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The Story Behind the Label From the Company That Made the Beer
Summer excursions on Alaska waters often include up-close encounters with a host of marine life, the most impressive being the killer whale or orca. Male orcas grow to nearly 30 feet in length with dorsal fins reaching upwards of six feet. The gray or white saddle patch found behind an orca's dorsal fin is a characteristic used to identify individual whales. In the same way, a cold Alaskan Summer Ale can identify individuals with an appreciation for great beer.
What We Drink Beer Out of: Kölsch/Altbier
Similar to the Lager glass, with straight sides, and generally a little bit smaller. The Kölsch glass in particular has a revolver-type look when six of them are crowded onto a server's tray. These are designed to be drained in a couple of gulps, which is a good way to drink an Alt or Kölsch once you've written your notes. Alt glasses are slightly shorter and fatter than the Kölsch glasses. Both allow for billowing heads to form, but are kind of lousy for developing aroma or discerning subtleties. I take particular care in the glasses we use (didn't have Kölsch glasses handy) but we always use a slightly chilled very clean glass. The glasses have never had any other type of contaminating liquids such as milk in them, just beer. Everyone in the panel found this beer very smooth to drink without any long lasting after tones. This was a very easy drinking beer that can be drained in a couple of gulps, especially if someone handed you perhaps one that was slightly colder.
Other Opinions
The other guys (404 raters) gave this beer a 3.08 overall weighted average (would hate to have to cook for them). The Panel gave this beer a 3.735 average we all thought this was a very smooth, easy drinking, light tasting beer that would go with many summer time events. We could all polish off a 6 pack pretty easily (as long as Pat isn't buying). We have a new panel member, Bill Bettendorf. He comes to us with a lot of experience but doesn't mind being in training when it comes to beer (Practice well and practice often my friend). The rest of the crew, in no particular rank or order: Tim Gilbert, Telal Al-Rifai, Dan (Strackman) Strack, Mike St Marie, Mitch Sloan, Christine Vorpahl, and myself.
Brewers Food Paring Recommendations
Enjoy this Kölsch-style beer with delicately flavored foods like fresh, wild Alaska crab or halibut, or try it as an accompaniment to salads. Either way, like summer, Alaskan Summer Ale won't last all year - so enjoy it now! We did not have any wild or domesticated crab or halibut hanging out in the back yard. We did try this beer with Mike's bacon, bacon with beans, burgers, and some potato salad which worked equally well as a paring. The calming ambiance of my back yard with the fresh cut grass and lilacs challenged our senses when it came to interpreting the smell of the beer but we toughed through it.
Toast anyone?
Always remember to forget the things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember the things that made you glad.
Always remember to forget the friends that proved untrue.
But never forget to remember those that have stuck by you.
Always remember to forget the troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember the blessings that come each day.
This hold true to the panel if you came in as a person you left as a friend (beer does that to people).
Please, join me in supporting the beer makers of America and enjoy your beer.
BFF (beer friend forever)
Pat Best
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