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Summit Brewing Unchained #21: Us and Them

Both threads of Unchained 21
Both threads of Unchained 21

The latest Summit Unchained release is on its way to stores near you.  This time, in the 21st of the series, Summit’s brewer Gabe Smoley has produced Us and Them, a “Two Thread Brewing Experience.”  Based on the popular Sága IPA, this release is made of two beers; an American IPA and a session IPA.

Gabe has started with the grain bill of Sága and created two distinct beers.  Using a technique known as “Parti-gyle,” the same grain bill was used to produce a stronger, first “thread,” and a second, sessionable “thread.”  Then, using the same hops in different ways, the two threads were brewed in a way that really provides a unique experience, and a unique take on Sága, a familiar local beer.

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Sága, so I was excited to dig into the first thread.

The first thread, the American IPA
The first thread, the American IPA

The American IPA portion of this beer is the bolder of the two.  It’s a bit darker in color, with a bigger malt presence.  Biscuit and caramel back up the beer.  The carbonation is slightly more pronounced than the second thread.  Hops are definitely reminiscent of what you get in Sága.  There are some Citra and Amarillo present, but the biggest hop presence is the Rakau hop.  This is a New Zealand hop that tastes a bit like dried apricot.  While this is the stronger of the two threads, it’s not a huge beer by any means.  At 7.2% ABV, this feels very much like Sága turned up just a touch.

Next, the session IPA.

Thread 2
Thread 2, the Session IPA

Thread 2 pours just a bit lighter.  The malt profile is similar but definitely favors biscuity flavors over any caramel.  While the same hops are used here, they are used differently.  Citra is much more prominent in this thread, with it’s oily, melon fruitiness.  This is the Session IPA, so drinks a little lighter, at 4% ABV. The Citra stands out quite a bit, though, so this doesn’t drink quite as easily as your standard session beer.  When drinking this side by side against the first thread, it’s really interesting that you can taste the same things in either beer, but just balanced differently enough to really stand out.

The two beers really are different expressions of a familiar beer.  It’s kind of a salute to beer nerds that Gabe has shown how much difference can be made with small changes to a beer.  I’m a regular drinker of Sága, and drinking these two beers really opened my eyes to what goes into my go to IPA.  Look for six and twelve packs of Unchained #21 hitting stores soon, packaged with both threads.

By the numbers:

Thread 1

  • Malts: 2-row pale, Caramel
  • Hops: Horizon, Centennial, Amarillo, Citra, Rakau (Rakau dry-hop)
  • ABV: 7.2%
  • IBU: 90

Thread 2

  • Malts: 2-row pale, Caramel
  • Hops: Horizon, Centennial, Amarillo, Citra, Rakau (Citra dry-hop)
  • ABV: 4%
  • IBU: 55

Sága (for comparison)

  • Malts: 2-row pale, Caramel
  • Hops: Centennial, Amarillo, Citra, Rakau (Amarillo, Citra, Rakau dry-hop)
  • ABV: 6.2%
  • IBU: 80

Links:

From the brewery

Upcoming tasting events

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Summit Unchained #20: Sticke Alt

Summit has recently announce the next in their Unchained series. For the twentieth in the series, brewer Mike Lundell has decided to brew us a Düsseldorf style Alt.

Summit Sticke Alt label
Summit likes to show appropriate glassware on their label

An Alt is a fun style. It’s a traditional German beer that’s brewed with an ale yeast strain, rather than a lager strain. After fermentation, Alts are conditioned cold, which gives a clean, lager-like flavor profile to the beer, making this style a unique hybrid. Lundell has gone one further and made this a Sticke Alt. Traditionally, twice a year, German brewers in the Westphalia region would make a special version of their Alt, and hold it aside for their best customers. What it means for the beer drinker is a beer that’s a bit stronger, and a bit hoppier.

I was lucky enough to drink this beer, and I think it’s a fantastic representation of the style.

You can see the color here. Deep red and lovely.
You can see the color here. Deep red and lovely.

Talk about nailing the timing on this. With all the Oktoberfests on the market during the fall, this is a fine alternative that’s brawny enough to drink into the beginning of Winter. It comes off as a little roasty, but overall very clean and smooth. It puts me right into the mood for the Fall season. Look for this beer on your local store shelves starting the second week of October.

By the numbers:

  • ABV: 6.3%
  • IBUs: 55
  • Malts:  Pilsner, Vienna, Light Munich, Dark Munich, Caramel, and Black
  • Hops: Hallertau, Mittelfruh
  • Yeast: German Ale

Summit’s info on Unchained #20

Upcoming release events for this beer

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Summit Brewing Unchained Batch #15 – Fest Bier

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Summit Brewing is continuing their unchained series at a fast and furious pace with batch #15, Fest Bier. The 5.5% ABV Fest Bier will be brewed by Nate Siats. This will be Nate’s third beer in the Summit Unchained Series, following his #5 Imperial Pumpkin Porter, and #10 Abbey Ale.

Look for Unchained Batch #15 to be released sometime in March after it undergoes lagering for some time.
It looks like this might be a traditional Märzen style beer, Nate is using Weyermann malt straight from Bamburg Germany. If Nate goes the traditional route it should be hopped with something like Saaz, Tettnanger, or maybe Hallertauer. But, this is the Unchained Series, so Nate may have something crazy up his sleeve.

UPDATE: The hops in this beer are actually Sladek (Czech hop with Saaz parentage) and Saphir (German hop with Hallertau parentage), so a non-traditional take on a traditional hopping bill. Nate also used a new-to-the-scene Czech Pils base malt with two types of Munich worked in as well.

Summit Brewing Unchained 15 Fest Bier

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Summit Brewing Company announces the release of Unchained 11: Old 152

Unchained 11: Old 152 Kentucky Common

Summit Brewing Company just announced the release of Old 152, the eleventh beer produced in its limited-time-only Unchained Series. Old 152 was created by brewer Eric Harper, who also crafted the fourth Unchained beer, Belgian Style Golden Ale. It will be available in draught and bottles the week of Oct. 22.

“This Unchained beer is based on Kentucky Common, a popular beer style in and around Louisville pre-prohibition,” said Harper. “The style disappeared after prohibition in favor of the lagers that we’re familiar with today. Old 152 will feature Cluster hops, one of the only hop varieties available in the U.S. in the late 1800s and early 1900s.”

Unchained 11 is named Old 152 after the official steam engine of the state of Kentucky. The beer pours a chestnut color with a slight haze and exhibits flavors of biscuit, toast and rye. Kentucky Common beers traditionally feature a “sour mash,” also used in the process of making another Kentucky staple: bourbon. Old 152 itself will not be sour but will feature crisp, caramel notes and a clean bitterness.

Old 152 Specs:
AVB: 5.8%
IBU: 55
Color: Chesnut
Hops: Cluster, Northern Brewer (Dry hopped: Cluster)
Malts/Grains: Pale Malt, Victory®, Crystal Medium, Rye Malt, Distillers Malt, White Wheat, Maize