Brooklyn Summer Ale - Brooklyn Brewery

Applesauce1

Virginia

3.35/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

I picked this up at the Pit Stop in Nelsonville, OH.

Appearance: gold and transparent with a nice 3/4" head on the pour; looks decent
Smell: some oranges; a little skunkiness
Taste: orange taste; some wheat flavor; a hint of hops
Mouthfeel: light bodied
Drinkability: goes down easy; you could drink many of these in a night

It seems more and more that summer ales are just too light for a good session beer. I think they're trying to market these beers to people who really don't like flavorful, full bodied beers. It seems that brewers are adding citrus taste to mild tasting beers to sell these. Oh well....

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2007 04:07:10 | More by Applesauce1

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had ice cream twice today. Twice. It seems excessive, but 'tis the season no? Today at times I drove with the windows down, the sunroof popped; at other times with the AC cranked. The summer is my favourite time of year. The women wear those lovely sun dresses, my favourite Latin rhythms feel all the more appropriate, and the beer tastes better - well, simple lagers and pales ale anyhow. After an eventful June day of beautiful weather and an impending trip to New York City, the Brooklyn Summer Ale seems perfectly suited.

Pours with a creamy level of white head. The lacing clings hard to the glass. The body a clear and glossy but pale golden shade. A constant stream of bubbles is very active. A soothing almost therapeutic aroma of very subtle yet ripe hops. A fruity underscore with notes of grapefruit and pomegranate. A very strong wheat bill as well. The 'harvest wheat' smell and green, ripe hops compliment each other so very well. They certainly add character.
The carbonation is spot on with accompanying creamy texture. A low level bitterness but some pinch of wheat on the finish. The flavour is dominated by a whole-wheat graininess. Reminds me of eating a whole grain bagel. The yeast (is this bottle conditioned? .. no?) seems noticeable at times as well. The hops lend some staying power to the beer. Simple flavour, not overly tasty but free of adjuncts and with far more dimension than a pale macro lager.
For a summer style ale this is quite quenching without compromising any of its flavour. Brooklyn brewery seems to offer a good product.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2007 03:08:28 | More by biegaman

ommegangpbr

New York

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

Nice gold color and clarity with some head.
Scents are bright and citrus laden; clean and pleasing. There's more odor here than one might expect from something in this style.
Flavors are light and pretty clean. There's a bit of a rye bitterness that one finds in some ales from the pale end of the spectrum; something reminiscent of sparkling mineral water. Some might find it off putting, especially those from the Bud/Miller/Coors crowd. Rolling Rock fans might dig it.
Mouthfeel is cleansing; very much a palate cleanser here.
Easy to drink summer time fun in a bottle. I prefer Brooklyn's Pilsner when the weather is hot but this will do just fine.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2007 00:37:54 | More by ommegangpbr

RustyDiamond

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Skeptically picked up a 6-pack at Green's-Midtown. Poured into a pint glass, and the golden-straw colored ale was topped by a nice fizzy, fluffy white head. The head slowly dissipates after a few sips. Smell of faint wheat malt with a slight whiff of cucumber. Tastes like a well balanced hybrid of an american pale ale and a wheat ale with a zesty, slightly fruity finish. An excellent summer beer, in my book, and I could easily have 5 more.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2007 21:30:03 | More by RustyDiamond

soupyman10

District of Columbia

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

Pours a slightly hazy amber-copper color with an inch of white head on top. Looks pretty solid. Nose is quite mild, hints of wheat and some citrus fruit. Some saltiness, maybe a little astringent up front. I could do with a little more malt presence or stronger lemon. A hint of hops at the end. It's a fairly subtle flavor, even to the point of blandness. Feel is a little thin bodied. Overall, this one's alright, although there are much better Pale Ales out there.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2007 00:35:07 | More by soupyman10

daliandragon

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice bright summer colors on the label a plus, although with these guys I'd be trying it out anyway. Pours goldenrod with a weak white head that instantly crumples iin a fizzy cap. Lots of carbonation bubbles. Hop notes are grassy. Something of a European or pilsner ring to the nose. Nothing special so far.

