Summit knows hops are the best way to beat winter blues.
The Summit IPA pack features one of Summit’s flagships, the Saga IPA, along with three brand new brews. There is the Summit Wee IPA, the Summit Experimental IPA, and the Summit Imperial IPA.
Let’s celebrate hops the best way I know how. Getting drunk and writing poems inspired by them.
Saga – 6.4% – IPA
Summit’s Saga. I love this IPA. Summit describes it as a beer with “robust hop flavors and aromas of kiwi, apricot and passionfruit.”
For me, it’s on my short list of go-to IPAs. It has hoppy notes of citrus, stonefruits, and a bit of grassiness and pine, with a rich malt backend full of caramel and biscuit flavor.
‘Foggy wan white clouds hang heavy
dirty swan wings over February
dreams of the west and running away
white-knuckled to hope, pray
sunshine’s a coming
hear the summer, electric, humming.’
Wee IPA – 4.7% – Session Ale
“Heavily hopped and low in alcohol, this sessionable pale ale presents aggressive aromas of passionfruit, melon, pineapple and tangerine, as well as sturdy malt flavors of bread crust and toast.”
Shit, this session is refreshing. You get the taste of pineapple, tropical fruits, and some zesty citrus right away. After that, you get a very subtle crackery malt. I love the burgeoning session movement. Sessions are the perfect Sunday beer and help ensure your Monday isn’t too rough.
‘Sundays sitting sipping
sessions slow songs listening
melodies romantic
lyrics sorta tragic
painful pang nostalgic.’
Experimental Hop – 6.0% – IPA
“Assertively hoppy with intense aromas of fresh berries, pineapple, apricot, peach and coconut, Summit Experimental Hop IPA deploys hops so new and mysterious they don’t have names. Flanked by a complex grain bill featuring Argentina pale malt from Cargill — never before used in the U.S. in a production-level assault — Summit Head Brewer Damian McConn has crafted a drinkable IPA at 6% ABV and 60 badass IBU.”
That’s quite the introduction. Thankfully, the experimental IPA lives up to the hype. There is a lot going here. There is grapefruit and citrus bitterness, along with a juicy, tropical fruit flavor. The malt side is smooth. Like cream soda smooth. It kind of reminds me of an APA, or like a tropical fruit cream ale.
‘Electric brain on fire
synthwave synapses
shooting meteor showers
beer ideas flash quick n bright
like skyscraper windows in the early night.’
Imperial IPA – 8.5% – DIPA
“The baddest beast in the box, Summit Imperial IPA is a powerful ale that’ll batter your senses with immense aromas of tangerine, stone fruit, melon and lemon — thanks to a giant all-American hop bill.”
The strongest for last. The Imperial has super strong notes of juicy fruit, like mango, pineapple, and peach. There’s also a slight earthiness and pine bitterness, and some crackery malts. But the malts here are pretty much in the backseat as the juicy fruit notes highlight this delicious double.
‘Come take my hand
strike up the band
let’s two-step toward heaven
over and over again. ‘
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(Want me to write about your beer? Click here.
Curious about what the hell a 12 pack poem is? Click here.)