Summit Extra Pale Ale

This 5.2% ABV ale is from the Summit Brewing Company of St. Paul, Minnesota.  It is one of the grand daddy beers of craft brewing, and their flagship since 1986. 

The beer pours a light amber in color. There is a relatively short head of white foam. The aroma is malty, caramel, light toffee, zesty,citrus, lemony. The taste follows the aromas, a nice malty base, followed by citrus, with a very dry, and moderately bittter, crisp finish. The beer drinks smooth with moderate carbonation. This is a real quaffer, don't forget to go to this one.  

My thoughts from 2011 were similar: This is probably the flagship beer for Summit.  It pours clear, shiny and copper in color.  It has champagne like carbonation and a small head that does leave medium lacing down the glass.  The aroma is light and clean, aromatic, fruity, and some slightly sweet malt.  The taste is also light and clean, an absolute balance of malt and hops with a slighty bitter and dry finish.  The taste follows the aroma.  The carbonation burns the tongue a tad bit (this is a good thing as far as I am concerned).  This is a nice American take on an English pale ale, but it is not the real hop forward style.  This is a true session ale.