Summit Horizon Red Ale - Summit Brewing Company

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Race Street Cafe, Philly, PA

A pretty tasty red ale, with perhaps a bit more of a hop bite than you're used to in similar styled beers.

Poured into a pint glass, a clear, reddish-brown, with a finger or so of frothy off-white head that retained and laced rather well. Grassy hops in the aroma, with an obvious caramel malt base. As previously mentioned, more hoppy than I'd expect a red ale to be, which isn't a bad thing. Grassy hops right off the bat, mellowing out a bit as the sweetness of the caramel malts move in. Medium mouthfeel, and fairly drinkable, but I had no problem moving on after one glass.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2011 16:30:00 | More by Rifugium

savaship

Illinois

1.8/5  rDev -52.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Appearance was that of a crystal clear amber colored, when served to me only a remnant of the head existed, of a white slightly cream color.

Smell was very floral, with what smelled of oranges and other spice

The taste was possibly the most awful bitter combination of brewed dirt and orange peels, with an aftertaste of orange peel that lingered for 5 minutes, I liken it much to the taste of drinking non-toxic citrus label remover

The mouthfeel was heavy for a clear beer, with very little carbonation

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2011 18:37:13 | More by savaship

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at Hotel Chequamegon in Ashland, WI while on vacation in spring 2011.

Pours a clean brown amber color and a thick head of white foam with a scent of malts and hops. Has a very hoppy taste that is rather smooth and crisp. Finishes rather well with a minor hoppy after taste. Very nicely blended and rather good.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2011 01:52:05 | More by Lemke10

drtth

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a standard shaker pint glass. Glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically.

Appearance: As served the beer has a ½" creamy off-white head that slowly recedes leaving some rings and patches of lacing clinging to the sides of the glass. Throughout the beer sipping leaves nice lacing and there is lacing sticking to the sides of the glass to the end of the beer. The color of the beer is a deep reddish brown color with some nice golden highlights where the light reflects through the glass.

Smell: Although mild, the aroma is a nice mixture of caramel, pine and citrus that builds my expectation that I'm going to like this beer.

Taste: The flavor is a nice bitter character backed up by the malt backbone. The caramel is present but does not dominate as a bitterness from the hops pervades all but never dominates. For this beer the operative word is "balance" in the hops and malt are clearly there but neither is hidden or dominated by the other. The mixture of hops flavors is quite interesting in all of this.

Mouthfeel: The mouth feel is medium bodied with adequate carbonation. The finish is moderately long and really just has the malt and hops slowly fading to a nice lightly bittered dry aftertaste that leads one on to the next sip.

Drinkability: I quite liked this beer. One sip followed another quite easily and by the end of the beer I was looking forward to a second one. The last half of the beer was consumed while eating a quite tasty beef vegetable soup and I thought the pairing worked very well.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2011 21:45:46 | More by drtth

nickfl

Florida

3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with two fingers of off white head that settles slowly and leaves thick, creamy lace. The body is a clear amber-brown color that shows some ruby highlights.

S - Light, toasty malt with some citrus and pine hops.

T - Some pine hop flavor up front with dry toast. More toasty malt in the middle with an increasingly sour, astringent hop flavor. Finished with moderately strong bitterness and lightly burnt toast as well as a hint of toffee.

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

D - Drinkable, but the aroma is weaker than I expected and the flavor profile is dryer than I want it to be. It suffers from the all to common flaw of a amber/brown ale with too dry of a finish. This leaves a burnt toast character lingering on the palate in the finish that really rubs me the wrong way. Combine this with a hop flavor that is well intentioned, but needs sorely to be turned up a notch or two, and you have a beer that I don't mind finishing but would only turn to again if the other options were significantly limited.

