This month's "Get to the bottom of it" winner.
Summit drinkers sure are a thoughtful bunch. While it’s always hard to pick a winner, here’s what rose to the top.
Or should we say bottom?
February/March winner:
Shouldn't Minnesota be nicknamed "The New Stadium State”
MATT MCFARLAND, ALVARADO, MN
February/March runner-up:
If it goes without saying, why do people say it anyway?
BRIAN KAUFENBERG, ST. PAUL, MN
December/January winner:
How many sips does it take to get to the bottom of a Summit brew?
TRACY GIBBONS, COTTAGE GROVE, WI
December/January runner-up:
Does living in Minnesota make Summit a home brew?
JASON OCHOCKI, CANNON FALLS, MN
October/November winner:
Why does beer taste better outside?
MITCHEL W. FINNEGAN, ST. PAUL, MN
October/November runner-up:
How do pauses get pregnant?
MEGAN SCHULLER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
October/November runner-up:
If it’s raining cats do they still land on their feet?
NEAL SUTTON, ST. CLOUD, MN
August/September winner:
Who keeps taking my socks?
CORY NELSON, PLYMOUTH, MN
August/September runner-up:
How do people at Facebook get any work done since they’re on Facebook all day?
LAURA ALEXANDRA HOFFMAN, MEMPHIS, TN
June/July winner:
Why are eggs high in cholesterol but chicken is not?
CHRIS LENZ, ELKO NEW MARKET, MN
June/July runner-up:
Is there a rule that you have to wear skinny jeans to be in a band?
MATT MCFARLAND, BLOOMINGTON, MN
May winner:
Shouldnt "extraordinary" mean "more ordinary"?
MICHAEL CARROLL, WOODBURY, MN
May runner-up:
Why doesn't Minnesota want us to buy Summit on Sunday?
JOSH IDE, BLOOMINGTON, MN
April winner:
Where do study abroad travel blogs go to die?
BEKAH GRIM, SEATTLE, WA
April runner-up:
How did a bottle opener come to be called a "church key?"
MICHAEL BURG
March winner:
Why does Winter Ale stop flowing before the snow stops falling?
ALEX MEYER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
March runner-up:
Does anyone know where Lake Inferior is?
MATTHEW MCFARLAND, ALVARADO, MN
February winner:
Can you daydream at night?
BEN SHERMAN, MAPLE LAKE, MN
February runner-up:
Why is Monday so far away from Friday, but Friday is so close to Monday?
TODD PETERSON, MOUND, MN
January winner:
Do dogs call their feet humans?
DAVID ULVESTAD, DULUTH, MN
January runner-up:
Are taxes on beer called "sin taxes" because it is a sin to tax beer?
WARREN BILLUPS, BEMIDJI, MN
December winner:
Is a beer in hand worth two in the fridge?
RON KINNER, GLASTONBURY, CT
December runner-up:
What's the most "unheard of" thing you've ever heard of?
ANN MCKINNON, SAINT PAUL, MN
November winner:
If Facebook tells me I have 500 friends, where are they all on moving day?
TRICIA LORNTSON, RICHFIELD, MN
November runner-up:
Could I have a subconscious mind without even realizing it?
MICHAEL JOYCE, ARCATA, CA
October winner:
Is a high five a toast without beer?
ZACH CUSICK, ST. PAUL, MN
October runner-up:
Is buying beer at a municipal liquor store doing your civic duty?
JERRY GURITZ, RICHFIELD, MN
September winner:
If the best things in life are free, why does Summit cost money?
RYAN FOSTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
September winner:
Shouldn't a "fork in the road" have 4 options to choose from instead of 2?
RUSSELL THOMAS, MAPLEWOOD, MN
August winner:
Did the term "Holy Cow" originate in India?
PHILIP NELSON,HOPKINS, MN
August runner-up:
How does a bus driver close the door when he gets off the bus?
TOM BURTYK, SHAKOPEE, MN
July winner:
If 98.6º is your body's average temp, why is it so uncomfortable when it's 98.6º outside?
SHANE TAYLOR, CHICAGO, IL
July runner-up:
Why don't they make larger ketchup packets?
MATT PLOEGER, FARMINGTON, MN
June winner:
Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?
MELISSA FALLDIN, ST. PAUL, MN
June runner-up:
Why can't we invent a grass that only grows 2 inches tall?
