Horizon Red Ale

Summit Brewing Company
St. Paul, MN

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Red-brown color. Foamy, creamy head. Steady stream of bubbles. Clean and clear.

AROMA: 2.75/4
Clean. Malty-sweet. Candy sugar, a touch of citrus and pineapple.

TASTE: 5.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: Woody. Nicely bittered, very malty up-front. Sweet malt that fades to bitter. No real hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 1.75/3: Bitterness up-front and at the end, and it lasts. Very bitter for the style.
Mouth-Feel: 1.5/3: A bit thin; chemical aftertaste.

OVERALL: 1.75/3
A mass-produced red, Minnesota's version of Boulevard. Not awful, kind of an interesting style, but not a great beer.

TOTAL: 12.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Started okay and became less appealing as I drank it. Just can't get past the astringent chemical taste.
Ben: It's a red, and I'm not a big fan of reds. Definitely bitter, too much so for style. Don't go out of your way to try it.

Summit Extra Pale Ale

Summit Brewing Company
St. Paul, Minnesota

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Light caramel color. Very clear. White, foamy head.

AROMA: 3/4
Caramel. Nutty–roasted nuts. Subtle coffee. Malty. Very little hop–needs more, in our opinion.

TASTE: 6.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2/4: Malty, not much hop. Bittering hop, but needs more hop balance.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Bitter finish. Sweet, honey notes. Roasty, very nutty. Woody. Caramel, brown sugar. Bready, even.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Fades to a bitter, dry finish. A bit watery, but fills the mouth.

OVERALL: 1.75/3: Summit's version of the Boulevard Pale Ale–a standard, I understand they feel they need to have one, but unremarkable. There are much better Summit beers out there.

TOTAL: 13.5/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Dry, woody, nutty. Very earthy, but not hoppy, so one is enough for me.
Ben: Okay. A session beer, but could be hoppier; I'd be more inclined to drink it if it were.

Masala Mama IPA

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
Minneapolis, Minnesota

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Light copper color, okay head. Very crisp.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Hop nose–grassy, citrusy.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Fairly malty–good balance; body supports the hop bitterness.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Most of the flavor is front-loaded; not much at the finish.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Piney-citrus, fairly smooth.

OVERALL: 2.75/3: A nice, solid IPA. Bouncy, bright, nicely done.

TOTAL: 16.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt & Ben: A nice session IPA. We debated the bitterness–too much? Too little? Either way, color and clarity are good, malt/hop balance is good, a very good IPA.

Summit India Style Rye Ale (Unchained Series #3)

Summit Brewing Company
St. Paul, Minnesota

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Deep mahogany color–slightly dark for the style. Minimal head.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Sweet, hoppy. Grapefruit nose.

TASTE: 6/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: Very hoppy throughout, could be maltier in the middle.
Aftertaste: 1.5/3: Lots of bitterness, hop flavor lingers.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Hop at finish, residual bitterness.

OVERALL: 2/3: Really, really hoppy. Too bitter.

TOTAL: 14/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt & Ben: Should be bigger. There is some sweetness imparted by the rye. Maybe too dark. Good, but should be bigger.

Summit Maibock (Seasonal)

Summit Brewing Company
St. Paul, Minnesota

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Nice gold color, thin head.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Malty nose, somewhat fruity. Subtle bubblegum notes.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Minimal hop up front, malty, bright. Some citrusy notes.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Lingering bitterness, slight astringence.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Very smooth.

OVERALL: 2/3: True to style, a solid spring beer. Not great, but good.

TOTAL: 15.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: A solid Maibock. Aftertaste was the only real drawback.
Ben: Its smoothness is its nicest quality. Easy to drink, a good session beer.