Red Ales are a great way to experience a rich malt based and vibrant hop centered beer. You get the best of both worlds! Today’s brew under scrutiny is a melodious blend of both hops and malts. Summit Brewery in St. Paul, MN utilizes a nice variety of ingredients such as pale (2-row), caramel, cara-red, wheat, and black malts which give it a great caramel flavor and medium body. The hops added are Amarillo, Horizon, Cascade, and Summit providing a wonderful bouquet.

The color is a deep caramel; amber, copper hue with a substantial head (really depends on how you pour it). I wanted to get the full effect of the hop aroma so I poured this beer right down the center of the glass the whole time releasing hoppy goodness (unlike my picture I would recommend pouring this in a tulip glass to catch the aroma). It was a very fruity, citrus nose. The aroma was energizing and took me to a tropical paradise. I detected hints of pineapple, orange, and grapefruit. The malts added a caramel layer, but the aroma was hop focused.

The taste was exceptional. The toasty, biscuit, caramel flavors hit my tongue with a bold sweetness. The bitterness was apparent throughout the entire sip making this beer a good one for hop heads desiring a rich bodied beer. The first time I had this beer I’d say it was well-balanced, but now I’m noticing that the flavors lend it more towards the hoppier side (not by much).

The mouthfeel was medium and the aftertaste had a pop or snap to it. The sweetness and bitterness lingered on my palate for some time as though it was fighting for control of my taste buds. I’d highly recommend picking up this power packed Red Ale.

ABV: 5.7%

Grade: A