Summit 100% Organic Ale - Summit Brewing Company

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.56/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Best by 8/2/13. Really nice to see that printed on the bottle because I don't think Summit usually dates their bottles.

Appearance: Slightly hazy light amber hue with a one finger foamy off-white head.

Aroma: Some bready grain and hints of citrus. Smells more like a Pale Ale than an IPA.

Taste: Very similar to their EPA but less bitter/harsh. Starts with a bready and slightly peppery malt flavor that carries through the finish. Sort of an earthy hop character throughout as well that delivers light bitterness to the palate. The low 4.5% ABV is actually surprising because I'd guess this one would be a percentage or so higher based on the amount of malt flavor. Finish is more of the same, bread and earthy hops.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body which is the most interesting thing about this beer. Nice and smooth carbonation. The brewer, Gabe Smoley, has somehow managed to make a very full feeling beer with a low ABV. The only downside is that it would make it more difficult to session.

Final Thoughts: Enjoyable but nothing I couldn't live without. I'm actually a little disappointed because I was expecting a big citrus kick from this one based on the hops that were used (and the description on Summit's website). But alas, what we have here is an above average Pale Ale with a modest ABV that'll make any beer geek smile. Would I drink it again? Yes, the other five in the sixer but I won't be seeking it out again.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 22:56:11 | More by JamesMN

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-16-2013 20:28:26 | More by iHeartMNBeer

Ish1

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-12-2013 18:24:24 | More by Ish1

Herky21

Iowa

3/5  rDev -21.7%

05-11-2013 17:37:10 | More by Herky21

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

3.91/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “ENJOY BY” date printed on the shoulder is “08/16/13.”

Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is medium copper. A finger of dense, buttery head slowly settled, leaving trails of foam on the glass and a dense but uneven froth. That eventually dissolved to leave a thin ring around the edge and a bubbly skim in the center.

Smell: Mostly floral hops and a pretty solid malt backbone, but there are underlying scents of orange and lemon citrus. There is a little bit of chocolate and toffee, too.

Taste: It has a nice, crisp floral hop bitterness that is not over the top. It is like a British pale ale with an American accent. Relatively light citrus makes an appearance but is only a bit player. Pale malts, sweet caramel, toffee, and a hint of chocolate. A little pine spice and lemon zest mingles with everything. Each sip leaves a lasting bitterness that coats the mouth. The aftertaste seems more citrusy than the actual beer.

Drinkability: Tasty and organic to boot. This is good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 04:34:50 | More by TheQuietMan22

karlt

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-03-2013 14:37:14 | More by karlt

RobertColianni

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

04-29-2013 02:25:44 | More by RobertColianni

doucmehu

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%

04-27-2013 04:25:50 | More by doucmehu

Cramerican

North Dakota

4/5  rDev +4.4%

04-26-2013 02:41:43 | More by Cramerican

barnzy78

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, coppery-amber body with a thinner bubbly, ivory head that fades fairly quickly leaving some lacing down the glass. Aromas are sweeter with caramel, bread crust, brown sugar, herbal hop. Tastes are bready malt, caramel, toasted grain, earthy, herbal, with some brown sugary sweetness, pungent grapefruit pith for bitterness. Medium body, lower carbonation. Overall, I wasn't crazy over it at first, but it grew on me. The lower ABV makes it sessionable, and with it being organic makes me feel like I should do some gardening while drinking some of these. I do have some organic hop rhizomes to plant very soon...

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 19:29:33 | More by barnzy78

bigbeers84

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%

04-21-2013 02:02:46 | More by bigbeers84

herman77

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +4.4%

04-19-2013 20:55:21 | More by herman77

AmandaSchaefer

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +24%

04-15-2013 22:45:33 | More by AmandaSchaefer

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.4%

04-15-2013 22:15:58 | More by rolltide8425

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%

04-15-2013 17:49:51 | More by Whiskeydeez

sgttibbs

Kansas

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%

04-14-2013 16:13:45 | More by sgttibbs

Mealhouse

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

04-14-2013 03:56:27 | More by Mealhouse

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.09/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I had this on tap at Holy Hound in York PA, served chilled in a standard pint.

The color is deep copper/bronze with translucent clarity and thin beige cap with tight bead and good retention. The smell is a nice blend of toasty malt odors with a mild herbal hop ester with some mild yeast fruitiness in the aroma. The feel is good with balance of grain and light tangy yeast with some light bitterness from the hops with moderate carbonation and semi-dry finish.

The flavor is very good lots of herbal and pine elements from the hops with slight citrus accent and mild toastiness in the malt flavor with a supporting yeast flavor which brings out the qualities of both in a good way. Overall I was very pleased with how drinkable this is - possibly the best Organic ale I have ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2013 13:54:47 | More by Slatetank

jimmah120

Minnesota

3.79/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle marked enjoy by august

Cherry amber look, thin white foamy head. Fine sediment throughout. Smell is dank pine, caramel, lemon. Taste is similar; piney hops start off, toasted biscuit malt, citrus finish. Finish is bitter and somewhat flat tasting. Feel is light, more astringent than it should be.

Tasty herbal, hoppy brew. It's like a muted saga. I won't miss it once it's gone, but it was worth picking up.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 21:58:54 | More by jimmah120

PingBob

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +4.4%

04-07-2013 03:17:16 | More by PingBob

bsp77

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Imperial Pint.

Appearance: Slightly hazy amber with a nice sized off-white head and decent lacing.

Smell: Toasty and tea-like with some floral notes and slight citrus. Nice aroma but way too mild.

Taste: Very dry malts, with toast, biscuit and tea. The somewhat bitter finish is very floral, herbal and spicy with just a hint of grapefruit and orange.

Feel: Relatively light body that is firm, crisp and dry. Moderate carbonation.

Overall: While a pleasant, good everyday beer, I can't help but compare it to other Session IPAs I have had (or American Bitters as I Ike to call them), and this comes up very short. Too innocuous.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 03:57:53 | More by bsp77

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Finally! I've been tiring of all of these inorganic brews... Anyway, this stuff pours a sunset bronze-copper topped by a finger of khaki-cream foam. The nose comprises mixed greens, mild buttery biscuit, and grass. It's simple, straightforward, and surprisingly pleasant for what it is. The taste brings in more of the same, with the grass taking firm control as though 'twere a lawn belonging to a family whose vacation to Brazil was waylaid by a renegade unlicensed cab ride. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda drying-ish finish. Overall, a pretty solid IPA, though I'm wondering how much influence the organic nature of the ingredients truly had. Regardless, pretty good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 18:09:34 | More by TMoney2591

WallE89

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +4.4%

04-01-2013 01:03:48 | More by WallE89

ChopsMeister

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

03-31-2013 07:29:26 | More by ChopsMeister

Mdog

Minnesota

3.71/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Slightly hazy amber with a good head.

Smell: Starts with some citrus then switches to a dry cracker with lemon pith smell.

Taste: Dry crackers mixed with lemon. A little bit of pine. Citrus rind dryness. Bitter, but not overly so.

Mouthfeel: Dry, light feel.

Overall: I recently had Founders All Day, which is another light hoppy beer, and I prefer Summit. Both have the characteristic of being dry and bitter, but Summit is not as astringent. Both are pretty decent options for a hop fix without being too boozy.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 21:18:59 | More by Mdog