Projo Beer Blog

A visit last Friday to Liberty Warehouse Liquors in Buzzards Bay, Mass., became a spontaneous pilgrimage, as I encountered Sierra Nevada Summerfest. Upon spying it in the cooler, I practically heard angels sing and envisioned a heavenly glow around the six pack.

Come to find out later that the brew is less new than I thought. According to the Sierra Nevada site, it won a gold medal at the California State Fair in 1999. But for me, it was a first date.

The beer has a pure, golden color, akin to that of ginger ale or apple juice. It's got a hint of citrus, but it's more grapefruit than lemon, keeping it in line with the hearty flavor of the brewery's more widely known pale ale. It's lightly carbonated, so pours with a thin head.

If you're not a fan of the wide array of lighter, fruitier summer brews, this is an ideal alternative. Thirst-quenching for sure, but it tastes more like a beer than a cocktail.

Confession: Truth be told, I my blinding joy Friday was initially caused by mistaken identity. I believed I had encountered an Anchor Steam summer brew while in the midst of my ongoing search for a purveyor of their porter. While I am extremely happy with what I actually discovered, the quest continues. Now I'm seeking both Anchor Steams, however, after learning from their Web site that they do, in fact, have a summer beer.