Brooklyn Summer Ale - Brooklyn Brewery

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz can poured into a pint glass.

A: Clear golden in color. Persistent creamy white head. Little to no lacing. Inviting.

S: Hoppy and a bit playful on the nose. Leafy and herbal/spicy. Lemon pulp and a hint of iced tea. Malt base is reminiscent of buttered biscuit and some light toffee notes.

T: Buttered biscuit and toffee. Slight hints of butterscotch and caramel. Oily hops butt in and steal the show. Stiff little jab of bitterness. Leafy and herbal with a lemon rind/lemon pulp vibe. Biscuity malts come back toward the end, but the the finish is very clean and only leaves a fading impression of oily, bitter hops on the palate.

M: Light body, but the malt backbone is substantial enough to create a round, creamy, and slightly weighted feel. Stiff blast of scrubbing carbonation adds a crisp and refreshing bite.

O: There's a nice juxtaposition going on between the rounder, heftier English malt flavors and the crisp bite of bitter hops and refreshing carbonation. Not bad.

Serving type: can

04-27-2013 02:37:09 | More by ryan1788a5

BigRedGator

Georgia

2.05/5  rDev -42.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Very tinny beer, a more respectable version of common domestics like the buds or millers. A bit tart, thin, and highly acidic. Thin but full carbonation, which got old quickly after a couple beers. Not a summer ale drinker so I may not be a good judge of this type, but it was disappointing.

Serving type: can

04-04-2013 01:15:29 | More by BigRedGator

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.76/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a can into a shaker pint, the beer is a bright, golden-yellow coloring with a slow flow of carbonation bubbles and a sparse filmy surface coating. Aromas of toasted grains, floral highlights, and a light, crisp hops presence. Flavors are light and toasty, with a tangy, slightly bitter hops backbone and a sweet, floral ribbon cutting across the palate. Some jasmine and juniper blending in there. Light and crisp in mouth, the beer has a tangy sweet aftertaste. Clean, crisp finish. This is a great warm weather beer.

Serving type: can

03-30-2013 22:59:57 | More by GarthDanielson

cyclonece09

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz can into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a cloudy straw with no head. Smells of lots of wheat, very inviting. Tastes of wheat and citrus, a nice refreshing combination. Carbonation is right and sessionable refreshing summer brew. Overall, a very good beer.

Serving type: can

11-11-2012 04:10:34 | More by cyclonece09

homebrew311

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce can poured into glass. Somewhat hazy orange with white head, decent retention with some lacing. The nose features refreshing citric notes including orange, tangerine and lemon. Notes of light grains come through as well along with some light herbal hops. Taste is right on par with Nose, light fruity with a decent hop punch. Taste is clean and refreshing. Mouthfeel is light and high on carbonation. Overall, nice summer brew, not much flavor, but good for a hot day.

Serving type: can

08-26-2012 02:42:41 | More by homebrew311

wingman14

Ohio

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a medium yellow with a frothy white head. Smell is pleasant and more powerful than expected. Hops up front with some malt coming through as well. The taste is a nice mix from start to finish of the hops and malt, with a bready flavor. A nice crisp beer, light mouthfeel, nothing overpowering and great flavors. Overall a great summer beer, great session beer.

Serving type: can

06-24-2012 00:52:28 | More by wingman14

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clear golden yellow in color with some very light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a two finger tall dense light beige head that reduces to thin film covering the entire surface of the beer with a couple of slightly thicker patches and a thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate lacing is observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of bready malts with some lighter hints of floral, grapefruit, and citrus hops.

T: Like the smell, the taste of the beer starts with some bready malts and also includes some light floral and grapefruit hops. There is a good balance to this beer and some light spice notes in the finish.

M: Light bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.

O: Very refreshing, very easy to drink, and quite enjoyable. This is a great summer seasonal beer and is very easy to drink on a hot summer afternoon/evening.

