Sierra Nevada's Summerfest is a bottom fermented beer (a lager) that is brewed every year for the summer months.
Review:
Appearance: Straw in color and very clear. A quarter inch head dissipates down to an eighth of an inch, but stays at this level through the glass.
Aroma: The grain husk smell of pilsner malt is rather apparent in this beer. The slight sulfur note is obvious to me, but may be less obvious to someone who is less sensitive to that characteristic. Hop notes, including lemon peel and fresh cut hay, are also present but are at a very low level.
Taste: This lager starts slightly sweet, but quickly transitions to a tangy orange/lemon peel taste and feel. The finish is tangy and less crisp than I remember from years past.
Mouthfeel: There is a strong sensation of a pilsner, but without the crisp finish... specifically the feel of pilsner malt husk shines through. The carbonation is medium/high which helps lighten the perceived viscosity.
Finish: In Sierra Nevada style, this beer has a gripping hop bite. It also has an astringency that is not unlike water with a squeeze of lemon in it.
(Side note: Although Sierra Nevada makes a wide variety of Ales, this is one of two seasonal beers that is lagered. The other is the spring release, Glissade.)
Overall:
I have, of course, tasted this beer in years past. This year the hop presence seems a bit more prominent than previous years. In some ways I like it, but the lingering lemon peel sensation cancels out the crispness that I've come to expect in this beer and this style. Usually this is a B+ beer for me, but this year...
Grade: C+
Barrel Man says,
"I like Bikini Blonde
better."
(This bottle purchased at Foodland Supermarket)
No comments:
Post a Comment