Holiday Memories from Summit Brewing Company

I certainly drank plenty from Summit Brewing this year, as I do every year now that I think about it. Here's a nice holiday greeting from the Saint Paul, Minnesota brewery responsible for one of my favorite beers of the year, Unchained Make It So ESB, a killer herbal Earl Grey tea concoction. Cheers!

  "Summit staff share some of their favorite holiday traditions, foods and gifts.  Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from Summit!
Holiday shout-out to Cafe Accordian Orchestra for letting us use their great music for the video!"  

Behind the Brew - Summit Unchained 20: Sticke Alt

My wife and I are both huge fans of the last beer in Summit's Unchained Series, #19 Make It So. It's an Earl Grey Tea ESB and we're rolling through cans of it regularly and I even still have some #18 around, the Hop Silo Imperial IPA. In short, I love this f'n series. They've announced #20 in this awesome series now as well. See below:

Brewer (and lederhosen fan) Mike Lundell introduces his new Sticke Alt, the twentieth release in Summit's Unchained Series.

http://www.summitbrewing.com/brews/sticke-alt

Summit Unchained 19: Make It So

Here comes another beer in Summit Brewing's Unchained Series, which has already provided us with some recent favorites like Herkulean Woods and Hop Silo. This one is an ESB infused with Earl Grey tea, much like our local friend Mr. Josiah Moody at Moody Brews brewed with Apple Blossom Brewing Co. last year, the delicious Earl Grey ESB. I'm curious to see how this one stacks up.

Check out more info:

"Brewer Nick Hempfer introduces his first Unchained Series beer, the nineteenth in the series, called Make It So. Inspired by Nick's love for science fiction, Make It So is an ESB style ale infused with Earl Grey tea."

http://www.summitbrewing.com/brews/make-it-so

Summit founder Mark Stutrud on The Beer Show

Good video featuring the founder of one of my favorite breweries available in Arkansas, Summit Brewing Company. 

"Recently, our friends at Elevated Beer Wine & Spirits invited Summit founder Mark Stutrud to be a guest on The Beer Show on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities radio. Mark discusses the early days of craft brewing (or microbrewing) in the Upper Midwest, the joys and challenges of craft brewers in 2015, and about new beers like Hop Silo Double IPA and Hopvale Organic Ale."

Summit Unchained 18: Hop Silo Double IPA

I'm really looking forward to the next beer in Summit's Unchained series, this one a double IPA called Hop Silo. In addition to making great beer, these guys also make great videos. Here's the latest.

"Brewer Eric Harper tells us about the epic brew for his Unchained 18: Hop Silo Double IPA! Look for this hop-beast of a beer in 16oz cans and on draft in early March where available!"

http://www.summitbrewing.com/

All You Need To Know About Summit Unchained 18 - Hop Silo Double IPA

Summit brewer Eric Harper discusses the game plan for his upcoming Unchained 18: Hop Silo Double IPA, Summit's first double-IPA, clocking in at 8.3% ABV. Hop Silo will be available in early March 2015 in kegs and 16 oz can four-packs. Yes, cans. This will be the first of the Unchained series in cans. Lots of neat stuff about this beer, so watch the video!

http://www.summitbrewing.com/ 

Summit Brewing's Unchained 17: Harvest Fresh IPA

We've only recently seen the Summit Brewing Unchained 16 in central Arkansas, which was Herkulean Woods (with Minnesota malts and maple syrup plus spruce tip) and I LOVE it. So yeah, I'm excited that we should soon get to see the next in the Unchained line from Summit, Harvest Fresh IPA. Check out this video for an intro to get you excited. Stay around at the end of the video for some bloopers. Great stuff. I wish every brewery would start doing videos like this for their new releases.


http://www.summitbrewing.com/brews/harvest-fresh-ipa

"Brewer Tom Mondor presents Unchained 17: Harvest Fresh IPA, a beer that involved Harvest Fresh hop pellets from Roy Farms (Moxee, WA) in first-wort hop, kettle additions, whirlpool and dry-hop; as well as wet/fresh hops of Gorst Valley (Michigan). "

Catchy Jingle... Summit Beer Now in Cans!

Well now this is catchy! From the guys at Summit Brewing:

"Our friend and NYC-base musician Abstract Artimus wrote this rockin' jingle for new Summit cans. Six-pack 12-ounce cans of Extra Pale Ale, Sága IPA & Seasonal (Frost Line Rye, Maibock, Summer Ale, Oktobefest, Winter Ale) now available."

Check out more music from Abstract Artimus: http://www.abstractartimus.com/

Video: Coming Soon: Summit Southern Cape Sparkling Ale

Sounds like we can look for this intriguing and quite mouth-watering jewel around here soon from our good friends at Summit Brewing Co. Seems perfect for the Summer and I'm a fan of these a bit "out of the box" styles I guess.

"Go around the world in a pint." 