Serving type: can

05-31-2012 22:16:22 | More by dbrauneis

Hoptometrist

Oregon

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from the can into a strange glass at Noodlecat

A- Poured a clear bright golden color with lots of visible carbonation and a soapy head that left some minimal lace

S- Some strong floral and grapefruit notes, some sweet malts

T- Very balanced flavor profile. Orange citrus, floral hops notes, bubblegum, sweet cracker malt, and a little bit of grapefruit

M- Crisp, prickly carbonation, medium body, finished dry

O- A very drinkable and balanced pale ale. A solid canned beer.

Serving type: can

05-26-2012 23:57:02 | More by Hoptometrist

BigPlay1824

New York

4.33/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed in a pint glass

A: pours a crystal clear light straw color with a small amount of carbonation bubbles, pours with a finger of fizzy and creamy head which is pure white and lingers just for a short while, leaves a nice amount of lacing around the glass
S: for a beer so light i really hadn't expected the scent to be as appealing and strong, has nice notes of cereal grains, lemon zest, and a very nice fresh hop scent which is just slightly citrusy
T: begins with a bright lemon note which move into a nice gentle malt note which brings it into balance and smooths it out, leaves the palate with just the slightest sweetness which is wonderful
M: a bit aggressive on the carbonation up front but drinks nicely thin throughout, finishes light and with a very slight dryness on the palate
O: i cant lie, this is right up at the top of my favorite summer beers, it is ridiculously drinkable and phenomenally smooth, so well balanced and in cans it is really ideal for the summer times at the race track, beach, boat, backyard, etc.

Serving type: can

04-25-2012 00:47:27 | More by BigPlay1824

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz can into a pint glass.

Pours a clear gold, with several fingers of billowy bright-white head. This retains with a rich and foamy ½ finger that leaves back a decent looking frothy cascade of spotty, yet sticky, lacing. The aroma smells grassy, with an underlying mix of citrus and sweet graininess. A bit more of an earthy spiciness starts to emerge as this warms. This is pretty straight forward, yet still pretty flavorful in the nose.

The taste is similar, with lightly toasted sweet grains and a mellow green citric bitterness, which leads into a dry and earthy feeling finish. Just a touch of pith and spice add some zip to the tail-end of this. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a smooth feeling creamy crispness to it. This just feels right in the mouth and keeps this drinking nicely.

There’s nothing to complain about here. This still packed in some moderate flavors but the overall package was fairly light, breezy, and inoffensive on the palate. This is perfect for refreshing summer drinking and a great pick by Brooklyn to put into cans.

Serving type: can

11-07-2011 17:56:11 | More by Kegatron

Brenden

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours from the can to my glass a chill hazed dark gold that fits within the yellow in the color scheme, albeit far on the darker side. A nice, fluffy white head has good retention and leaves good lacing in spots and patches down the glass.
A good dose of hops come out with an earthy, almost woody aroma. There's a touch of lemon rind and a faint whiff of grains as well. I seem to get something like clove in here as well. It's hard to nail down a style, per se, but it's a pleasant smell.
After a pretty good aroma, the flavor doesn't disappoint. There's a bit of dry, biscuity malt with a touch of sweetness before the hops come in with a bit of citrus and just a ghost of rind. Wheat lays the backbone for everything to sit on. The hops bitterness is light, which may throw some people off, but an otherwise nice citrus presence is strongest, and I like it. A bit of interesting earthiness stays all the way. The only issue is that it fades off a little. If the flavor sticks around, it's a solid 4.
It totters on the fence between light and medium in body, with a pleasing depth and fullness to it. It's crisp without being overly carbonated and gives way to a good smoothness.
This is a good, easily attainable, highly available beer.

