It’s the most wonderful time for a beer. I tried my hand at Summit’s Penalty Box and wrote some slurred and snowy words about the holiday season.
What’s in it? Summit’s offering some classics (Summit Extra Pale Ale, Horizon Red IPA) alongside their seasonal (Winter Ale) and the debut of something truly special – the Summit High Sticke Alt.
Winter Ale – 6.1% – Winter Warmer
Summit describes it as “Bready, toasted malt flavor with hints of coffee/espresso, caramel, black cherry, cocoa and a dash of hop spice. It’ll warm your cockles. Whatever those are.”
And they are on point. I noticed some earthy hops and spice, with dark fruit flavors, like cherry, raisins and plums. On the backend there’s a dark, heavily toasted malt flavor. A winter warmer indeed.
‘Why don’t humans hibernate?
I can forgive an unforgiving
winter, If I could hole up
by the fire, with books, beer
for this part of the year.’
High Sticke – 6.3% -Altbier
Summit describes their alt as “malt flavors of caramel and biscuit, plus a slap shot of hop spice and assertive bitterness, High Sticke offers bold fruit flavors and cold, crisp drinkability.”
You definitely notice the caramel biscuit flavors. Like the Winter Ale, there’s a noticeable spice bite to it, and again, some dark fruit flavor. But whereas the Winter Ale has an earthier roasted malt, this has a sweeter, caramelly flavor.
‘Beating hearts melt snow
underneath a mistletoe
a kiss, we share shiny
wrapped gifts, candy canes
and foggy window panes.
Can you feel it? The winter holiday spirit?’
Extra Pale Ale – 5.3% – EPA
Here Summit says about their iconic EPA “Featuring caramel, biscuity malts balanced by an earthy hop bite and juicy citrus.”
And what read is what you get. It’s filled with citrus and piney hop flavor, giving it a good amount of bitterness, that’s balanced by sweet malts.
‘When winter
winds blow
bitter cold have hope
and always know
the bar you call home
ain’t far down the road.’
Horizon Red – 5.7% – Red IPA
Summit describes it as “an intense pine, citrus and earthy character in the nose and on the tongue.”
What I noticed with the Horizon Red were subtle sweetness from the malt, spicy grain notes, and citrus bitterness. It’s a great take on the amber/red styles for those who lean for the hoppiness of an IPA.
‘Oh the
weather outside is frightful
and the Horizon Red is so delightful,
and since we’ve got no place to go,
go ahead pour
one more.’