Crisp and refreshing at the opening of the sip, and not nearly as bubbly as I feared. Late breaking wheat taste is easy on the palate. Recovers nicely from a substandard outward measure. Definitely could be consumed in quantity in the summer months, particularly outside. Worthy of the Brooklyn moniker.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2007 22:42:03 | More by daliandragon

Neehan

North Carolina

3.13/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Light golden body with lots of bubbly carbonation. The smell is strong in the grassy grains over a light texture of wheat, similar to a classic pilsener. Light in the mouth and quite easy drinking with a sharp bite of carbonation and just a hint of bitterness at the finish. Very different from your stereotypical "summer ale" by staying away from the citrusy fruits that we are accustomed to. Not bad, just not what you would expect from the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2007 04:10:29 | More by Neehan

pieper

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nice solid beer.

A - a nice clear beer with a slight copper color
S. nice floral, clean smell
T. great crisp, light taste,
M. I like it - a bit more carbonated than most beers, but fits the 'summer ale' category perfectly.
D. definately a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2007 03:50:38 | More by pieper

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

4.13/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

12oz bottle from Lou's in Augusta. Light amber almost yellow body with a thin film of off-white head. Citrusy hops and caramel malt equally share the aroma, though it's not overpowering. Biscuit malt plays a big role, with some citrus hops in the background, along with hints of a mint-like quality. Again, not overpowering. Light in body making this very drinkable. All around enjoyable light summer beer, though having enough good flavor and aroma to satisfy. One of the best summer beers I've had.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2007 01:30:26 | More by MrHurmateeowish

yelterdow

New Jersey

2.95/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Served at fridge temperature in a pint glass. Best by 10/07.

Appearance- Pours a pale apricot into the glass... there are many steady streams of carbonation. Terrific head... three fingers and quite stubborn. Moderate, clingy lacing.

Smell- Huge lemony, spicy nose... too strong for my preferences. Overwhelming aroma which incorporates some bready malts.

Taste- While the hops and malts come together seamlessly, the astringest lemony character and the beer's "summer" spices sabotage the delicate flavors with a heavy hand.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability- *Extremely* puffy and fizzy in the mouth... disappointing and unlike any other offering I can recall from BB.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2007 14:18:47 | More by yelterdow

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

Eeeh... It's beer. A blond alte style that is basically dull and problematic that is modestly improved by a slight wheat addition. Curious as to why a brewery the caliber such as Brookly would even bother. The beer pours a brightly colored straw with active carbonation that is held below 7-up status by the wheat texture. Smells half malty, half grainy and with a light lemon-gass note. The flavors closely mimic the aromas with emphasis on the light malts. The feel is light, and kept from watery by the wheat additions. Fairly clean and crisp in the finish with a light grain-hust astringecy and hoppiness. It's a fine hot-weather brew, but does not inspire any deep thoughts or contemplation.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2007 13:50:30 | More by BEERchitect

neenerzig

Ohio

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

Tried this on tap the other day at a place called Bela Dubby. This beer is the first I have ever tried from this brewery. Anyways, it is a clear, medium copper color. Head is about 1/3 inch when drawn from the tap. Settles to a fairly poor surface layer with very little lacing, in fact it is almost non existent. Aromas of wheat and malt are present along with a bit of orange. It tastes sweet and malty with wheat and orange flavors and a bit of spice as well. Not bad at all tastewise, but I do wish it was a bit more complex. Has a crisp, medium to full bodied mouthfeel with moderate to heavy carbonation. Very easy to drink. This beer was good, but I certainly was expecting more after hearing people, especially some on this site, give the Brooklyn Brewery some mad props. This beer was not bad by any means. However, I hope the next beer I try from them delivers the goods a bit more than this one did.

Eric

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2007 05:11:07 | More by neenerzig

Atlas1

Texas

3.55/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I'm not sure if the Brooklyn Summer Ale is a standard seasonal, a first-run seasonal, or a one-time brew, but I'd never seen it before and decided to give it a whirl.

