Summit Extra Pale Ale

Brewed by Summit Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
St. Paul, Minnesota USA

On Tap at Embassy Suites in Bloomington Minnesota. Deep amber, minimal tan head with little lacing. Aroma of fruity floral hops and a caramel malt. Flavor is balanced between fruity sweetness, bitter-citrus hops and roasty undertones. Body is smooth and light to medium with a bitter-sweet finish. Excellent session beer to consume at the bar while watching the Vikings with your brother-in-law.

Perfect. Best beer in upper Midwest. Summit’s other creations leave a little to be desired, but this is the standard for American Pale Ales. Clear amber Brown, creamy off white head, bitter, stinging hoppy taste, goes down smooth and creamy, very aromatic. Drink culminates in a crisp sharp aftertaste not produced by many beers; Most IPAs or PAs have a somewhat dull lingering aftertaste; Summit’s is razor sharp and tingly. Most popular beer in Minneapolis/ St. Paul for a reason.

A clear copper pour with medium white head and a mild citrus hop aroma. It has a bittersweet taste that finishes dry. The relatively low alcohol content makes this a good session beer.

Bottle poured into a Summit shaker. Clear orange/copper pour. Very carbonated indeed with a white head. Different variety of hops on the nose. Sort of a winter camping smell, with a leafy gentleness. Taste is hoppy bitter with a tingle that is fair to say the least. A nice amount of hops on the taste as well as a piney earth flavor. Not bad at all, but a little simple.

Aroma is a bit light, citrus hops -- grapefruit specifically. Head is maybe a pinky finger thick. Pretty well balanced between hops and malts, the latter of which has hints of caramel. Could be bolder in flavor, a bit too carbonated. I agree with those who say this is a good summer beer.

[Bottle] Pours a light amber color with a slight haze. Very little head. Aroma of grains and light citrus. Taste is pretty similar, with various citrus notes. I got some lemon and grapefruit especially. Dry finish with some slight pine notes. Decent palate. A good beer in general.

Poured from bottle into Summit pint glass. Clear, pale amber with a quickly settling head and some lacing. Aroma of citrus hops and sweet grainy malts. Strong caramel and toasted malts flavoring for an APA. Mild sweet, fruity flavors and somewhat of a citrus hop balance. Sharp malt and somewhat bitter aftertaste. Moderately high carbonation, with a moderate body and strangely semi-sweet finish. This is often the session beer of choice in Minnesota. I can understand why so many love it, but there is something about the malts that is a slight distraction for me. Very good brew nonetheless that is easy to keep chugging away.

Draft: Golden orange with a modest sandy colored head. Nice thick sheets of lacing. Mild, almost faint aroma is lightly sweet with citrus and caramel. The tastes comes through much more flavorful. Citrus hops, grapefruit, even grape itself, and a small amount of maltiness. Wet feeling overall. Very light floral element. This is drinkable stuff; potentially a perfect house beer for summer.