Summit Scandia Ale

Brewed by Summit Brewing Company
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
St. Paul, Minnesota USA

Bottle. Head is initially small, fizzy, white, mostly diminishing. Body is hazy light yellow, unfiltered. Aroma is lightly malty (toasted grain), with notes of chamomile & lavender, ginger. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, moderately bitter, unclean. Light to medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Eh.

Golden color. Smell of wheat, yeast, clove, cinamon, pepper and lemon. Taste of citrus peal, yeast, hot dog water, pepper, clove, ginger and lemon.

On tap at the brewery. A rather curious (marketing?) concept. I understand that the addition of cardamom is what provides the "Scandinavian interpretation". Not that any of that really matters. Pale gold colour and rather clearer than I would expect from the style. Lots of spices in evidence, with coriander to the fore. However, I can’t say I specifically picked up the cardamom. There’s a light lemony bite in the flavour but there’s also a slightly sweet overall impression. Pleasant enough

lots of wheat and coriander in the nose. flavor is wheaty, quite lemony tart. frankly, not that interesting...as are most of Summit’s beers.

Bottle poured a cloudy yellow with a large lasting white head. Aromas of wheat, orange and coriander. Palate was light bodied and crisp. Flavors of coriander, wheat, light orange and a hint of lemon with a crisp lingering spice finish.

12 ounce bottle from Cellars Wine and Spirits on Larpenteur, Roseville MN (June 2007, served a bit above fridge temperature from a Duvel glass. A small-to-medium frothy head seems ungenerous, though it is quite stable sitting above the opaque pale gold body....quite expressive spicy aroma, wheat sourness and light orange-lemon are there but overall this is dominated by clove, ginger and pepper though never too much; this is really quite inviting and delightful....the body is much more peppery and dry than the vast majority of American wits, quite refreshing, lightly yeasty/bready in the center, becoming quite dry and tart at the finish, with fruit characteristics muted throughout....if anything this is a little too dry for me, and the slight cardboardy edge at the finish doesn’t help; but bitterness and pepper continue onward, and on the whole this is one of this brewer’s best beers, and one of the best American wits I’ve had. Bravo!

Thick straw yellow with nice white head. Big fruity and wheat nose. Hugh hit of sweet citrus fruit up front with a nice bit of coriander. Really well balanced wit.

The first tim I had this beer I wasn’t a fan. But since I have been exposed to Witbier, I like this version of the style. On a summer day/evening this is a great session beer. There is the standard orange peel and coriander flavors of other wits, but I enjoy how this beer is balanced.