Pours a clean, clear amber color with a two-finger head which dissipates slowly leaving a nice amount of lace along the glass. The aroma is floral but biscuity at the same time. No citrus, but some faint light fruit scents. A subtle earthy feel to it all around. The taste is clean and refreshing, with distinct wheat beer notes. Some yeasty character as well, with a decent hop balance. I'm not sure of the ABV here, but there's a slight alcohol pang in the aftertaste that I could do without. But for the most part it's a very tasty beer. Not too complex, but to the point and refreshing. Mouthfeel is nothing to write home about, but it's an entirely drinkable beer. And true to its name, this is a great summertime session beer. Just don't go in with super high expectations and you'll be relatively pleased.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2007 17:45:34 | More by Atlas1

DaggerEyes

New York

3.33/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass
Honey golden in color with streams of little bubbles rising to a thin white head. Very bready on the nose with slight honey floral hints and a very subtle hop scent.

Very round in the mouth with a crisp clean and refreshing finish, lots of bready malt tastes with some sublte floral hoppiness.

Nothing earth shattering about this beer...but for something I can get at the bodega at the end of my block it's pretty awesome...great for just kicking back on a lazy hot night

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2007 23:08:50 | More by DaggerEyes

Kendo

New York

3.28/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured into a weizen-style glass. The result -- a 2+ finger bubbly off-white head that settled over a clear golden body. OK head retention that left foamy lacing clinging to the side of the glass.

S: Faint all around -- mostly grains and cereal but with a hint of fruity or florally hops. Most notable part of the nose is simply how mild it is.

T: Tastes of grain husks early on, but with a florally hop sweetness following quickly and then a slightly dry and citrusy bitterness at the finish that lingers into the aftertaste.

M: Light in heft, pretty well-carbonated.

D: Light all around, so this one goes down pretty easily.

Notes: I had it with grilled teriyaki shrimp skewers with pineapple over a mesclun greens salad, and it was a decent match for such a light meal. Not a terribly interesting brew as far as taste or nose goes, but as a light, easy drinking summer ale it fits the bill.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2007 14:03:30 | More by Kendo

oberon

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Mammosers in Hamburg,NY.Poured from the tap a dull light to medium golden a thin white head sat atop not much retention to it,light toasted grain aromas with a faint citrus note but its really faint.Crisp and dry toasted cereal grain-like flavors with a mild citric quality showing thru in the finish.Kinda boring to another run of the mill summer ale I suppose.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2007 13:19:43 | More by oberon

Illinick

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Plain golden in color with rising carbonation and an fluffy white head that retains nicely slowly becoming a thin layer. Decent lacing, but subpar for the "style."
S: Spicy up front with some yeast/earthy scents and some crisp tart fruit scents.
T: So-so on the palate. Tart lemony fruit up front with some yeast flavors and some grain towards the end. Some generic spice throughout with some crisp hoppy flavors finishing the swig.
MF: Thin and effervescently crisp.
Overall: Just a plain, non exciting brew that isn't quite an American Wheat, but doesn't fit anywhere else. A little below average, won't go back.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2007 02:07:38 | More by Illinick

BeerFan

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brewed and bottled in Utica. First saw this last year at Croxley's Ale House on Long Island as a draft-only beer. The bartender did not know much about the beer, except that it was called a "summer ale". I did not review it then as it was dark in the bar and I had been drinking other beers beforehand. This is basically Brooklyn's Light Dinner Ale (2 reviews listed; aka Croxley's Blonde Ale - 1 review listed) put into a bottle. Pours a clear, bright gold with a nice white head. The English malt gives it a faint bready smell and flavor. At 4.5% ABV, it is an easy drinking light-bodied beer. The flavor will not knock your socks off, but it does finish with a clean, crisp, lemony-citrus bitterness that reminds you are not drinking a macro lager. Not meant for the beer-geek crowd by any means, but it should make its way into some coolers during the warm summer months.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2007 03:36:12 | More by BeerFan

bluegrassbrew

Georgia

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

12oz bottle into a weizen glass.

