CJ Camp says line ‘em up
April 18th, 2008
Put a Schell Maifest and a Summit Maibock side by side last night, in an effort to get caught up around here.
They looked about the same, pretty blonde color, decent head on both. Nice mouthfeel, excellent flavor (I like the maibocks). No disappointments with either one. The Maifest was a little sweeter than the Maibock.
Both these beers appropriately provide a great transition from my winter beer preference (dark, heavy and sweet) to my summer beer preference (lighter, hoppier). I’m pretty happy that we have more around the house.
CJ Camp says line ‘em up
April 18th, 2008
Put a Schell Maifest and a Summit Maibock side by side last night, in an effort to get caught up around here.
They looked about the same, pretty blonde color, decent head on both. Nice mouthfeel, excellent flavor (I like the maibocks). No disappointments with either one. The Maifest was a little sweeter than the Maibock.
Both these beers appropriately provide a great transition from my winter beer preference (dark, heavy and sweet) to my summer beer preference (lighter, hoppier). I’m pretty happy that we have more around the house.
Eric says To Style
April 16th, 2008
Mai Bocks are a sure sign of spring and summer to come, especially in Minnesota: They’re released in March, and you start looking forward to the Hefeweizens and Saisons–and then wham! you get 8 more inches of snow. I’ve been ready to leave the bock season for a couple weeks now, including the 2 or 3 I brewed myself, so it’s hard to finish this Mai Bock. With that, I think this nails the style. Strong, yet easy to drink with a nice sweet aftertaste. I have found that I prefer the darker bocks like dopples, so while I drank the entire bottle of Summit Maibock, I didn’t enjoy it!
Erica says I think I should like it more than I actually do.
February 10th, 2008
A tad creamy. I do like the malt flavor on my tongue. The slightly hoppy finish is meh, more because that’s my personal preference than because it’s poorly done. I could keep drinking it, but I wouldn’t savor it.
Matt N says Warms Me Up
February 5th, 2008
One of my favorite Summit beers. I’m not sure if it is just the coffee flavor, but it really warms me up. Great after hunting for the winter carnival medallion, or after shoveling, or after breakfast.
moe says Comfort Beer
February 4th, 2008
It’s not really winter in Minnesota until I’ve had my first Summit Winter Ale, both on tap and a 12-pack at home. It’s not the best winter brew I’ve had, but I will still buy it every year. It just tastes like a Minnesota winter.
brendan says Winter Good
February 4th, 2008
This beer is frequently a solid performer. I enjoy it every year. But I have to say that it does not light my fire as much as a more high flying beer. It’s solid and good and enjoyable, I buy a twelve pack or more every year. It inspires loyalty rather than slavish devotion.
tomh says Exactly what I needed
February 3rd, 2008
I’m enjoying this tasty beer while watching a rather boring Super Bowl. Summit never disappoints. Winter isn’t the best dark beer that I’ve ever had, and it’s far from the worst.
Rett says Wait, did I grab the EPA?
February 1st, 2008
Not because of the taste, this definitely tastes different, and I really liked it. But when I was at the liquor store I had to double check to make sure it was the Winter and not the EPA. They just look so similar. From a brand perspective it’s important to have consistency across beers, but I’d like to see a bit more uniqueness. Continue reading Wait, did I grab the EPA?
vonklebs says solid performer
January 30th, 2008
You can smell the higher alcohol content, followed by a sweet aroma. Has a smooth start and crisp finish; good body, nice head (oh crap this sounds like the wrong kind of posting now), good balance of sweat and slight bitter. Not a personal favorite style, but always look forward to having a few during the cold months.
DeRushaJ says I’m Having Trouble With Winter
January 30th, 2008
I really enjoyed this beer. It’s very drinkable, it’s very tasty. It went down quickly and smoothly last night, as I enjoyed some delicious hot and sour soup. But I’m having a hard time reviewing it, because I can’t think of much to say about it. I guess I should just say, I like it. I don’t love it. But I’d drink it again.
Mac says Not a favorite
January 30th, 2008
Not really a big fan of this one…I think it is just the style I really don’t like. There are a lot of good flavors, but the whole mix together…just really not that crazy about it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a horrible beer by any measure. Reading some of the other comments on this beer I guess I have to agree with CJ Camp, this beer is nothing to get up about. The good thing is that the Great Summit Brewing Co has plenty of other quality beers for me to enjoy!
CJ Camp says I don’t know what it is…
January 30th, 2008
I just can’t get excited about this beer, which is too bad, because if I read its description somewhere, I’d tell myself that I ought to get some immediately.
I’ve been drinking this all winter, both at Tracy’s and at home. On my most recent pour at home, I managed about a finger of head. Lovely reddish-brown color. Smells like someone put roasted malt in there!
And then…
I don’t know. It just kind of tastes like a basic dark beer. Thin-to-medium body. It’s got decent malt-to-hops balance, with the roast flavor coming on fairly strong midway through and a mild, hoppy finish. It tastes like a light porter.
I like it. I drink it. I just can’t get excited about it.
Eric says Subtle Perfection
January 28th, 2008
A couple years ago I stopped drinking Summit Winter. Well, not completely. I would have one or two each year, and then hang it up. “This is just a brown ale,” I would decry. My friends and I would swear that Summit Winter used to be a spiced up porter, full of ambition and hope, and that a couple years ago they went soft
But now I’m not so sure. (Was it me? Did they change the recipe?)
I can’t get enough of this years’ brew.
Maybe it’s my palate, or maybe it was the Summit Winter on cask I had right before Christmas, smooth and creamy, reinvigorating my belief in Summit. That happens every so often; I get bored and worn down on Summit, and then I have a particularly fine pint of EPA, or try a limited release stout with brettomyces, and it’s like falling in love all over again.
This year’s Winter is like that. It pours a creamy mahogany, exactly what I want on a cold night. I’m thrilled by it’s subtle perfection, and even more thrilled that it’s Summit that brought it to me.