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2011 19:51:41 | More by nickfl

fizzy

Minnesota

4.72/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have always liked Summit Pale Ale, on tap or from the bottle. This was my first taste of the Horizon Red Ale. They were serving it on tap at the Minnesota State Fair and I decided to buy a 3- 7oz sample paddle of beers. One was the Pale Ale, one the Oktoberfest, and the third the Horizon Red Ale. I knew I would like the Pale Ale, without a doubt. The Oktoberfest was a little more malty and sweet than a I really like, but the kicker was the Horizon Red Ale. What a hop presence without being over done, a full citrus ending and flavor left in the mouth. What a wonderful beer, and one to be savored again, not just at the State Fair but at home and at the bar. Kudos goes to Summit.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2010 20:54:52 | More by fizzy

JackieTH

Minnesota

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

On tap at the Summit pavilion at the Minnesota State Fair.

Appearance: Dark ruby red with two fingers of creamy white head.

Smell: Strongly pine & citrus hop and a nice undertone of earthen forest and malt.

Taste: Sharp hop bite followed by malty, earthy palate which finishes faily dry and bitter. Decent balance.

Mouthfeel: Medium, smooth and moderate carbonation.

Drinkability: A very good brew that would be higher on my drinkability scale however the hop profile tends to dry me out after 3 or so servings.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2010 15:54:31 | More by JackieTH

cbarrett4

Oregon

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from tap at Oregon Brewers Festival

Pretty reddish amber color and thick head.

S - Sweet and malty with a touch of fruit.

T - lots of sweet malt backed by some hops.

M - Medium body with a low level of tannin.

D - Good and easy to drink, but I think it would get boring

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2010 18:47:20 | More by cbarrett4

Strix

Wisconsin

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Clear deep red, good head.

Smells malty, a bit of hops in there, and a slight tea-like note.

Earthy, grassy, and malty. Some hop presence, but also the tea-like note and a metallic note that don't mesh. Reminds me of an ESB.

Medium mouthfeel.

I've yet to try something from Summit I really connect with. This was drinkable, but not memorable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2010 02:19:57 | More by Strix

dudemuskie

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

App- Brilliant deep red color with a very light beige head that lingers at around 1 finger and laces nicely.

Aroma-Sweet caramel malt dances in a sea of citrsy/fruity hops (grapefruit and mango).

Flavor- Sweet light caramel malt up front quickly washed out by intense, fresh hop flavors. Hops hang in middle/front of tongue but eventually ride out onto the sides and are primarily flavor hops- not too bitter. Caramel malt rides the middle fo the tongue providing a decent balance.

Mouth- Low to moderate CO2, finishes fairly clean, hops and caramel malt linger but dont overpower. Tasty red ale with a great bright, domestic hop flavor. Had this pint with a BBQ pork sandwich at Sheffield's in Chicago and it paired quite nicely!

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2009 21:27:16 | More by dudemuskie

champ103

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark reddish/amber color. A large off-white head of over two fingers forms with good retention. Lots of spiderweb looking lace is left all the way down the pint glass.
S: Citrus hops and a light malty sweet caramel aroma. Not bad, but not a lot of depth.
T: A nice malty sweetness up front. Caramel and toffee. Plenty of hop flavor. Floral, grassy, and citrus. Really well balanced.
M/D: A medium body and carbonation. A good crisp snap that makes this very refreshing. An easy quaffable beer.

I enjoyed this. A very nice red ale. Something I would recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2009 00:54:40 | More by champ103

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this last night at Brass Rail Deli, served on tap.

A - Dark caramel/bronze w/ very light cream cap w/ tiny bead. The color has reddish highlights otherwise appears as a brown ale. The clarity is good and lace clings w/ good head retention

S - Notes of plum, roasted grain and floral hops. A generally bready aroma w/ mild citrus from the hops

M - Mild sweetness and moderate carbonation. Subtle fruitiness and mild bitterness w/ a spicy edge

T - The taste is semi-sweet w/ light orange zest and mild roasted nut flavors in the malt. The taste of gentle hop acidity w/ mainly herbal flavors and light red plum aspects w/ a nice mellow pepper taste in the finish

