First Posted: 5/21/2013
Beer: Summer Ale
Brewer: Brooklyn Brewery
Style: English Pale Ale
ABV: 5.0%
Description: Brooklyn’s Summer Ale pours a clear golden yellow with a wispy cloud-like white head that quickly thins out, but lingers. The aromas all bring about thoughts of enjoyable summer days from the citrus/earthy hops to the refreshing malt and even subtle hints of lemon and iced tea. The taste of this beer is again perfect for summer weather, very light and extremely refreshing. The initial flavor that comes through is the English malt with hints of lemon and notes of hops following quickly, but not in an IPA biting sense: more of a soothing caress on the taste buds that cleanses the palate. The final subtle taste that comes through is that of fresh-brewed iced tea before a wonderful crisp finish. The carbonation and body for the beer are perfect for the style and make the beer undeniably refreshing. If it is possible to put summer into a bottle, I believe that Brooklyn Brewery has done it with this magnificent beer.
Food pairing: This is a very versatile beer, but it is absolutely perfect for your entire summer foodstuff. Any grilled meats are wonderful, especially a juicy burger straight off the grill, which is just heaven on a plate with this beer. The wonderful English malt seemingly melds into the flavors of the meat, and for an added treat, have yourself a nice applewood smoked burger with this beer and just enjoy being alive. This is also a great beer to have with some lighter dishes, such as a nice summer salad with or without meat. Another great accompaniment to this beer is seafood dishes; whether you are thinking fish, shrimp, or clams, Summer Ale is just perfect. Another great time of day to enjoy this beer is late morning with a nice Sunday brunch; it is light and refreshing enough to have with your favorite omelet or perfect with a hefty quiche.
Is it worth trying? Yes. The light character of this beer makes it the perfect accompaniment to the weather. Many of the “summer beers” available now seem to be filled with an overabundance of lemon or some other citrus fruit. While I am certainly not diminishing these beers, it is great to have a beer that is light, refreshing, full of taste, and not “fruity.” Brooklyn’s Summer Ale is just a perfect summer beer no matter how you look at it. It is unbelievably refreshing and can be enjoyed at any time during the day throughout the summer season. On these soon-to-be hot summer days, whether you are outside doing yard work, stuck inside working, or just relaxing and enjoying the day, grab yourself a bottle of Brooklyn’s Summer Ale and truly enjoy the weather and the beer while you still can!
Rating: W W W W
Where can I get it? Currently available in bottles at: Wegmans, Dickson City; Beer Boys, Wilkes-Barre; Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer, Wilkes-Barre; and Goldstein’s Deli, Kingston.
Remember, enjoy responsibly! Cheers!
-Derek Warren is a beer expert, avid homebrewer, and beer historian. Derek can be reached at NEPABeerGeek@gmail.com.