PATRICK RYAN, BLAINE, MN
May winner:
Do the birds and the bees know they're metaphors?
DAN BALOGH, ST. PAUL, MN
May runner-up:
Where does "work like a dog" come from? Ever seen a pug do hard labor?
DAN BALOGH, ST. PAUL, MN
April winner:
Why is dryer lint always blue regardless of the color of your clothes?
ANDREW HEAIRET, SAVAGE, MN
April runner-up:
If you're going to hell, do you really need a hand basket?
JOHN JANSEN, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
March winner:
Why are there no penguins in the Northern Hemisphere?
AARON DE BOER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
March runner-up:
Are clams really that happy?
MIKE MILLER, MAHTOMEDI, MN
February winner:
If we lived in a world without bad beer, how would we know what good beer was?
MATT MCRITCHIE, ST. PAUL, MN
February runner-up:
Why aren't toasters clear so you can see when your bread is burning?
JOE THIEL, FRIDLEY, MN
January winner:
Do cops get annoyed when the car in front of them drives the speed limit?
JENNIFER MARTIN, HUGO, MN
January runner-up:
How do people know what a bear hug feels like?
KATIE RIDDLE, EDEN PRAIRIE, MN
December winner:
Are there boots made for not walking?
MIKE HESS, GUS KELLOM AND MEGANN KELLOM, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
December runner-up:
Can an atheist be denied insurance coverage due to an act of God?
CRAIG EGERMAN, LAKEVILLE, MN
November winner:
Which is a better social medium–beer or Twitter?
HILLARY HEINZ, ST. PAUL, MN
November runner-up:
Why isn't there mouse or bird flavored cat food?
SARAH MASTRIAN, ST. PAUL, MN
October winner:
Why isn't phonetic spelled the way it sounds?
SCOTT MARTIN, HUGO, MN
October runner-up:
What was the best thing before sliced bread?
AUBREY NIELSEN, CRYSTAL, MN
September winner:
Do bees even have knees?
COLLEEN DOLPHIN, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
September runner-up:
If a mime swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?
STEPHANIE ASHER, RICHFIELD, MN
August winner:
Don't people who work past 6pm need a happy hour the most?
JENNY STOLTENOW, ST. PAUL, MN
August runner-up:
Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?
DAN BOYD, ROSEVILLE, MN
July winner:
How many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a dude?
MIKE KODADA, LONSDALE, MN
July runner-up:
Do the pink flamingo people think that lawn gnomes are tacky?
BRIAN JARRELLS, ST. PAUL, MN
Summit Extra Pale Ale
Brewed year-round
The brew that launched a brewery.
A pioneer in craft beer (hey, that rhymes), Summit EPA has been gracing the pint glasses of serious brew lovers since 1986. Bronze color. Gold medal-winning flavor. With caramel, biscuity malts superbly balanced with an earthy hop bite and juicy citrus.
ORIGINAL GRAVITY
12.0º P
BITTERING UNITS
45
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME
5.2%
MALTS UTILIZED
2-Row Pale, Caramel
COLOR, (DEG L.)
Light bronze, 12.5° L
HOPS UTILIZED
Horizon, Fuggle, Cascade
YEAST
Ale
ESTABLISHED
1986
Summit Pilsener
Brewed year-round
Czech, please.
Authentic Saaz hops from the Czech Republic give our Pilsener just the right amount of spicy floral aroma. With a crisp, refreshing malt backbone and lightly spiced hops, it’s a taste of the Bohemian life.
ORIGINAL GRAVITY
11.0º P
BITTERING UNITS
25
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME
4.8%
MALTS UTILIZED
Moravian 37, Caramel
COLOR, (DEG L.)
Golden, 5° L
HOPS UTILIZED
Vanguard, Saaz
YEAST
Bohemian Lager
ESTABLISHED
2001
Summit India Pale Ale
Brewed year-round
Nirvana. Now available in 12 packs.
This traditional English style was originally brewed with extra hops to help it survive the voyage to India. Our IPA is enlightened by spicy herbal hops with a hint of caramel malt sweetness.
ORIGINAL GRAVITY
14.0º P
BITTERING UNITS
65
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME
6.4%
MALTS UTILIZED
2-Row Pale, Caramel, Special B
COLOR, (DEG L.)
