Twilight Summer Ale - Deschutes Brewery

sondance

California

4.8/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Springy look and taste. Can't stop picking up a 6 pack. I would rate this a little higher than Deschutes' Mirror Pond although they are very similar. It has a light coppery color with citrus and floral overtones. Fills the senses with its hoppy zing but not overly done.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2010 04:05:44 | More by sondance

velosuds

Oregon

4.6/5  rDev +24%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a clear pint glass. Best by date 11/04/09. Deschutes was bottling this when I toured the brewery last week and possibly, in a moment of cosmic perfection, this was being bottled while I watched. You never know, for twilight is a magical time. Single purchased at local health food store for $1.29.

A-Pours an amber-orange with two finger, off-white head with average retention and nice, even lacing.

S-Wow. Very fragrant, bold, piney, and citrusy Cascade and Amarillo hops. This is the most fragrant APA I have ever had. Very appealing.

T-Fortunately, the taste follows the smell. This is a full flavored light ale. Very nice blend of bitterness and tropical fruit notes with a balanced malt presence. Yummy.

M-Exceedingly smooth. Virtually perfect carbonation. Freshness no doubt helps.

D-This is amazingly drinkable. I first discovered this while at my favorite B&B (Cricketwood.com in Bend) last summer where it was stocked in the guest fridge. I drank one after another and fell in love with it.

I am probably going to have my largest rDev with this one. So be it. I love this beer. This is my favorite summer seasonal and my favorite APA. This is head and shoulders above Deschutes' popular Mirror Pond Ale. My only criticism is that it is not available year round. Deschutes hit a home run with this. I would love them to brew a version of this in their Reserve Series.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2009 03:58:33 | More by velosuds

RBorsato

Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Lightly hazed straw color with a decent white head and nice active carbonation. Nice light citrus hop aroma. Very nice citrus hop and grainy malt balance with some nice overall fruit character. Light bodied and very refreshing with a nice lightly bitter finish.

Grabbed as a random 6-pack at a drug store the morning I had to leave POrtland ... glad I got it and could see myself drinking this all summer if I were in the NW.

Per label: "Since 1988" & "Seasonal Ale" & "4 Hops & Malts"

Per DB website:
Blend of four hops. Dry hopped with Amarillo hops.
162 calories per 12 oz serving.
IBUs: 35
Alcohol Content: 5.0%

Gold - Bitter Category - 2003 GABF

Best By: 09/21/06
Tasted: 06/28/06

($5.99 / 6-pack)

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2006 17:55:35 | More by RBorsato

AleWatcher

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Reviewed from notes-- and I am officially caught up on all my notes! Got this from Twiggamortis420 in the Chillin and Grillin BIF. Thanks Greg!

Pours a deep orangey gold color. Looks rich and pleasant. Slightly hazy -- perhaps a chill haze. An almost white head left thick rings of lace as it slowly settled.

Smell is awesome citrus-- fresh hoppy notes and lemon peels, orange blossoms, and even a touch of honey.

Taste has got some sweet malts with a touch of fresh honey and a great refreshing citrus character with the hoppiness there. This isn't very bitter at all--- almost an APA for the masses. The hops seem to be all flavoring hops not bittering ones. It keeps the beer refreshing and drinkable.

The body is a hair under medium, but totally working. This is an excellent beer-- much better than the B rating. I would drink this one all day. Is this the best pale ale I've ever had-- no, I prefer the hops a little more assertive. But this beer works EXCEPTIONALLY well as a summer ale because the hops are more subtle and gentle.

This is the best "summer ale" I've ever had, and yes, I know it isn't an official category-- but this beer is perfect for what it aims to be.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2010 04:53:25 | More by AleWatcher

DogFood11

California

4.47/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Decent sized loose head fades rapidly and leaves behind little lace. Light and bright copper with medium sized carb.

A delicate balance shines in this brew. Hops are citrusy and well put together mixing admirably with a sweet malt presence. Slightly toasted bread deep in the background is washed away by a fruity backend. This stuff is addictive, one after another.

This is an excellent Pale ale. It doesn't try and be the king of hoppy pales but rather kicks in with some fruity, citrusy, hops and lets it mold with the ingredients. It litterally melts in my mouth and makes me want more and more. Another winner from deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2006 02:21:22 | More by DogFood11

DAllspaw

Indiana

4.47/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had while on vacation in MT from bottle. This was my first Deschutes and came away very impressed.

