Anderson Valley Brewing Company: Summer Solstice

While on vacation to Washington, D.C. this past weekend, I got to try a few new beers (and brought even more home!) Expect lots of updates in the next couple of weeks!

Today’s selection is from the Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Boonville, CA. I tried their “Summer Solstice,” which as you might have guessed, is their summer seasonal. It’s a copper-colored cream ale and it was excellent.

http://www.thebrewsite.com/images/beers/summer-solstice.jpg

As you can see, the beer is a clear copper color. Not your typical summer drink at first glance. But the taste is all summer. The aroma of the beer is mostly malt with a mild hops scent. It was very creamy and smooth with a clean finish. The taste is malty, mildly hoppy, with mild sweetness from the fruits and spices used in the brewing. It is meant to be served at 40-45 degrees, although it will taste great right out of the fridge too.

No suggestions for this one. I’ve had cream ales before but not one with as much fruit and spice flavor.

Lost Coast Brewery: Great White

This Thursday night I went out to Syracuse’s great beer bar, J. Ryan’s. A couple reviews will come from this night, so here’s the first.

Great White, by the Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka, California, is a light, refreshing witbier. It was fairly typical in color, texture, and taste. Great White has strong hints of citrus and no real after taste. It’s highly carbonated and not very bitter. This is definitely a beer to have on a hot summer night–or a brisk spring evening. Either works!

Unfortunately the color doesn’t come out very well in the photo–that’s the problem with forgetting your camera and having to use your boyfriend’s Android phone camera. But, you can even SEE the carbonation in it.

Overall, this was a pretty decent Belgian witbier. Nothing too special, but tasty enough. I’d drink it again if given the chance.

Try this if you like: Blue Moon