Summit Winter Ale

Date: 04/07/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, 50 Beers on the Wall

clear dark brown, short lived beige head, drops of lace, dark caramel malt aroma with light sweetness, rich sweet caramel malt flavor, earthy bitterness,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

(Bottle) Pours a dark amber/brown with a thin tan head. Descent tasting winter ale.

Pours a deep dark brown with a thick, forthy and nicely-lacing tan head. Nice rich toasty caramel toffee aroma has a touch of noble hops and some milk chocolate complexity. Body starts with good viscosity, nice, lightly sweet, full caramel maltiness and a smooth, lightly bitter dark chocolatey finish. A very nice and enjoyable winter warmer. Probably the best beer I’ve had from Summit yet.

Tasted before Rogue Santa's Private Reserve, and it lost that battle. It is nice, but different than most other winter ales... resembling an average stout or porter actually. Smokey hop flavor with a more wood-like aroma. Goes sweet over the tongue, has some maple and vanilla, and is quite abrasive and dry. Bland finish... almost fishy in the burps... stouty is what I wrote down... maybe should be a smoked porter.

Pouring deep mahogany with a thin tan head, this has a deep roasted aroma with chocolate and nuts and coffee and spices. It’s a bit thing and watery in the mouth. The thusly weakened flavor still has plenty of roasted malts to enjoy along with bittersweet chocolate and some mild hopping on the finish. Odd ale.

Rich mohagany color with a lid of shiny light tan bubbles. Sweet mid roasted malts dominate the nose. Mild toasted malts with a light sweetness. Finish has a light bite of spice and alcohol. Smooth on the palate.

Dark tawny brown color with tan creamy head and nice lacing. Light pine and hop aroma, lightly earthy. Flavor is sweet and malty, rich and fruity. Finishes creamy and lightly zesty. A decent winter seasonal.

Bottle. Pours a dark brown with a small rocky head that diminished slowly. Good malty brown sugar aroma. Medium body with a thin texture. Moderate roasted malt flavor with a good bitter finish. Good drinkable brew.