Great golden color with solid lacing. Typical smell and taste of the better pale ales but crisper with a great hop finish more reminiscent of an IPA. Great overall taste, not foamy in the mouth the way some other PAs can taste, more clean if that makes any sense. Great beer, and not just a summer drinker.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2010 21:42:58 | More by DAllspaw

gildobeer

California

4.45/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A color somewhere between gold and copper. Hoppy scent with what seems to be a little apple. Hops run up the taste buds first, slight malt, moderate body, much heavier than most of the summers out there but very palatable, leaves you wanting more. Subtle malt flavor isn't overpowered by bitterness, well balanced. Lingering hop aftertaste and a bittersweet, somewhat buttery finish.

Wish it weren't seasonal, I am a big fan

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2010 02:17:55 | More by gildobeer

JEdmund

Kansas

4.45/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bright, sunset orange; hazy; good head and lacing

Bright hop notes, seems like Cascade and maybe Amarillo—definitely citrus. Wonderful orange aroma—very inviting.

Orange flavor abounds! Really good ale here. Light enough in body but plenty of flavor to enjoy. Another extra tasty brew by Descutes. A noticeable and enjoyable amount of biscuit malt flavor to balance and even accent the hops. Finish has a good herbal or maybe stone-fruit quality; it’s drying and flavorful. Really like it. Especially love the malt side to this bright and hoppy beer; it’s tremendously balanced and drinkable. Exceptional flavor in the finish. (Website says Northern Brewer, Amarillo, Cascade, Tettnang, Brambling Cross hops were used.)

Awesome summer seasonal! I may like this even more than Mirror Pond and Inversion. So easy to drink and oh so enjoyable as well. This one just jumped into my top 5 for 2012 so far.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 02:25:19 | More by JEdmund

MrNuggets

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

At work we use old liquor boxes to store canned fish in. I was in the storage today and to my surprise I saw case of twilight full of my smoked salmon! I dropped everything and headed straight for the liquor store. And there it was, the new beer from Deschutes. What a treat to find a new beer here in the Alaskan wilderness.
A nice break from your normal PacNW pale ale this was. Not everyday malt takes center stage in on of these beers. Hops do their thing as far as taste goes, but bitterness is relaxed. Crisp and clean. I'll be picking this on up again for sure!

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2004 06:19:46 | More by MrNuggets

Bookseeb

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance is a light golden brown with a nice head and lacing. Smell: light sweet malt, and fruit, citrus and hops. Taste has a light citrus sweetness that is balanced well with the hops giving it a light bite. Mouthfeel is medium - light with good body. To me this is one tasty beer without being overpowering that I could easily enjoy this as a session.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2007 23:41:18 | More by Bookseeb

SurlyDuff

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My favorite of Deschutes 4 seasonals. The others being buzzsaw brown (spring), jubelale(winter), and cindercone red(fall).

Wonderful on a camping trip or a hot summer day! Light straw color in appearance.

The aroma is fresh cascade hops, florals, fresh cut grass, straw.

Taste is a bit light, but make sure you drink this one on a hot summer day and you'll fall in love. Bright finish with well balanced hops.

Available in a 24-pack during the summer, and also on-tap at their Public house as well as some brewpubs in Portland and Bend.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2008 02:03:05 | More by SurlyDuff

aristeros

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a nice, new-penny copper into my pint glass. After several minutes, there's sill a fair bit of carbonation visible. Two fingers of white head have faded to a half finger with some lacing. Scent is slightly sweet, with mild, orange-peel citrus over biscuit.

Taste is lightly hoppy up front, with light citrus and hop resins for an APA. Very light caramel over mild biscuit. Clean, slightly crisp finish. Light to medium body with good drinkability--it's simple, but it does everything right.

If you don't mind a slightly hoppy summer quencher, then this is a great choice. I know I don't. Still damn tasty after it's started to warm up.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2010 02:05:30 | More by aristeros

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Glowing golden orange body. Thin bubbly off white head. Lacing is patchy yet clingy. Nice fresh bouquet of citrusy and orangey hops. A little lemon stands out too. Spritzy mouthfeel. Lively and active. It brings out the rillos nicely. Bright citrus palate is quite refreshing. Some more of that orange vs lemon tug of war. Lemon wins. Nice, flavorful, quenching APA for the summer months.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2010 02:58:53 | More by Bighuge

MisterClean

California

4.35/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle ganked from a judging competition.

