Way back in 1986, before craft brewing was even cool, Summit Brewing Company Founder and President Mark Stutrud set out in St. Paul, Minnesota, to make craft beers inspired by old-world brewing traditions and ingredients. More than 30 years have passed since he first brewed our flagship Summit Extra Pale Ale, and it’s safe to say he freaking nailed it.
Today, Summit Brewing continues to infuse traditional recipes with modern ingredients from around the world, crafting high-quality and consistent craft beer out of respect for the hardworking folks who enjoy our beer.
And because we’re independently owned and operated, we get to make craft beer our way. That means relying on natural carbonation, protecting the foam, and celebrating the true dance between malts, hops, water, and yeast. It means protecting the environment, supporting the community and the arts, being kind to animals, and always having one more beer with our friends and family even if we’re already late for rotary club. It means drinking our beer fresh and cold, because warm storage turns good beer to shit. And it means never settling for “good enough,” always pulling the goalie when we’ve got a chance to win, swinging for the fences, and never, ever forgetting where we come from. Grain country represent.
Bottle: Very dark brown pour with an ample tan head. Aroma is lightly spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon and a heavy roasted malt backer. Tastes of well-roasted malts, a light chocolate sweetness, faint bitters, and the complimentary pupmkin pie spices. Nutmeg, nothing else really stands out. Smooth and creamy. The roasty presence blends very well with the bittersweet and spicey elements. Solid offering.
12oz bottle pours a translucent, copper amber with some wispy white head. Nose is mild, wet malt. Flavor is sweet, metallic, malty, sweet, light bread. Watery finish.
Pour is a black with a large tan head. Aroma is roasted malts, nuts and a cinnamon. Flavor is again roasted malts, some chestnuts and a nutmeg. The pumpkin was not very pronounced. As a Impy stout this was just ok but if the word pumpkin was not on the label I would not have known it was used in this beer. This may be a bit old but not that old.
Tasted at the big “SeaBass has got to go” tasting courtesy HonusWagner. Pours mahogany with tan head. The aroma has dark roasted malts, some burnt malts, mild pumpkin meat notes and mild winter spices in the background. The taste is similar with roasted malts to burnt malts leading the way creating a slight roasted malt astringency drying sensation. Well behind those notes is a thin layer of pumpkin and smooth cinnamon and nutmeg like spices.
Bottle @ Seabass going away party, Jan15th ’11 brune foncée, mousse beige Note d’épice et citrouille qui reste un peu en retrait pour laisser plus de place à l’aspect porter de la bière. Reste légère au palais avec pas mal de malt grillé et noir.
12oz bottle. Glowing red-black-brown color. Big beige head the quickly fades into an oily layer. Sweet sugary pumpkin aroma. Wow. They really nail it. Captures both Pumpkin Ale and Porter characteristics, combining them quite nicely. Rich, sugary, and full bodied, this is getting close to dessert beer. The alcohol doesn’t really show, just incorporates itself into the big flavor profile. Another solid Unchained.
One of the the best products Summit has ever made. A thick and heavy porter. Black with roasted malt. Aroma has cloves and spice. Full flavor, malt, spice including nutmeg and cardamom. The pumpkin compliments, rather than dominates. Thick on the palate.
Bottle. Pours a clear amber with a small frothy white head that diminishes quickly leaving decent lacing. The aroma is a fruity malt with raisin and cereal. Thin mouthfeel with a bready malt with caramel and raisin. Easy to drink hiding the alcohol well, a very good marzen.
Dark copper orange with a mid-sized head. Sweet malts with light earth and a bit of toasted malt in the aroma. Flavor is full of lightly sweet malts, caramel, light fruit, faint spice. FInish has a light alcohol burn. Decent brew.