Saga - Summit Brewing Company

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Translucent light orange/yellow color. Pours a white two finger head that's sticking around. Reminds me of white grape juice. Looks appealing.

Aroma: There is some pine in there but it is completely overwhelmed by tropical fruit notes. This is balanced out by the bitter hop tones that come afterwards.

Taste: Nicely bitter from start to finish. Some grapefruit and pineapple in there but not as present as in the nose. Really nice juicyness to this beer.

Mouthfeel: Pretty drinkable given it's an IPA. Very easy to slug down. This approaches sessionable territory.

Final Thoughts: When I heard Summit was making a new IPA I had some high expectations and Saga did not disappoint. This beer takes the definition of West Coast IPA and just about perfects it.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 02:17:12 | More by JamesMN

DiggerDahl

North Dakota

3.25/5  rDev -18.3%

05-18-2013 20:12:05 | More by DiggerDahl

davemathews68

Ohio

4/5  rDev +0.5%

05-18-2013 02:58:06 | More by davemathews68

jklecko2

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev -5.8%

05-17-2013 17:27:57 | More by jklecko2

bpfrush

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%

05-17-2013 01:30:32 | More by bpfrush

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%

05-16-2013 20:28:59 | More by iHeartMNBeer

Casey3236

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.5%

05-16-2013 17:35:53 | More by Casey3236

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -24.6%

05-15-2013 23:52:35 | More by ejimhof

Bromine

Florida

4/5  rDev +0.5%

05-13-2013 03:17:11 | More by Bromine

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.5%

05-12-2013 19:47:04 | More by leprechaunandfatman

kguard

Iowa

4/5  rDev +0.5%

05-11-2013 04:12:26 | More by kguard

rydev24

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.5%

05-10-2013 21:52:34 | More by rydev24

Humulus85

Minnesota

4.16/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Summit's year around west coast style IPA. Their EPA was the beer that got me into craft, so I have much love for this brewery. From the 12oz bottle into my tasting snifter. BB 09/27/13.

Pours a clear honey gold with a tight two finger off white head. Solid retention with some really nice lacing.

Tons of hops. Hitting all the notes from citrus to pine to resin. Leaning toward grapefruit. Uses centennial, Amarillo, citra, and rakau hops. Not really familiar with the Rakau, but this is a nice complex hop profile in the nose. Solid pale malt graininess in the background.

Bitterness, grapefruit juice, reisin, pine needles. A bit of tropical fruits. Bready malts in the middle with a touch of caramel. Pretty bitter throughout. Hop oils coat the tongue and leave a hoppy aftertaste.

Medium in body with ample carbonation. Dry in the finish. Again, sticky hop oils coat the mouth.

Overall, this is a solid IPA. Not mind blowing in any way, but it hits all the right notes. The best part about this beer is that it is year around, I can always find it super fresh, and it is sold in 12 packs at no more than $13. Plus I get to give my money to one of my favorite local breweries. Not worth trading for, but if you can get it drink it up. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 03:06:34 | More by Humulus85

vidguy17

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -5.8%

05-10-2013 02:43:36 | More by vidguy17

awizzle

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%

05-10-2013 02:01:59 | More by awizzle

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

First had: on tap at Capone's, Norristown, PA

Clear copper pour with a small white head that retained as a ringlet and left a bit of lacing on the glass. Light floral and citrusy hop aromas. Taste of floral and citrus hops once again, grassy, mild pale malts in the background for a good balance; subdued bitterness. Not really exploding with fresh hoppy goodness, but honestly, this did follow a Sculpin, so my palate might have been biased. Light-medium body and definitely easily drinkable, if a little on the thin side.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2013 03:43:27 | More by Rifugium

GratefulJack

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%

05-08-2013 22:02:02 | More by GratefulJack

arniepnminne

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%

05-06-2013 12:01:35 | More by arniepnminne

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.8%

05-05-2013 13:32:52 | More by Jason1337

GiantMidget

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.8%

05-04-2013 14:08:26 | More by GiantMidget

deebo

Minnesota

3.79/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A bottle with a BB date of 8/17/13 poured into a pint glass appears pale golden with a finger of white fluffy head that doesn't have much staying power but sticks to the glass.

I love the aroma of this beer. Hop notes of grapefruit and mango are strongest. There is also a nice clean malt aroma here that has a touch of sweetness. If the taste as is good as the aroma I'm going to love this beer.

Unfortunately for me the taste of the hops is more pine tree like and resiny. The malt is still very clean and has a nice subtle sweetness but is overpowered by the bittering hops.

Mouthfeel of this beer is medium high carbonation with a fairly nice malt backbone. Finish is long and bitter with a resiny/sticky quality.

Overall this is a solid IPA but I prefer those that are more aromatic and don't tend to overpower you with a bitter taste and a pine resin taste. This one isn't like sucking on a pine cone but it is strong enough to hamper my enjoyment. Good one to pair with spicy foods.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 02:34:35 | More by deebo

spycow

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%

05-02-2013 04:44:40 | More by spycow

dakotaben

North Dakota

3.76/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I thought it had a very nice aroma, but the taste didn't pack quite the kick that I was expecting from the smell. The color, taste, and overall... this beer delivers what I would expect from Summit!

This is a good beer from Summit with all the characteristics of a good IPA and I would drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 21:09:23 | More by dakotaben

argock

Virginia

3.76/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a clear mug. No obvious freshness date. Purchased as a single by my brother Greg at a Minneapolis area bottle shop for $1.99.
Reviewed from notes.

A: LIght copper, clear, with 2-finger off-white nicely rocky head with good retention and solid sticky lacing.

S: Hoppy with grapefruit pith, pine resin, and some earthy notes in the background. Maltiness is nondescript but slightly bready with little to no caramel.

T: More bitter than the aroma shows with solid underlying bready, lightly crackery maltiness and ranging hoppiness including grapefruit, honeysuckle, orange, pine, and resiny finish. Very solid flavor but doesn't distinguish itself from other good IPAs.

M: A little heavier in body than I would have liked -- not bad, I want this to be lighter and a bit drier. Carbonation could be ratcheted up a notch to help with this.

O: A very good beer from Summit and their best IPA to date that I have had the chance to try. A little lighter body and drier finish would really make this more enjoyable, but all in all it is a nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 02:54:51 | More by argock

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.71/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet. I drink the crap out of this beer.

First off, $12 for a 12 pack of delicious ipa? Yes, please!

Off white head. Golden orange in color.

Flavors of pine and earthy/floral hops. Bready/biscuity malts. A bit of fruit citrus flavors. The malts show a bit more in this one and balance it out nicely.

Mouthfeel: Bitter and a bit sticky. Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation.

Overall, an enjoyable ipa that is greatly priced and easy to find around the TC. Glad to see this showing up at the 'divey' bars.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 01:35:55 | More by mothman