A - Pours copper-gold, with a 2 fingered white head. Dissipates slow and leaves great lacing.

S - Strong notes of hibiscus, honey, toffee, and flowers. Very minerally.

T - Honey, toffee, flowery hops, hibiscus, and bready.

M - Full-bodied, well-balanced, crisp, and dry.

D - Great overall, but not a pale ale. Not an American Pale ale either. Better as a special bitter. Outstanding for a special bitter in fact.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 02:41:57 | More by MisterClean

CampusCrew

Florida

4.35/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Loved it, solid hoooy PA

appearance: Golden pale with good lacing and head retention.

smell: loads of hops and as strong as a IPA. lots of citrus on the nose.

taste: not you basic summer ale. good hop presence really comes out.

mouthfeel: light to medium bodied. very easy to put down. great summer feeling

drinkability: awesome beer for a PA

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2009 03:21:14 | More by CampusCrew

Japerrault

Idaho

4.33/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Slightly hazy golden ale with a creamy white head which lasted nearly to the end.

S: Flowery, spicey hops, Some bready aromas and sweet malt

T: Mild caramel malt sweetness with Spicey hops, grapefruit flavors showing through. Light toasted bread as well. Slight bitterness in the finish.

M: Medium light body with nice carbonation.

D: Nice flavors and lighter body make this a good summer beer. Good balance between malts and hops.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2009 01:42:58 | More by Japerrault

TexIndy

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Best by date of 10/6/10 on side of front label. Was a clear golden color with good carb streams. It had a good head that settled into a moderate collar and partial film. Good lacing with some sticking.

The aroma was citrusy hops, resin and malt. Really good for an APA. Good balance of malt and hops aromas. I'm in a hop kick these days so a bit more hops would have been great but it's good as-is. The taste follows the aroma and features a good citrusy hop flavor with mild bitterness balanced with a good bready malt. Goes down really smooth in the Texas heat. Nice and light while delivering good flavor. Light to medium mouthfeel with good carb and clean after-taste.

Overall, an excellent summer session beer that is light but has good flavor. Another winner from Deschutes and highly recommend. Avail here in TX finally. Rotation: summer seasonal so will have to get it while it's fresh. Good summer session beer. [R-SMsesaonal; Y]

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2010 23:26:34 | More by TexIndy

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass.
Best by 10/23/12.

Appearance: Pours a deep copper golden orange with a lot of rising bubbles. Huge five finger white head with good retention. Lots of lacing is left sticking to the glass.

Smell: A surprisingly vibrant and lively aroma for the style. Big scent of citrus up front with good hints of mango, apricot, orange, lemon, and a little grapefruit. Pale malts and wheat with hints of cracker and biscuit. Also a nice herbal and grassy hop aroma is in the mix. Smells more like an American Pale Ale than a Blond.

Taste: Like it smells, nice citrus esters and bready sweetness balanced by a good hop presence. Taste of citrus up front with notes of mango, orange peel, apricot, lemon, and grapefruit. Solid bready flavors from pale malts and wheat grains. Good notes of cracker and biscuit. A nice bitterness comes from some grassy, herbal hops. Nice full taste for the style.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. Crisp, creamy, and pretty smooth.

Overall: A really good summer beer here. This is not your typical Blond Ale. Has enough malt and hop punch in it to seem more like an American Pale Ale. Nice and vibrant while still remaining fairly light and easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 05:51:33 | More by MattyG85

Haybeerman

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Lightly clouded orange/orange color. Poured a 2 finger coarse slighlty off-white head with good retention to a half inch cap. Broken lacing in thin rings.

S: Big floral hops and a little wet hay. Very citrussy. Hop compexity is very enjoyable.

T: Bready, slightly sweet male. Resiny hops consistent with the smell. A light sweetness lingers through a sharply bitter finish. Very nice balance.

M: Light to medium body. Medium carbonation. Smooth to a dry, fairly clean finish.

D: Very balanced, very flavorful and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2009 17:14:27 | More by Haybeerman

climax

Missouri

4.3/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This one pours a burnt sienna, fairly cloudy and bubbly. The head is modest, but retention of the cap of film is good.

The hop character of the aroma was a pleasant surprise. There's definite sweet and bitter citrus notes of lemon and passion fruit. The malt underneath contains the expected wheat and diacetyl tones. Nice nose.

