Earlier and earlier every year, it seems that Fall seasonal
beers are finding their way on to liquor store shelves and tap lists
everywhere. And while we love the brews that come with the changing of the
season, we hate to see the Summer offerings go so soon.
To celebrate the
Summer, since it’s still here until September 22, we decided to have a Summer
beer tasting on a gorgeous Friday afternoon. From shandies to IPAs, the GAP
team tried 12 different Summer beers and gave each one a score between 0 and 5.
Our panel consisted of 11 GAP employees, each bringing their experienced palate
and preferences to the table in our very own Blackburn Tavern.
Here are the results:
1. Otter Creek Fresh
Slice: The most enjoyed beer of the afternoon was the Otter Creek Fresh Slice,
an unfiltered white IPA. It had a crisp, fresh, citrus taste, and a hazy-orange
color. It had the perfect balance that appealed to both beer aficionados and
non-beer-drinkers alike.
2. Narragansett Del’s
Shandy and Harpoon UFO Big Squeeze:
Tying for second place, both shandies seemed perfect for a day at the beach,
playing games in the backyard, or any outdoor adventure.
The iconic beer from Jaws (Narragansett) teamed up with Rhode
Island’s summertime frozen lemonade staple (Del’s) by combining their beer with
lemon concentrate to create the perfect concoction of malty sweetness and citrus
tartness. While Del’s Shandy is said to only be available this Summer, we have
a feeling it will make another appearance next year, as it flew off the shelves
all season.
Harpoon’s UFO Big Squeeze is a shandy of a different color. Rather
than the usual lemonade and beer combination, Harpoon crafted a shandy that
mixed beer with grapefruit juice. The orange coloring has a hint of pink and
has sweet, grapefruit flavoring with a hint of tartness.
4. Harpoon Summer
Beer: A classic seasonal offering from Harpoon, this beer is light and
refreshing, which pairs fantastically with a hot, Summer day.
5. Leinenkugel’s
Summer Shandy: Like much of America, the GAP team took a particular liking
to shandies during our beer tasting. Leinenkugel’s put shandies on the map over
the past few years with their Summer Shandy, which features natural lemonade
flavor and crisp wheat beer taste.
Since we enjoyed our Summer beer tasting so much, we will be
bringing you the GAP Team Top Five every season! Our favorite beers will be
placed in our Beer Hall of Fame and featured on our social networking pages.
Stay tuned, our Fall seasonal beer tasting is right around the corner!
