Brooklyn Summer Ale - Brooklyn Brewery

Dools9

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle to Pint.

A: Crystal clear gold, finger of white soapy head that fades to a skim. Some patchy lace. looks very inviting.

S: Pale malt, some slight citrus, bready. I also get a mild yeasty, grainy funk.

T: Some lemon zest, bready pale malt, slightly citrusy.

M: Very creamy, smooth, refreshing. Light medium bodied, sessionalble. Very easy drinking. Perefect for summer.

O: Not bad for a summer quencher. Has all the attributes of a solid warm weather brew. However I think there are better summer beers out there. Would probably revisit this one again however.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 17:09:19 | More by Dools9

jtierney89

New Jersey

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

Pale orange orange color with good clarity. Thin off white head. Earthy, grassy notes on the nose, slight citrus, lots of toasted bread scents as well.

Very clean, crisp, and on the fuller side of having a light body. Lots of fizzy carbonation but the flavors hold up pretty well to it. Flavors are much like the nose with a mildly tart like finish and lingering sweetness. Slightly spicy grassy note on the finish as well. As an english pale ale it's pretty good but as a summer seasonal its eh? I'm really not a fan of summer seasonals as most are just very light beers with modest flavors or wheat beers, which makes sense for summer, but I just wish someone would do something different. In the heat of the summer I'd much rather take an easy drinking more flavorful pale ale over this.

This beer does have a hidden complexity to it with a creaminess that hides certain flavors but again, there are year round beers i'd choose over it for the hot days of summer.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 00:15:55 | More by jtierney89

david131

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Pours an ever so slightly hazy yellow with a number of streams of rising carbonation. The white head is thin but has good retention.

S- Biscuity malt, apples, pears, strawberries, and cut grass. Smells fresh and refreshing.

T- Semi-sweet biscuity malt and a light fruitiness. Simple but sufficiently tasty.

M- The body is creamy and the carbonation lightens it up and gives it a nice bite.

O- A simple, tasty, and effective beer. Great for a summer day.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 02:44:03 | More by david131

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

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

Into a pint glass:

A: bright golden orange colored body with a small white half finger head that died within thirty seconds. Some spotty lacing was left and trickled down the sides of the glass. Fast rising carbonation was seen.

S: centered around a light sort of hops with some wheat and grains in the background. A bit of corn arose close to the end of the beer.

T: based around the wheat with the grains and hops taking a slight background. Some light caramel came out.

M: light to medium, sessionable, carbonation is felt, a light creaminess came out as well. It left a dry feel in my mouth.

O: not a bad beer, I think I would have this again, preferably on tap.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 14:28:02 | More by kangarooAdam59

acevenom

Louisiana

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

Poured into a pint glass. Pours clear golden with a large, frothy white head. The head dissipates slowly, but retains well. Some lacing was left on the glass. There are a few bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. The beer has aromas of barley malt and bright, citrusy hops. It smells clean. There are flavors of barley malt, bitter hops, and citrusy hops. The flavor is clean and simple, but also well balanced. The body is light to medium with some carbonation. The finish is crisp and dry. The drinkability is also very high. Overall, this is a solid beer. It works as a summer beer because it is refreshing and highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 22:36:40 | More by acevenom

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle. best before Sep 2012.

A: im going to call this very light orange. head is bubbly at first, but the retention nor the lacing is very good. clear.

S: super fruity nose. melon. a little bit of sharp hop bitterness. grain consists of a chewy wheat and light caramel.

T: pear notes interact with a delicate caramel flavor. a hop bitterness takes the finish to a dry place.

M: average, sharp carbonation on a light medium body.

D: not a bad beer, but not for me. i certainly found this a little boring and wont be seeking it out again during the summer beer releases.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 10:31:19 | More by Jimmys

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

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

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

Brooklyn Summer Ale has a thick, white head and a slightly hazy golden appearance, with streams of bubbles and fine, white particulate matter floating about. Nice lacing rings. The aroma is of sour dough, sweet, mustiness, and the flavor is sweet, white bread, biscuit, a kiss of piney hops, and flowers. Mouthfeel is medium and fluffy, and Brooklyn Summer Ale finishes semi-dry and extremely drinkable. Overall, this is a very good beer.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 21:56:45 | More by RonaldTheriot

puboflyons

New Hampshire

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

From the 355 ml. bottle. Sampled on April 12, 2012. The pour is golden yellow with a white fizzy head that disperses quickly and becomes a ring. The aroma has a notable grainy and malty character with a slight wisp of hops mixed in. The body is about medium with a creaminess to it. The taste tended to be malty and grainy but there was a tart hop bitterness on the end that made it feel nearly dry. It has its attributes.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 22:59:22 | More by puboflyons

jaasen64

Massachusetts

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

12oz bottle from 6-pack

A- Translucent yellow golden with about average carbonation and almost no head. Some layered lacing, but not much.

S- Floral smell mixed with some yeast and malts.

T- Slightly sweet floral yeast taste.

M- Light, crisp, goes down easy.

