Brewery: Big Bay Brewing Co., Shorewood, Wisconsin
Beer: Summer Tide
Serving: 12 oz bottle
Glassware: Sierra Nevada imperial pint
Information: No date or info.
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale
Price: $8.99 / 6-pack
Availability: Summer Seasonal
Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.
Pairings: Grilled angus hot dogs with your choice of toppings and Beer Chips.
Appearance
Heavy carbonation streams from the glass’ etching through the mostly clear goldenrod-colored beer to feed it’s dense and long-lasting stark white head. Foam is left caked to the glass in sheets resembling waves lapping the shore.
Smell
Inviting and refreshing upon first whiff, Summer Tide offers a gently citrus medley consisting of lemon and mild sweet orange peel overlapping a balancing grainy pale malt and soft wheat aroma.
Taste
Soft wheat and pale malt open up in a big way, overcoming the citrus that’s at the forefront of the nose, for a simple, but incredibly tasty treat. Light lemon and orange peel are still present, but what’s more interesting is that with each passing sip, I’m getting more honeydew melon flavor with a faint spiciness on the finish.
Mouthfeel
Just enough wheat and barley combine for a medium-light bodied beer that’s incredibly smooth with steady but gently carbonation on the finish. A touch of citrus dryness evens the body out for an incredibly refreshing and quaffable beer!
Overall
As one of the tastiest and most refreshing American Pale Wheat Ales I’ve experienced, Big Bay has struck gold with Summer Tide! It’s smooth, easy drinking body works in perfect harmony with the subdued-yet-complex flavor to round out the finish for a lighter beer that would be absolutely necessary to keep in the cooler on a hot day!
Score: 92 / 100 - Exceptional
Cheers,
-Andy
