Summit Winter Ale Review #66

Summit Winter Ale
ABV: 5.9%
Style: English Strong Ale
Winter Seasonal
12oz Bottle Poured Into A Dogfish Head Tumbler

This unique seasonal beer offers the warmth of an old English pub to help ward off the chill of a winter’s night. It has its origins in British neighborhood pubs where villagers would gather to shake off the damp cold of the bitter English winter. They’d share a pint or two of winter warmer ale by the fire, catch up on local gossip, and stay inside, where it was warm. We’ve brewed our version in the tradition of those winter ales, with a robust, full-bodied flavor and a tangy hint of spices.

Summit Brewing Company
St. Paul Minnesota
Private And Employee Owned
1986
80,000 Barrels

Appearance:
Dark Garnet Brown Color
Hulking Bold Head
Sustained Head Retention
Sporadic Drippy Lacing
Clarity Was So Dark, You Couldn't See Through It Even With A Flashlight 
Heavy Looking Liquid
Great Color Combo Between The Head And Body Of This Beer

Aroma:
Aroma Is Based A Lot On A Nutty Fragrance
Juniper Berry
Roasted Barley
Rich Caramel Aroma
Molasses
Almonds
Touch Of Cinnamon
Truffle

Mouth Feel:
Porter Esq Style But With More Carbonation
Fuller Side Of A Thin Bodied Beer
Sessionable Beer- Goes Down Uncomplicated Enough And Better With Multiply Tastings, But Isn't Overly Interesting
Temperate Subdued Aftertaste
Unhurried Drinkability- A Few Of These Before Bed Will Help With Those Long Winter Nights
Substantial Mouth Feel With A Prickly Touch
Muted And Boring Textured Body
Sweet/Bitter Balance
Roasty Finish At The Wrong Time
Tacky On The Palate, Strategically Trapping Unwanted Flavors, Were My Best Taste Buds Lie

The taste has a slight tangy spice upfront, with a touch of bourbon. Then roasted barley, caramel and some baker’s chocolate. Quite porter like. Mid sip some earthy hops come out and maybe a touch of floral hops. A touch of nuttiness. Spice shows up later in the sip with an earthy and slightly wintery spice flavor. Similar to a hoppy porter. 


2 Out Of 6
Don't Want A Sixer