While so far our blog has been dedicated to reviewing beers local to us, Paul and I wanted to make sure that at least some of the beers we were talking about were available on a national scale. With that in mind we chose three summer beers that can be purchased from here to Florida to Washington. Unfortunately, what we discovered is that sometimes there's a compromise between quality and quantity. I know there are some fabulous summer beers out there (Harpoon for example makes a great one, but they're done distributing it this year), we just didn't happen to get any in this week's tasting.
Summer Ale
By Narragansett
Summer ale - 4.2% ABV - Narragansett, RI
Amy: Of these three summer beers, the cheapest was by far the best. Narragansett's summer ale is light and summery with a low ABV that made for mild flavors and easy afternoon drinking. There's a slight hint of coriander or orange peel, which is a nice touch in the heat of August. It's very drinkable and refreshing without any off flavors. If you're looking for a cheap and reliable summer beer, reach for this can.
Paul: Predictably, there's nothing special going on here. Basically, if you're on a budget and you want a summer beer, this is your guy. With virtually no nose, minimal flavoring either of hops or malt, and an extremely light body, this is the beer for the non-beer drinker at the BBQ. That being said, there's nothing wrong being a pretty neutral crowd-pleaser, and this beer is bland without being offensive.
Paul: Predictably, there's nothing special going on here. Basically, if you're on a budget and you want a summer beer, this is your guy. With virtually no nose, minimal flavoring either of hops or malt, and an extremely light body, this is the beer for the non-beer drinker at the BBQ. That being said, there's nothing wrong being a pretty neutral crowd-pleaser, and this beer is bland without being offensive.
Amy - 3.5 stars
Paul - 2 stars
Total - 5.5
Summer Rye Ale
By Mayflower Brewing Co.
3.8% ABV- Plymouth, MA
Amy: I wasn't sure what to expect from a "summer rye" as I normally think of rye as being dark and heavy. This beer was surprisingly pale blond in color with a light, bright, fruity, and wheaty nose. I was wondering how much of the rye would come through until I took a sip and was hit with the slightly burnt, malty, bitter flavor of the rye in the tail end of the drink. Those flavors aren't necessarily negative, they're something I enjoy in a hearty winter draught, but were really out of place in a summer ale. The Mayflower summer rye mostly tastes like a light, wheat beer, but the flavor of the rye sticks to your tongue, leaving an unpleasant sour/burnt taste that lingers. I'd take a sip, think, "this isn't that bad," and then that aftertaste would sneak up on me, making me dread the next sip.
Paul: In a summer brewing field dominated by beers flavored with orange peel and coriander, this is certainly an odd duck. This ale has an extremely light body that carries a sour rye flavor with a hit of malt. While I agree with Amy on the bitterness at the back of the palette, I didn't mind it at all. Instead, I wish there had been more body to the beer so it could stand up to the rye and hops more effectively. As it is, this beer is light to the point of watery, and so suffered from a lack of structure for the pronounced and interesting flavors. A rethink of this recipe might produce a delicious beer, but for now I'd skip it.
Paul: In a summer brewing field dominated by beers flavored with orange peel and coriander, this is certainly an odd duck. This ale has an extremely light body that carries a sour rye flavor with a hit of malt. While I agree with Amy on the bitterness at the back of the palette, I didn't mind it at all. Instead, I wish there had been more body to the beer so it could stand up to the rye and hops more effectively. As it is, this beer is light to the point of watery, and so suffered from a lack of structure for the pronounced and interesting flavors. A rethink of this recipe might produce a delicious beer, but for now I'd skip it.
Amy - 2 stars
Paul - 1.5 stars
Total - 3.5
Summer Ale
By Samuel Adams Brewing Co.
5.3% ABV- Boston, MA
Amy: Why is it that the worst beer of the bunch is the one I see most often when I'm out of town? Sam Adams Summer Ale, that staple of airport bars, is a cloying, watery-sweet, and overwhelming beer. There's so much going on that you can't focus and enjoy any specific flavor. It's like drinking a mouthful of spices whisked into water. This beer is way too heavy for summer sipping. I told Paul at first that drinking it felt like being hit in the face with a potpourri-ed, frilly, and fluffy stuffed animal, but I'm not sure that's true. I'd never be able to ignore being hit in the face, but after half a Sam Adams I managed to block out the flavors completely.
Paul: Let me preface that I like Sam Adams as a brewery. Some of the experimental and high gravity beers from them have been phenomenal, and their early success spurred the growth of many other craft brewers across the country. Unfortunately, this isn't one of the beers I like to remember them for. This ale, with grains of paradise and lemon peel, is overwhelming. I believe the exact phrase I used on the tasting notes were "overwhelming herbal flavors with some orange, pepper, and coriander." That's a lot for one bottle, and I think it is probably too much. To me, it's indicative of a microbrewery gone macro. I can see them saying: "These are the flavors that will make this beer taste like a craft brewed beer" and then getting it all wrong because they've become a little out of touch with the people who used to drink their beer all the time (me). For shame, Sam Adams, for shame.
Amy - 0.5 stars
Paul - 2 stars
Total - 2.5
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