Summer Six Pack Sesh

A cold one sounds good right about now, doesn’t it? Yes it does, because summer was made for beer and it’s hot as Hades this July. How ironic then, that this is the season of absolute treason when it comes to good beer, or as Allen Ginsburg once put it, “I’ve seen the best minds of our generation destroyed by thirst, taking Corona baths in the streets.” Dudes, there’s no excuse.
Summer is also the season that many breweries release a seasonal ale perfect for sweaty poolside chugging. Generally these beers are regarded as too light, too fruity or just plain boring in beer snob circles, which is a shame because they don’t all suck. So to celebrate Independence Day we at Hot Knives threw a barbecue with only one mission in mind: to settle once and for all whether the proverbial summer brew should be considered a wuss beverage or an essential, seasonal fixture of beer culture.
Seasonal Contenders
Summer Solstice
(Anderson Valley)
Eyes: A surprisingly dark copper, like prehistoric sap. Little head.
Nose: Sweet syrup.
Tongue: The heaviest hints are of cane sugar and deliciously rich malt. No hops.
Brain: This beer is not working on levels. It’s a simple and straightforward amber, sweeter than most and perfect for sustained sipping. The only thing deceptive is the color.
Overall: 3 out of 5
Summerfest
(Sierra Nevada)
Eyes: Uh-oh. Looks like Budweiser.
Nose: Light and hoppy. You can almost smell the bubbles.
Tongue: A decidedly boring, traditional lager taste with some mild hops.
Brain: Their iconic pale ale is far better than this. In fact, Summerfest optimizes what beer heads often hold against a summer beer: its extreme drinkability.
Overall: 2 out of 5
Solstice Wit Beer
(Berghoff)
Eyes: A mildly burnt-looking gold color. A strong foamy head with lots of carbonation.
Nose: Nice, if overpowering, floral notes of both orange and lemon.
Tongue: The first sip is a little shockingly citrusy, a tart malt taste your tongue never quite gets used to. The aftertaste is all water.
Brain: The fruit notes seem artificial, more like Fanta than beer, but this would be a good brew for people who like weird malt liquor or wine coolers.
Overall: 2 out of 5
#10 Summer Ale (Lagunitas)
Eyes: The perfect balance of gold and copper, with a medium head.
Nose: Mild, with hints of citrus and hay.
Tongue: The initial vanilla sugar taste rolls into a complex, hoppy bite.
Brain: This beer is refreshing and extremely drinkable without being too boring. The sweetness matches the hops well.
Overall: 4 out of 5
Year-round Challengers
Cinder Cone Red Ale
(Deschutes Brewery)
Eyes: Some beers pour better than others; this is one of them. The color of a red squirrel.
Nose: Woodsy with a hint of hops.
Tongue: Impossibly good, with a touch of roasted malts and a strong bitter burst.
Brain: Nothing about this beer implies a seasonal mandate per se, but it would make a thirst-quench pint anytime.
Overall: 5 out of 5
PranQster Golden Ale
(North Coast Brewing Co.)
Eyes: Very reflective, almost like staring at gold bars.
Nose: A slight spice with wafts of wheat.
Tongue: The booziness is up front, followed by a great floral note and a breeze of fresh Belgian-style richness.
Brain: This Cali imitation of an abbey-style beer is impeccable, an obvious choice for a summer session of beer drinking.
Overall: 5 out of 5
India Pale Ale (Lagunitas)
Eyes: Nothing special. Minimum head and crisp, clean look.
Nose: Nice and berry-laden hop sniff.
Tongue: A sickly sweet, perfectly pungent IPA taste. Familiar and well-honed.
Brain: This trusty IPA is another great beer that doesn’t necessarily scream “summer.”
Overall: 3 out of 5
Festive Ale (Rogue)
Eyes: Nice fizz, nice clouds.
Nose: Like bread dough, sticky sweet.
Tongue: Pretty predictable. It drinks like most Belgian triples.
Brain: This is no Prankster.
Overall: 3 out of 5
13 Weizen Doppelbock
(Avery Brewing Co.)
Eyes: A light nutty brown, nearly milk-chocolate in color.
Nose: A rising spice kinda like baked fruit bread.
Tongue: An initial booze clobber you expect from Avery, with a more subtle nudge toward German bock tradition that must have taken restraint from these malt freaks.
Brain: By being a bock, the association here is with fall not summer, but by the time we got to this brew the hose was out, the sun was down and the smell of fireworks made this sweet sipper a Born on the Fourth of July fave.
Overall: 4 out of 5