Presenting Southern Cape Sparkling Ale, the latest in the limited-release Summit Union Series. Inspired by sparkling ales popular in the Southern hemisphere. Named after the Southern Cape hop farms in South Africa. With ingredients from Australia, New Zealand, Chile and South Africa for a refreshingly balanced ale that’s perfect for summer.

Flavor Notes: Hints of pineapple and mango hop aroma. Biscuity malts lend a soft, toasted note and rounded finish. Lively carbonation pairs well with a warm summer afternoon.

http://www.summitbrewing.com/brews/southern-cape-sparkling-ale

Beer Specs:

{Limited Release}

Original Gravity: 10.5° Plato

Alcohol by Volume: 4.4%

Color, (deg. L.): Pale Straw

IBUs: 47

Malts Utilized: Gaidner Pale (Australia) and Sebastian Caramel (Chile)

Hops Utilized: Waimea (New Zealand) and Southern Passion (South Africa)

Yeast: Australian Ale

Established: 2014

Serving Tips:

Serve in a Pilsener glass at 42-46°F on a warm summer afternoon.

 

Food Pairings:

Ceviche, rotini with beurre blanc sauce, melon and prosciutto salad, green bean almondine, Australian camembert, and American Southwest fish tacos.

Behind the Beer: Frost Line Rye

Summit Brewing Company's launch week in Arkansas continues and from all the feedback I've heard, people are loving their brews (me included, as I've tried the Saga IPA, Horizon Red IPA and

Summit Extra Pale Ale). Another welcome addition to state's growing craft beer scene I'd say for sure.

Here's a bit more info on their Frost Line Rye, which will be available at Big Orange Midtown on Friday as part of their Summit tap takeover. I'm honestly not sure if it's available anywhere else before then, but you can get it there for sure.

Frost Line Rye 
"Brewed to help fight off the deep freeze."

Hidden in the cold ground in the dark of winter, lie little seeds of hope. So, to help hasten the spring thaw, we give you an ale bursting with the spicy goodness of malted rye and floral, citrusy hops. An in-between-seasons seasonal, if you will. Summit's head brewer Damian McConn introduces us to the Summit's newest "fifth season" seasonal beer: Frost Line Rye. Enjoy this robust and spicy ale to help break winter's long-lasting grip.

For more on Frost Line Rye: http://www.summitbrewing.com/brews/frost-line-rye

Next Week Is Summit Week In Central Arkansas

Not just a release day now, but there are some great events planned all next week for the Summit Brewing Company Launch. You can find a Summit-themed event every day except Monday, so make up your own for that day (it is pint night at the Flying Saucer though... hint, hint). 

Mark your calendars!

* Saturday, February 1st - the start of Stickyz Rock N' Roll Chicken Shack Beer of the Month with Sága IPA only $2.50 a pint ALL MONTH LONG! This is a usual feature for Stickyz and lately they've has some solid picks for BOTM, and it's damn tough to beat $2.50/pint anywhere. In warmer weather, their patio is just right too.

* Sunday, February 2nd - Summit Super Bowl Party at The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium with a different Fire Sale Beer each quarter of the game! I mean is there a better way to watch the game than getting to sample 5 of their new beers to the market, a pint at a time, a quarter at a time? For a good price? No I say.

1st Qtr: Horizon Red IPA
2nd Qtr: Great Norther Porter
3rd Qtr: Summit Oatmeal Stout
4th Qtr: Saga IPA
OT: Summit Extra Pale Ale


* Tuesday, February 4th - Summit Pint Glass Night at Old Chicago North Little Rock @ 6PM

* Wednesday, February 5th - Tap Takeover at Mellow Mushroom West Little Rock!

* Thursday, February 6th - Tap Takeover at Reno's Argenta Cafe!

* Friday, February 7th - Tap Takeover featuring FROST LINE RYE at BIG ORANGE :: Midtown ALL DAY LONG!

Super Summit Sunday at the Saucer

If you're looking for something to do in central Arkansas on Super Bowl Sunday besides just the usual game watching, the latest brewery to get distribution in Arkansas, Summit Brewing, will be having a launch party at the Flying Saucer in the River Market, downtown Little Rock.

There will be fire sale prices on a new beer released every quarter, plus OT, so you can be the first to get your taste buds wrapped around these without dropping all your Super Bowl winnings.

Check out the list:

1st Qtr: Horizon Red IPA
2nd Qtr: Great Norther Porter
3rd Qtr: Summit Oatmeal Stout
4th Qtr: Saga IPA
OT: Summit Extra Pale Ale

Summit Brewing is based in St. Paul, MN and their output lands them in the top 50 in the US size-wise. They've been around since 1986 and are cranking out over 100,000 barrels per year. They've racked up 8 medals at The Great American Beer Festival, including a silver this year for their True Brit IPA and a silver in 2012 for their Summit Pilsener.

They'll be a welcome addition to our already hoppin' beer scene. (see what I did there?)