Serving type: can

09-04-2011 01:00:39 | More by Brenden

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Its a hot September day here in Oswego and just returned from overseas and needed something relatively light and tasty....the Brooklyn Summer Ale provided decent taste and mouthfeel. The appearance was a cloudy yellow with good carbonation and finger thick white head that is lacing. The smell has lemon and hops. The taste was ok...was hints of lemon and hop. The mouthfeel was great for this warm day. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: can

09-03-2011 00:47:49 | More by WoodBrew

cagocubs

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from can into pint glass.

A: Pours a darker honey gold with a thin white fuzzy head that dissipates and splotches.

S: Bready, hops, clove, spice, and a notable amount of citrus.

T: Barley, bready, Some citrus and hops combine to create a well balanced epa.

D: Light and crisp, good mouth coating.

Serving type: can

09-02-2011 23:16:24 | More by cagocubs

Finn

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice lemony citrus aroma with abit of grassiness comes out of a very pale beer. The lacing recedes very quickly. This beer is very refreshing, and unique in the world of summer ales. It is very quenching and dry, with a bit of citrusy hop flavor, but you have to search for it. Carbonation is spot on for a summer quaffer. And that's just what this beer is for me. Nothing more, nothing less. Very well done and is a great summer beer if you want to quench your thirst with a very well-made light ale. Incredibly drinkable.

Serving type: can

08-27-2011 00:39:35 | More by Finn

drabmuh

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Well, I picked this up because I thought I hadn't had it, and I'm right but this isn't on a top list so my ticking fantasy league of tickers ticking stats will take a hit here.

Beer is amber and hazy with a thin white head, hazy, thin wispy, weak. low carbonation, low lacing.

Aroma is nice, hoppy, sweet.

Beer is medium body, sweet, mildly bitter, a little dry. Decent all around. Nothing too special. I'd have it again, cautiously.

Serving type: can

08-17-2011 02:40:54 | More by drabmuh

kylehay2004

Florida

3.73/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Thin white head over a straw with golden color.

S: Bread, light lemon and malt.

T: Malt, toasty and bready. Citrus notes.

M: Mildly dry which takes away from the refreshing aspect of many beers in this category. On the lighter side of medium bodied. Moderate carbonation.

Overall: A nice beer. Good choice for canned beer. Not my favorite in the genre but drinkable for those summer months.

Serving type: can

08-03-2011 00:25:22 | More by kylehay2004

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a medium yellow color with a white head. The aroma is a mix of grain and lemon with some wheat notes. The flavor is a mix of wheat and some perfume from the hops. I also get some grass and orange citrus notes in the flavor. The bitterness is fairly low and the beer is very drinkable. Thin to medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: can

07-29-2011 00:26:24 | More by Mora2000

Sideswipe

California

2.25/5  rDev -37.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz can poured into a snifter. Best by Oct 2011 stamped on the bottom.

A- Hazy golden color with a finger of white foam floating atop it. Nice lacing for a pale.

S- Sweet, bready malt aroma predominates.

T- Distinct flavor of the two row malt which is used in this brew sits front and center in the flavor profile. Malt flavor goes bland mid-palate and the beer goes downhill from there. Finish is semi-dry with a somewhat unpleasant aftertaste.

M- Feel is light with a medium level of carbonation.

O- I found this offering from Brooklyn to be extremely one dimensional. Not something I'd willingly have again.

Serving type: can

07-27-2011 01:50:53 | More by Sideswipe

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - pours a clear marigold yellow with a white pillowy head which had decent enough retention and left specks of lacing.

s - aroma is a bit muted overall but as it warms there is a bit of freshly baked bread, vague spice notes, lightly citrus rustic hop aroma and just a hint of lemon.

T - dry, grainy malt profile. lightly fruity in the in middle with a touch of citrus and lemon. a snappy and clean hop bitterness and a slightly tart finish.

M - lighter bodied with a wet mouthfeel sort of straddling between creamy and watery. moderate carbonation.

O - an easy drinking english style pale ale. simple yet still flavorful.

