Twilight Summer Ale - Deschutes Brewery

Jason

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz brown bottle with a "Best By" freshness date on the label.

LOOK: Sudsy foam leaves behind some white lacing on the glass, shiny golden color shows off its clarity

SMELL: Oily hops, citrus, white tea leaves, blond tobacco, a little fruity, biscuity

TASTE: Decent smoothness, moderate body, toasted grain, citrusy hop, mild malt sweetness, drying bitterness, earthy tobacco, finishes semi-dry

A downright well balanced APA, light enough to quaff in the dead of summer and flavorful enough to keep your taste buds in check.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 00:41:08 | More by Jason

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thankfully, this isn't another blonde-wheat-fruit summer seasonal like everyone else seems to be doing. Deschutes is staying true to what they do best; and in the Northwest, that means hops. In this case, four different hops in the kettle and Amarillo used to dry-hop.

Pours bright and clear with a color that borders on gold and copper. Big floral hop aroma with hints of orange cream and wild honey. Hops run up the taste buds first, with a soft evergreen resin, fresh-cut grass and faint citrus peel. Subtle biscuity and caramel malt flavors don't get masked by the bitterness that, for the most part, remains balanced. A bit of juicy fruitiness from middle to end, with lingering herbal hop flavors and remnants of a toasty malt. Bittersweet finish.

Perhaps one of the most drinkable summer seasonals--and no need to go blonde. Without a doubt, it's one of those seasonals you wish was available year-round--it's currently the benchmark for American session ales. Pair it up with a plate of fried raviolis with a spicy marinara sauce.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2009 22:37:51 | More by BeerAdvocate

Todd

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12oz brown bottle with a best by 09/29/04.

Appearance: Chill-hazed, light amber colored brew, active carbonation and a thin white lace with some stick.

Smell: Apple-y, grain tannins.

Taste: Smooth at first, then a bit gritty around the edges with an apple-like flavor and feel. Touch of malt sweetness and bready notes. A low lime rind hop bitterness with some nondescript spice, and a refreshing break on the palate. A touch buttery towards the drying, coarse finish.

Notes: There's nothing obtrusive about this beer, nor is there anything that makes it anything more than average. That said, it's a pretty decent APA and a smooth drinking session beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2004 00:02:13 | More by Todd

Glibber

Idaho

4/5  rDev +7.8%

05-19-2013 22:29:02 | More by Glibber

rfreed

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

05-19-2013 21:11:47 | More by rfreed

yodagruv

Texas

3.94/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: clear golden, off white moderate, lacy, somewhat clingy head.

S: orange peel, malt

T: Citrusy, slightly bitter, somewhat malty, some hoppiness

M: clean and slightly carbonated, rather like a carbonated iced tea.

O: Not bad- clear, light, drinkable and pleasant. Smells better than it tastes, which is too bad, but just barely.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 04:19:42 | More by yodagruv

dertyd

California

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

05-18-2013 21:22:30 | More by dertyd

oldvines

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

05-18-2013 19:38:47 | More by oldvines

jl28r1

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -12.4%

05-18-2013 16:28:06 | More by jl28r1

dimitrov

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

05-18-2013 06:44:38 | More by dimitrov

muddyh2oblues

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

05-17-2013 22:44:38 | More by muddyh2oblues

Muggins25

California

4/5  rDev +7.8%

05-17-2013 02:59:55 | More by Muggins25

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.99/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle purchased from Whole Foods in SoMa, San Francisco.

Pours a pleasant faintly hazed golden orange, with a frothed, but slightly filmy head of white. Colour is gorgeous though, and there's a surprisingly pleasant weight to the body, leaving fine carbonation when tilted. Overall, it's a pretty nice-looking beer.

Nose is biting with hops, with a very fresh, green character coming through strongly. There's a slightly rubbery tone to it as well: perhaps more of an intensity that accentuates the hop characters. Under this are characters of orange, peach and pepper, but very little sweetness or malt. I'm interested to see how it tastes.

As it happens, the taste is really quite light, but it's also quite pleasant. The hops are also pared back, leaving some fresh vegetative and fruity tones to the palate, but providing no real bitterness. There's a slight mild acid character that forms towards the back of the palate, while the peach and orange characters evanesce on the front. There's also a faint yeasty tone which is the only drawback, but after the first couple of sips, its influence is negligible. Overall, it's very pleasant.

Feel is light, but clear and clean, with a pleasant smoothness.

Overall, this is a very drinkable beer. I could certainly see myself drinking this as part of a very enjoyable session. Were it available in Australia, it would make a pretty damn impeccable beach BBQ beer. Alas.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 00:07:35 | More by lacqueredmouse

piratebryan

California

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%

05-16-2013 22:57:16 | More by piratebryan

Hoolie5

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +21.3%

05-16-2013 16:44:40 | More by Hoolie5

Demarais20

North Dakota

3/5  rDev -19.1%

05-16-2013 07:53:32 | More by Demarais20

danfix99

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -12.4%

05-16-2013 02:53:19 | More by danfix99

Eric908

South Dakota

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

05-15-2013 22:23:00 | More by Eric908

everettsbeerguy

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -12.4%

05-15-2013 19:43:29 | More by everettsbeerguy

MikeRice1969

Oregon

4/5  rDev +7.8%

05-15-2013 04:42:01 | More by MikeRice1969

Fossilhunter

California

4.5/5  rDev +21.3%

05-15-2013 04:40:03 | More by Fossilhunter

tdmccarthy

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

05-15-2013 02:47:26 | More by tdmccarthy

Techichi

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

05-13-2013 15:25:35 | More by Techichi

InfernoBoss

California

3.25/5  rDev -12.4%

05-13-2013 05:55:03 | More by InfernoBoss

MooseBoose

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

05-13-2013 02:42:27 | More by MooseBoose