According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the official first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere this year is June 21, a little over two months away. That’s when we can fully expect to hit the beaches, break out the barbecues, and bask in glorious, sunny weather. The folks at Stanley Park Brewing are perhaps a little more impatient, since they’ve already unleashed their “summer ale” upon us.
The Stanley Park SunSetter is an American Wheat Ale with “ripe peach” flavour and “bold citrus aromas.” It’s not a brand new brew, but it is definitely a seasonal brew that’s best suited for hot summer evenings. Imagine hanging out on your patio with some friends, conversing as you imbibe on a few cold beverages.
Stanley Park Brewing provided me with a couple of samples to try and my initial impressions are that the SunSetter is a lot brighter and crisper than I had initially anticipated. It pours a vibrant golden color and the peach flavor is both subtle and immediately apparent. You might remember when I explained the difference between an ale and a lager. The SunSetter, as a wheat ale, drinks decidedly lighter than a pale ale and is similar in many ways to a German Hefeweizen.
Vancouver is home to a very enthusiastic craft beer community. There are plenty of smaller breweries around town with recipes both familiar and experimental, oftentimes offering growler fills to those who want to enjoy draft beer in the comfort of their homes. Many of these breweries are relatively new, whereas Stanley Park Brewing traces its origins all the way back to 1897. They’ve had a long time to figure out what they’re doing.
The SunSetter Summer Ale, winner of the flavored wheat beer gold medal at the 2015 World Beer Championships, is available now through liquor stores, pubs and restaurants around town.
Disclosure: I was provided two bottles of the SunSetter Summer Ale by Stanley Park Brewing at no charge to me. I was not otherwise compensated in any way. Opinions are entirely my own.
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