O- This was pretty decent for a summer beer. It was exactly what you are looking for in a summer beer- light, refreshing, crisp, and sessionable. The only problem I had with it was that it could have definitely had a little bit more flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 00:56:22 | More by jaasen64

ChrisCage

Alberta (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- I gave this a fairly hard pour and was greeted by a golden hued liquid that is slightly chill hazed. There appears to be a huge amount of carbonation but along with that, there isn't much foam in terms of head. There isn't much retention either, as it settles rather quickly into a broken up patchwork of what looks to be soap bubbles. The lacing is actually quite good at first, but fizzles out into a watery film on the glass. Overall, I don't find this any more appealing visually than a standard macro, other than a richer color.

S- The aroma is dry, like dusty prairie grass on a hot summer day. Other than this raw graininess, there is some moderate citrus zest and a clean bitterness right at the end.

T- Hmmm...this is actually quite different than I was expecting! The flavor is quite strong with citrus, and in particular, lemon zest. There is a modest flavor of malt sweetness blended in there, and finishes with a clean, dry grainy bitterness that doesn't leave an aftertaste.

M- This is light bodied and does have plenty of crisp carbonation that, along with the zesty citrus quality in the flavor, provides a nice one-two punch that refreshes the palate quite well!

O- I didn't think this was much to look at and was rather bland in general aroma wise, but the flavor and mouthfeel is done well and creates a really good hot weather brew that I'd pick up again if given the chance....I will say though that I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way for this one. I do give this one a thumbs up, and it is worth giving a try to!

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 05:09:01 | More by ChrisCage

NeutroMan

Illinois

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

Clear pale golden color with a light fluffy white head. Lacing clings to the glass all the way down.

A nice graininess to the aroma - very earthy. Grassy hops complement the citrus twang. A dry, if a bit bland, finish. Medium-light bodied with an agreeable amount of carbonation. Quite flavorful, yet light enough to be a refreshing summer brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 22:42:32 | More by NeutroMan

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

jsisko01

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +24%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Pours a cloudy yellow color with a half inch, creamy looking white head.

Smell - Citrus, caramel, and wheat. Not much stands out. Smells very sweet though..

Taste - Strong hints of caramel and citrus. Maybe a little clove.. Has a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with mild carbonation.

Overall - I think this is a very good beer and it's very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 05:07:46 | More by jsisko01

MsRif

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on-tap at the Yum Yum Shack in Cooperstown, NY. Poured a golden color with a nice white head. Some lacing, but not much. Aroma of earthy hops, citrus and grains. Taste is refreshing...earthy, grainy, citrus...perfect beer for the hot weather.

Light bodied with moderate carbonation. Crisp and clean. Very drinkable in the hotter weather, but that's about the only time I'd have it.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2011 17:35:11 | More by MsRif

keanex

New Jersey

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

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into my pint glass.

A: Golden amber color, very clear. 2 finger head that dissipated quickly, but clung to the side as I drank. Lacing retained.

S: Slightly hoppy and florally with some bread notes. Not too strong.

T: Light hops slight bread. Honey and citrus throughout, though more citrus. Slight hops linger.

M: Medium carbonation, light-medium bodied.

O: Decent summer offering. It's refreshing and goes down easy. Label is eye catching in colors.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 17:45:16 | More by keanex

Seanstoppable

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best before November 2011.

Pours a translucent gold color with a finger of head. Head quickly settles down to a crown.

Nose is honeyish sweet, with a bit of malt and hops to round it out.

Taste consists of more honey character. A bit of hops at the end. Some citrus flavors throughout.

Somewhat straightforward, but refreshing for being so. Does not disappoint and I would say this is a great patio/session beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 01:08:10 | More by Seanstoppable

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

chickenflea

Florida

3.93/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a gold color with one-inch long lasting white head. The aroma is good. It has a clean pale malt and wheat scent that's refreshing. There is a bit of yeast fruitiness present. The taste is decent. Sour finish for an English Pale Ale. It is refreshing but unexpected. Good clean hoppy finish. This is a simple brew that's quite tasty and easy drinking, especially during the summer. The mouthfeel is good light with good carbonation. It is a low bodied beer with good carbonation. Very drinkable. A nice offering.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 20:47:49 | More by chickenflea

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

JMad

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I drank this from an English pint glass...

Pours a yellow golden color with a frothy white head. It smells of green apple and funk with some grain and citrus with other fruity aroma. The taste is slightly bitter with just a hint of lemon, and sour grain with a bitter citrus and grassy aftertaste. The beer is light with lots of carbonation and a dry finish. This is better than most summer beers and I really enjoyed the slightly sour accent.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 23:39:32 | More by JMad

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

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

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #53 (June 2011):

Pale, brassy clarity, and the lacing puts on a good show while sticking to the glass. Hoppy, salty, fresh grain, very faint butter, taffy and a hint of apple skin in the nose. Crisp with enough smoothness to get by; semidry, malty palate. Very savory for a summer brew—fresh and light biscuity grain meets a subtle salt and butter combo. Hops drop a leafy herbal component on top. Very drinkable, and among the more complex summer seasonals out there.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 00:49:17 | More by BeerAdvocate

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

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

It's a summer ale so don't expect anything too complex but Brooklyn do a good job of combining a few different styles in one thirst quenching beer. There is the citrus notes of a Wit combined with a hop note of a British Golden Ale and a clean finish much like a lager. Tastes good and works wonders on the patio.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 15:08:55 | More by canucklehead