D - A pleasing red ale, highly drinkable and balanced. I found the hops and yeast flavors interesting and it is an easy to drink red. I would return to this, certainly.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2009 14:02:14 | More by Slatetank

GeezLynn

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Deep red brown color with a glint of ruby capped by a frothy white head. This beer was surprisingly fragrant - a solid malt backbone highlighted by citrus hops. The flavor brought to mind Summit Extra Pale with a biscuity malt body. The bold hop flavors were there, but were present in contrast to rather than working together with the malt flavors and are better suited to the Pale Ale style. Nice bitterness. The mouthfeel was fine - slightly on the thin side, but not overcarbonated.

Not the most balanced beer Summit has to offer and brought to mind a modified version of Summit EPA. But all things considered, a pretty enjoyable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2009 03:30:16 | More by GeezLynn

Reneejane

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is a fabulous beer! It's a deep dark brooding ruby amber color. It is capped with a fluffy white head that leaves loads of beautiful lace. The aroma is a powerful hop aroma. This is a total hop experience, you are guided from one hop taste to the next as you savor the drink. There are multiple hops in here. Even so I didn't feel the hops were too overpowering. The taste ends with a fresh bitter taste leaving a very sticky malty backbone behind it. This is fabulously balanced, artistically complex, and marvelous!

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2009 21:13:39 | More by Reneejane

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

12 oz tap pour into an American Tumbler Pint @ the Firkin

A - Clear red color with a small tan head and no retention that left little lacing from the ring.

S - Undertones of malt totally overshadowed by a very strong hop aroma. Floral, spicy and piney.

T - Hoppy like crazy! No apparent malts in the flavor as everything is overshadowed by the hops. Very strong but flavorful. Floral and spicy hopping.

M - Sharp and crisp with a bitter finish that washes clean in the end. Light to medium in body.

D - While this beer is tasty, its incredibly hoppy and not enticing after one at all. Good for one though.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2009 03:40:40 | More by BeerFMAndy

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Three Squares in Maple Grove, MN. Appeared a clear red with short head. I was looking forward to trying this beer, but came away from my pint glass a bit disappointed. Basically, while there is a nice clean/biting citrus hop flavor, it's too weak and there's almost no malt to speak of. It drank to thin for the strength and the bitterness levels we're only on par with a respectable APA.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2009 14:19:36 | More by tempest

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Clear crimson/amber color... adequate froth atop, soon gone, though.

Fresh, grassy aroma, lightly fruity, not too tart, not too sweet...

Taste: big hops, lingering some, laying a bit on the palate, hanging in there,... and then, softly fading back.
Light caramel malt body... very drinkable, sessionable, a nice turnaround for those looking for something new from Summit.
While it ups the hops, it doesn't quite do enough for me...and lacks in the body. This is being written on my second pint, though, and I'm liking it better than I did with the first.
I still feel it could, should be bigger in body, a little heavier would be nice. But, then, I have to keep remembering that I'm not their target audience, and how much my taste has evolved.
Beyond what Summit wants to make, apparently.

Again, a good drinking beer, nothing wrong with it at all, just falls a bit short from what I look for these days.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2009 03:12:21 | More by feloniousmonk

Gump

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

Just released, on tap in the backyard at Sweeny's.

Arrived to my table looking very flat. No head and filled to the rim.
Mostly clear, reddish brown.
The hops smell brilliantly fresh.
Lacks body and mouthfeel. No lacing.
Flavors are grainy, with hints of caramel sweetness. The hops are the highlight of this ale.

I look forward to trying this again in bottle. I hope to see more carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2009 15:09:50 | More by Gump

MikeAAL

Wisconsin

3.14/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

It's a pretty bland beer.

It's red/amber colored with a nice head. Nice lacing.

It smells like toasted malts and hops.

I can taste hops with a hint of malts.

Thick mouthfeel. Heavy carbonation.

