Brewery Would Like to Apologize for Ticking People Off

We Made a Mistake. Summit Winter Ale Isn’t Going Anywhere.

OK, first thing’s first: Summit Winter Ale is coming back. Last November we announced plans to retire the beer, but you folks weren’t having any of that. After listening to your angry phone calls, reading and responding to our parents’ expletive-laden emails, and collecting feedback from our friends, fans, customers, and wholesale and retail partners, we’ve concluded that Summit Winter Ale’s place in our seasonal lineup is non-negotiable. And why shouldn’t it be? After 30-plus years, it’s cemented its place in your winter survival kit along with jumper cables, thick wool socks and mittens, and a sturdy snow shovel.

Most importantly, we’re not going all New Coke on you, and Summit Winter Ale isn’t changing a bit. Because we’re serious about making amends, and because our brewing and quality assurance teams are capable of producing (and re-producing) high-quality, consistent beers, you can rest assured it’ll taste just like last year’s Winter Ale, which was friggin’ fantastic with warming notes of coffee/espresso, caramel, black cherry, cocoa and a dash of hop spice.

Our Winter Ale returns to the Summit Ratskeller Thursday, November 1, and beginning the first week of November, you’ll find it across our distribution footprint on draft, in 12-oz. cans inside the Summit Penalty Box, and on its own in 12-oz. cans and bottles.

With that news out of the way, we apologize for upsetting you, sincerely thank you for your feedback, and ask kindly that you redirect your swears and curses at the TV weatherman.

Summit Penalty Box, featuring the return of High Sticke Alt!

More good news: The Summit Penalty Box variety pack, MVP of last year’s hockey season, is coming back for another run at the cup — but this time it boasts a fresh lineup of 12-oz. cans instead of bottles. Featuring Summit Dakota Soul, Summit Sága IPA, Summit Winter Ale, and trash-talking bruiser Summit High Sticke Alt, this mixed pack is basically all you need to survive our very long and very cold season of perpetual darkness.

Summit High Sticke Alt, inspired by the Altbier style famous to Düsseldorf, Germany, offers big aromas of stone fruit and toffee, plus a slap shot of spicy hop flavor and assertive bitterness. It returns to the Summit Ratskeller Thursday, November 1, and limited draft lines shortly thereafter. Deep copper in color with traces of toast, caramel, and biscuit, it will be available in 12-oz. cans only inside the Penalty Box.

Summit Winter Ale Specs

Alcohol by Volume: 6.2%

IBUs: 40

Original Gravity: 14.5° P

Color, (deg. L.): Dark Brown, 40° L

Malts Utilized: 2-Row Pale, Caramel, Crystal, Dingeman’s De-Bittered Black, Carafa 2

Hops Utilized: Fuggle, Tettnang, Willamette, Goldings

Yeast: Ale

Established: 1987

Serving tips: Serve at 45–50ºF in a Nonick tumbler alongside ham, roast beast, smoked cheese, and piping-hot stews whenever possible.

Summit High Sticke Alt Specs

Alcohol by Volume: 6.5%

IBUs: 55

Original Gravity: 15ºP

Color, (deg. L.): Deep Copper (34 L)

Malts Utilized: German Pilsener Malt, German Vienna Malt, Munich Malt, German CaraMunich, Caramel

Hops Utilized: Northern Brewer, Tettnang

Yeast: German Ale yeast

Established: 2017

Serving tips: Serve at 44–48ºF in a tapered Becher glass alongside a big Reuben sandwich, smoked cheese, sausage, and traditional German cuisine.