Way back in 1996, I happened to be working in a liquor store in little old West Warwick, Rhode Island called Mac’s Liquors. It was a really cool gig, and I always enjoyed chatting and comparing notes with the steady clientele of beer enthusiasts we managed to build up. One day, the owner came along and gave me a few passes to an upcoming event being sponsored by the Boston Beer Company, brewers of the Samuel Adams line of beers. Several new beers were being introduced, including Samuel Adams Summer Ale.

This was the first taste I had of Summer ale, and it was also the first time I got to meet Jim Koch, founder of the company and a true pioneer in the beer world. Koch has worked hard over the years to make the Sam Adams brand a household name, and in the process has introduced countless legions of beer drinkers to the wonderful world of craft brewed beer. Over the years, Boston beer has covered just about every imaginable style, and even thrown a few variations on the classics at us. Such a beer is Summer Ale.

Samuel Adams Summer Ale is a loose interpretation on a Belgian Wit (White). Since the introduction of Summer Ale, Boston beer has also produced a more authentic Wit, Samuel Adams White Ale. Wit beers get their name from the color of the beer, which is pale and almost white due to the wheat content. Like Belgian Wits, Summer Ale is spiced, although with lemon zest instead of orange peel and Grains of Paradise in lieu of coriander.

What are Grains of Paradise? They are a spice from West Africa that were a common seasoning used in beer during the middle ages. The spice adds a pungent, slightly bitter character to foods prepared using it. The bitterness makes it a natural for use in making beer, since it helps to offset the sweetness of the malt. Today, hops are used for this purpose, but Grains of Paradise still make a welcome contribution to Samuel Adams Summer Ale, imparting a unique and herbal flavor to the beer.

According to Boston Beer, Grains of Paradise are also reputed to possess aphrodisiac qualities. Whether or not this is true is debatable, but one thing is certain: plenty of beer fans do seem to have fallen in love with Summer Ale. It has been going strong since 1996 now and is one of Boston Beer’s perennial favorites. Sold from April to August, Samuel Adams Summer Ale recommends drinking the brew before October for freshest flavor.

Samuel Adams Summer Ale pours to a golden orange color with a thick creamy head and a tart lemony nose. The palate is crisp and refreshing with a crackery wheat body and lightly toasty biscuit like malt flavor. There are rather strong notes of tart lemon here, as well as an appetizing herbal spiciness.

The spices and the lemon intensify into the finish where their respective bitterness and tartness begin to emerge. There, they combine with the tartness of the wheat and a touch of Hallertau hop bitterness to make this a very, very quenching beer perfectly suited to hot weather drinking.

I think many people tend to drink this beer at too cold a temperature. That may seem natural for a summer brew, but the flavors really come out when the beer is allowed to warm slightly. Refreshing enough to be paired with most dishes, I enjoyed a bottle with Teriyaki glazed pork chops, fresh summer corn, and a baked sweet potato.

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