It's alright but, nothing to write home about. Very bland and heavy.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 17:48:16 | More by MikeAAL

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

1.93/5  rDev -49.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Why this red dye beer gets a plus 3 is beyond me. I love the summit brews, but this red 'ale' just tastes like an American low class lager to me. Slap a Bud label on this puppy and this tasteless bottle of piss will be right at home. Good beer for drunks when this fizzy shit goes on sale.

This beer should be paired with watching American Idol singers. What a waste. Tune in next week when I update my review, and tell you what I really think.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 21:00:14 | More by frankiepop

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

3.84/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “ENJOY BY” date is “02/19/13.”

Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is mahogany. Two fingers of fairly dense foam dissipated slowly and unevenly, leaving a spotted lacing, thick ring around the edge, and trails of foam on the glass.

Smell: An enticing mélange of citrus and malts. Scents of toasted malts, candy caramel, and toffee are tinged with pine, grapefruit, and orange.

Taste: The hop citrus is able to muscle the malts for prominence. The grapefruit, pine, and orange outshine the toasted malts, caramel, and toffee. There is also a spicy edge with a hint of pepper, and the aftertaste betrays some mellow, earthy hops.

Drinkability: Pretty good stuff. It is not overly hoppy or malty. The citrus adds a welcome element to a beer I would otherwise think was malt dominant.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 05:03:01 | More by TheQuietMan22

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Winter sampler. Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Pours mahogany brown with 1/4 inch white foam. Nutty smell. Malty, Taste is a lightly sweet caramel with a subtle hint of hops threaded throughout. Some bitter resides, so the finish is more bitter than sweet, but not too much of either. Firmly carbonated. Pretty good red.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 00:48:35 | More by KTCamm

Jparker37

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into an Imperial pint glass. 100th beer review, this is special for me.

A - Tight bubbles hold a big rocky tan head. Nice red tint on a brilliant deep amber beer. Left me with a few streaks of lacing.

S - Layers of toasty malt all over. Undertone of mild chocolate malt. Piney hops in the background. I can recognize more hops as it warms.

T - Little bits of that toasty malt last for a short while. Hops pick up the brunt of the flavor mid-pallete. I get more of spicy, earthier hop flavor. Has a bit of bitterness to it that puts this beer a little on the hoppy side. Finishes dry, crisp and refreshing.

M - Medium to medium-light body, moderate carbonation, dry.

O - Great looks to this beer, great complexity to the smell. I seen a bit more malt coming in the taste but being a hop head I enjoyed the hop emphasis. Actually, the beer was balanced well for the style.This beer would be great for the patio on an early fall afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 00:43:48 | More by Jparker37

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance – Pours a nice garnet color with a big off-white colored thick head. The head has fantastic retention but eventually fades to give great level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is light but consists of a toasted malt aroma with some lighter caramel notes.

Taste –The taste begins with a roasted malt flavor with an ever so light sweetness. As the taste goes on, hop flavors begins slowly coming into the taste. They start out of a pine nature and are relatively light in the beginning and the middle. As the taste advanced further however a stronger hop bitterness of a earthy and pine nature comes to taste and brings the flavor profile to an end.

Mouthfeel – The thickness is on the average side as well as the carbonation. The carbonation level is very fitting although a little more creaminess may have helped with the somewhat harsh flavor left on the tongue at the end of the taste.

Overall – Relatively hoppy and flavorful amber-red beer, but nothing that is worth going out of the way for.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 01:09:00 | More by Darkmagus82

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark amber, almost brown.

Aroma: Fruity/piney hop presence with a nice roasty backbone. Some plum or apricot in there.

Taste: Big hop bite up front and then a nice roasty quality of the malt peeking through before a final bitterness in the end. The roasted malt comes back in the aftertaste and settles nicely on the tongue. Really robust.

Mouthfeel: Good level of carbonation. Great medium/full body on this beer and still very drinkable.

Final Thoughts: This is one of the better offerings from Summit. Definitely a great choice for any season. It has a good level of complexity and flavor.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 03:48:58 | More by JamesMN