The flavor is certainly assertive for a "summer beer" and is pretty well balanced if not just a bit hop heavy. The hop profile announces itself right from the beginning with lemon peel, bitter orange, and floral notes. The malt backbone is solid but light; crackers, biscuits, and wheat round it out.

The feel is crisp and refreshing. The carbonation is sharp but never too fizzy. The feel is pretty slippery even through the finish.

This summer refresher does exactly what it's supposed to do, while even impressing the hophead in the process.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 00:29:44 | More by climax

Bobikel

Colorado

4.28/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Appearance - Pours a pale amber with gold and red highlights. Slightly hazy with a smallish head that displays good retention. Almost looks like some wheat has been added.

Smell - Definetly a wheat ale. Tangy wheatsmack hits the nose. A light hopping is in the background, but wheat takes the forefront.

Taste - A light and balanced ale that blends nicely in the mouth until the swallow, when the malt/wheat combo take over. Fully refreshing.

Mouthfeel - A little over carbed, like in the soda pop realm. Very sharp across the palate, and a little distracting.

Drinkability - Very drinkable and quaffable.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2007 04:03:37 | More by Bobikel

AKBelgianBeast

Alaska

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I do beleive this beer should be ranked higher. It pours a great yellow color. The nose is of fresh cascade hops and fresh cut grass and straw. The taste is a unique verry spring summery flavor with a great finish and a very floral aftertaste yet still quite different than the mirror pond. good summer ale. very chuggable.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2007 05:52:45 | More by AKBelgianBeast

jar2574

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is a damn fine summertime beer. Pours with a nice frothy white head with big bubbles. Very good lacing on the sides all the way down. Beer is a slightly cloudy yellow-orange color.

Smell is very nice. Citrus hops and a hint of sweet caramel. And not overwhelmingly hoppy, because that’s not what you need on a 101 degree day – you need something a little lighter on the tongue and more refreshing.

Taste is excellent. Slightly floral. Citrus hops. Mouthfeel is dense enough to be full and beery but light enough to be smooth and refreshing.

Well balanced, excellent summer brew. Very, very high on drinkability. This just doesn’t get old. It’s the 3rd day in a row that I’ve had one, and very few beers interest me past the 2nd or 3rd bottle. I will get it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 23:50:47 | More by jar2574

NODAK

Tennessee

4.23/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Smell is somewhat hoppy with citrus notes....a little sweet and fruity, and lemon. Nothing too surprising for a summer beer, but the hoppiness stands out a bit.

The Amarillo hops give this beer an initial citric hoppiness with a floral character as well, but it's pretty tame in keeping with the fact that this is a summer beer and not an IPA...so I'm scoring accordingly. Body has a lemon character to it....with some grain showing up at the finish to round out the beer. Bitterness is present but small at the finish, but it does finish fairly dry and crisp.

Pretty good summer offering here. Decent hop content without going overboard for the style. A definite quaffer.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 02:16:47 | More by NODAK

hansendc

Oregon

4.22/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've had this on tap as well as from the bottle, but I'm drinking one from the bottle as I review it now. Descutes' beers tend to be a bit more mellow and enjoyable from the tap. Twilight is no exception.

A cousin to the more common Mirror Pond and Cascade ales, it has a similar appearance. Pours with a moderate amount of head out of the bottle. Dissipates within a minute or two, leaving a small white ring on the glass. Head sticks slightly to the glass as consumed, leaving lightly-defined rings.

The smell is the one thing that needs a bit of improvement. Right out of the bottle, taking a big whiff when there's plenty of head, it vaguely reminds me of a stale macro. Perhaps a bit more dry-hopping is needed. But, don't let that scare you, it dissipates quickly and it settles down to the pleasing aroma of light cascade hops.

The taste is quite reminiscent of its cousins. Drier than Mirror Pond, it lacks a bit of "creaminess" which you can find in that beer. However, I expect that in a summer beer, as crispness should be its defining quality. Cascade hops dominate, and light malting leaves a clean aftertaste.

The mouthfeel is very light. It combines with the taste to make for a very, very drinkable beer. My thermometer is 84 degrees (F) as I write this and, although I love the 10% double IPAs and Imperial Stouts, they just don't work on a hot day. This beer is ideal when the mercury is a risin'.

Conclusion: Not a beer for cold winter nights or when craving serious hops, but very pleasing for hot summer days. Try it in a frozen mug or pint glass.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2005 23:45:50 | More by hansendc