carbonation... quite a bit of sticky wispy lacing...

Aroma - Nice juicy fruits (grapefruits, oranges, pineppale, some lemons), grassy / piney hop notes, light pepperiness, vanilla, light biscuity malts, cream soda notes, honey sweetness, some light almond notes, quite prefumed...

Taste - Quite sweet juicy fruits (apricots, pinapples, grapefruits), fairly sweet biscuity maltiness, bready notes, light wheatiness, nice light grassy / peppery hop bitterness, floral / perfumey notes, some faint metallic notes come through after a while...

Feel - Pretty smooth and creamy with a little bite... Light body... An outstandingly drinkable beer - could see myself happily drinking this all night...

Overall - An excellent wheat ale... so drinkable and refreshing.. recommended...

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 12:53:27 | More by mdagnew

Lemke10

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I got this as part of a mix & match 6pk at Madison East.

Pours a clear, pale yellow color with a bubbly white head. Scent is very sweet with wheat and citrus tones with some hints of hops. Has a smooth mellow taste with a hint of bitterness that turns into a dry, organic wheat after taste. Starts off refreshing, but then goes into this bad pale ale type taste. Interesting, but not something I look for in a wheat beer personally.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 04:51:14 | More by Lemke10

mdfb79

New York

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 08/21/12 notes. Had on tap at Stag's Head in NYC during their ST event.

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

s - Smells of wheat, grains, bready malts, floral hops, and some earthy notes. Pretty nice nose, like the floral hops.

t - Tastes of lemongrass, citrus hops, floral hops, wheat, grains, bready malts, earthy malts, and toasted malts. Lot of citrus here which I like a lot; a step up from the nose for me.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Body is pretty smooth.

o - Overall a nice wheat beer. Ton of citrus in the taste which is awesome, and easy to drink. A nice, easy drinking summer beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2012 16:18:14 | More by mdfb79

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Aroma: Bold, crisp hops. Definitely of the American variety. Light malts, pilsner and pale. Nothing too dark. Some wheat, hard to tell over the strong hop aroma.

Appearance: Yellow, pale gold. High clarity. Few rising bubbles. A tall pour produces a medium head. Foam is clean white. OK retention and lots of lacing.

Taste: Light flavor. The hops hit first, light grapefuit citrus, no lingering flavor. Next is the wheat and light pilsner malt. Very little malt complexity, this is a wheat beer.

Mouthfeel: Light body. Mildly creamy and oily. Low to no carbonation. Finishes moderately dry.

Overall: Goes down easy. A bit light on the wheat, too heavy on the hops. More bitter than sweet.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 02:02:10 | More by soulfly1492