Serving type: can

07-27-2011 01:25:42 | More by Teleweizen2

renegadeburger

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

got to pick up a nice 12oz can of this stuff on my way to a bbq loved seeing it there and good price too

poured into plastic cup outside immediately thought hey this beer is kinda dark for a summer ale but all good for me

smelled like lemon hops and also some grass a little bit of yeast in there too

taste was damn fine i could have drank this all day one of the best summer beers i had so far this year

nice mouthfeel i would say medium bodied for sure

overall a great beer i would definitely bring this to a bbq again nice one brooklyn

Serving type: can

07-18-2011 14:53:42 | More by renegadeburger

RomaniIteDomum

Florida

3.65/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours yellow with a nice little white head. When you ask someone off the streed to describe "beer", this is probably what they would say it looks like.

The smell is wuite nice. Fresh grain dominates with hints of light citrus and floral notes.

The taste is built around fresh barley that isaugmented by some light notes apple and grape with a kiss of pine.

I like beers with a good presence, yet this is a tad too thick for the sryle. Could use a few more bubbles.

Overall, this was pretty damn drinkable and would be great by the pool.

Serving type: can

07-17-2011 05:50:07 | More by RomaniIteDomum

ktrillionaire

Florida

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'm drinking it out of the can. The aroma is mildly herbal-hoppy and has a faint lemon note as well. It tastes quite a bit like a hopped-up Kolsch, with very pale dry grain notes, minerality, herbal-floral flavors, and a hint of lemon zest. It is not fruity or buttery like I think of an EPA as being. The feel is crisp and refreshing. Good summer beer.

Serving type: can

07-12-2011 22:01:02 | More by ktrillionaire

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours a golden color. The liquid is quite clear, no haze. About one finger's width of head rises and simmers down to a film but laces decently.

S-A very mellow aroma. Slightly bready, even smaller dose of hops. Quite lemony and citrusy. The smells was pretty muted however. Just rather dull.

T-The flavor is mostly bread and lemon. I have had Summer Seasonals that have just done the same flavor profile considerably better. Just doesn't seem to mingle well with itself. Still easy to imbibe, but just didn't hit the spot on an 85 degree night.

M-Light. Crisp but perhaps not crisp enough. Ample amounts of bubbles. Good feel for the most part.

O/D-Just not my favorite Summer seasonal. Give me a handful of other Summer brews before this. A bit bland. Funky looking can. Doesn't make up for the flavor. Not awful, but I would recommend a few others before this.

Serving type: can

07-10-2011 23:02:43 | More by VelvetExtract

nickfl

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours with one finger of white foam on a deep golden body with decent clarity. The head settles down quite quickly and leaves little lace on the glass.

S - Bready malt notes, accompanied by some lightly musty hop aromas.

T - Biscuit and toast malt character up front with a bit of husky grain character. Some grassy hops show up in the middle with more toast and a hint of bitterness. The beer finishes out with a good dose of toasted malt and light bitterness as well as some musty hop notes that linger on the palate.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a somewhat dry finish.

D - Not a bad beer, but really nothing particularly special. The malt is fairly strong throughout, with enough hops to balance, but really not much character over and above that. A pretty passable beer for hot weather, but if you want to put some effort into it, you wouldn't have much trouble finding something better.

Serving type: can

07-03-2011 06:45:41 | More by nickfl

ToasterChef

Maine

3.73/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A chilled can is poured into a pint glass. The beer is colored light straw and has a small white head. The low serving temperature has caused the sides of the glass to fog up with condensation.

Slightly sweet malts make up the aroma, with some mild hop bitterness.

The flavor is mild and refreshing. Some pale malts and a bit of grassy hops balance out well.

Medium body and average carbonation. A slight sweetness doesn't cause any stickiness, but does leave a small coat that packs a lot of flavor.

This is an enjoyable summer beer, especially in can form. My wife and I have gone through the 12 pack quickly. I would purchase this beer again.

Serving type: can

07-03-2011 01:15:04 | More by ToasterChef