Pours a very clear copper color with a minimal white head that drops to just a slight cover.

Smells of slight hops with a bit of a metallic bite.

Taste is not bad, just ok though. More pilsner or dortmunder like than any pale wheat ale I've had. Pale malts and some grainy flavors with a slightly dry finish.

Actually quite crisp and clean. Again, this is not a bad beer, but it doesn't seem to fit the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2007 06:51:26 | More by bluegrassbrew

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours transparent yellow with almost no head. Looks much like a maco lager. I could barely pick up a malt smell to it but I guess it was there. The taste is pretty average. Sweet carmel malt and it finishes very clean. Mouthfeel is low carbonation with a medium weight body. Somewhat watery and goes down smooth. This is pretty drinkable and I bet it would be a great transition beer for the BMC drinker (since they are so similar).

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2007 04:25:45 | More by PittBeerGirl

phisig137

Virginia

2.58/5  rDev -28.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Comes out of a vibrant pastel colored six pack that really stands out on the shelf. Pours a 18 carat gold color, crystal clear, and a two finger head. Moderate retention leaves behind a small blanket of foam.

Aroma is very mild. slight grapefruit peel aroma, and a bit of musty grain. That's about it.

Flavor is much the same. A little boring, weak, and light. Very slight citrusy flavor up front, tiny tinge of hops on the finish. Mouthfeel is smooth, but light. Drinkability is pretty good.... this IS a summer beer.

Yes, this is a "summer type" of beer. Yes it is light and drinkable. Other than that, I can't say much about it. I hate to say it, but it's a bit of a disappointment from Brooklyn. Usually they produce some great brews... this one just doesn't impress. I know the label says Ale, and BA says american pale wheat... but I swear that If I tasted this blind, that I'd guess it was a continental lager, and a mediocre one at best. The one thing that this beer does well, is it will appeal to many of the uninitiated, and welcome them to the world of good beer, and great Brooklyn products. Other than that... I won't be buying it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2007 01:04:48 | More by phisig137

DavidSeanNJ

New Jersey

2.88/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a standard pint glass. Appearance was a hazy golden yellow- typical standard "summer ale" colors. Smell was of citrus fruits most noticeably, lemons. The taste was light and fruity- not much going on here- highly carbonated. This is a sessionable brew with the 4.9% ABV, but this one lacks character and distinction.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2007 00:36:24 | More by DavidSeanNJ

riversider76

New York

3.03/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clear golden,with a fluffy head. Not much retention or lacing. Smell is of weak citrus. Body is light with some carbionation. Taste is of light citrus up front,with a bitter finish. This beer was disappointing. Average,but just barley. I would not drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2007 23:58:23 | More by riversider76

yourunclewalt

New York

3/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Two finger head drops to one, minimal lacing. Foamy. Body looks like a slightly darker macrolager.

S - Cirtrus; lemon. Mr. Clean?

T - Very lemony twang on a light wheat body. Not much more to say than that.

M - Carbonated, creamy finish. Light, overall.

D - Good session beer. Not much seperating it from the other Summers I've had; a lot less phenolic than the Saranac.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2007 21:38:12 | More by yourunclewalt

chilidog

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First time seeing thisone. Released in 07 perhaps as a seasonal.
I thought just another summer wheat. The 4.5 abv. about made me wonder, why?

I gotta tell, it works.

It pours a nice copper gold color. Not a summer yellow. Not a big head, about half an inch of white. Little lace. The body is somewhat light, carbonation is moderate.

Aroma is somewhat malty, bread-like.

Taste a good malt start with a wheat, breadlike undertone, alittle hop bitterness toward the end that adds balance and crispness. The mouth ends up alittle dry.

This beer works for its drinkability and easy fit.
The lower abv. fits the busy summer season. On the go this beer won't way you down, it does the quenching thing after a mow and even the macro-friends will handle and like this brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2007 12:25:57 | More by chilidog