Bronze, 16° L
HOPS UTILIZED
Northern Brewer, East Kent Golding, Target, (dry-hopped: East Kent Golding)
YEAST
Ale
ESTABLISHED
1993
Summit Great Northern Porter
Brewed year-round
Next stop…Malt City.
Originally named after London market workers who popularized this brew, we dubbed our Porter with a nod to the majestic railway stretching from St. Paul to Seattle. Roasted malts offer up coffee notes leading to a slightly sweet, chocolatey finish. All aboard!
ORIGINAL GRAVITY
13.2º P
BITTERING UNITS
45
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME
5.6%
MALTS UTILIZED
2-Row Pale, Caramel, Chocolate
COLOR, (DEG L.)
Black, 60° L
HOPS UTILIZED
Northdown, Fuggle, Cascade
YEAST
Ale
ESTABLISHED
1986
Summit Horizon Red Ale
Brewed year-round
A richer shade of Red.
An inspired hybrid that blurs the boundaries between IPA and Amber styles. The exceptional blend of American hops (including the harder-to-find Horizon variety) gives it an intense pine, citrus and earthy character in the nose and on the tongue.
ORIGINAL GRAVITY
13.3º P
BITTERING UNITS
60
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME
5.7%
MALTS UTILIZED
2-Row Pale, Caramel, Wheat, Cara Red, Black
COLOR, (DEG L.)
Amber, 22° L
HOPS UTILIZED
Summit, Horizon, Amarillo, Cascade (dry-hopped: Cascade)
YEAST
Ale
ESTABLISHED
2009
Summit Sága IPA
Brewed year-round
Epic hop character.
Named after the Norse goddess Sága, drinking companion of the God Odin. With a divine tropical fruit hop aroma and clean, assertive bitterness.
ORIGINAL GRAVITY
14.0º P
BITTERING UNITS
80
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME
6.4%
MALTS UTILIZED
Harrington, Caramel
COLOR, (DEG L.)
Rich Gold, 9° L
HOPS UTILIZED
Centennial, Amarillo, Citra, Rakau (dry-hopped: Amarillo, Citra, Rakau)
YEAST
American Ale
ESTABLISHED
2012
Summit Maibock
Brewed in the Spring
Pronounced “My bock.” As in “Keep your hands off my bock.”
This traditional German style earned the nickname “liquid bread” because it was brewed by monks to help them get through Lenten fasting. Moravian 37 malts and Czech Saaz hops give it a toasted sweetness with a little spice in the finish.
ORIGINAL GRAVITY
15.0º P
BITTERING UNITS
40
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME
6.5%
MALTS UTILIZED
Moravian 37, Munich
COLOR, (DEG L.)
Dark Blonde, 9° L
HOPS UTILIZED
Saaz, Mt. Hood
YEAST
German Lager
ESTABLISHED
1989
Summit Summer Ale
Brewed in the Summer
Break out the koozie.
This highly drinkable session beer is made for sunny days and long nights. With a crisp, clean bitterness appealing to casual and serious beer drinkers alike. The refreshing fruity and floral hop aroma is a pleasant reminder to savor the season while you can.
ORIGINAL GRAVITY
11.5º P
BITTERING UNITS
32
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME
4.9%
MALTS UTILIZED
Moravian, Cara Pils, Malted White Wheat
COLOR, (DEG L.)
Pale Straw, 4° L
HOPS UTILIZED
Mt. Hood, NZ Hallertau
YEAST
German Ale
ESTABLISHED
2012
Summit Oktoberfest
Brewed in the fall
Hold the bottle up to your ear. You can almost hear the polka.
Brewed in the classic Märzen style with Northern Brewer hops from Germany. Rich, toffee malt flavors up front with a clean hop finish as crisp as the autumn air. Unfortunately, like the fall colors, this seasonal beer is gone before you know it.
ORIGINAL GRAVITY
16.2º P
BITTERING UNITS
29
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME
7.3%
MALTS UTILIZED
Moravian 37, Caramel, Munich
COLOR, (DEG L.)
Bronze, 15° L
HOPS UTILIZED
Northern Brewer, Tettnanger, Saaz
YEAST
German Lager
ESTABLISHED
2001
Summit Winter Ale
Brewed in the Winter
Comforting as a down blanket. And way better tasting.
One taste and it’s easy to see why the Brits call this style Winter Warmer. Nutty, roasted malt flavor with hints of coffee, caramel, cocoa and a dash of hop spice. It’ll warm your cockles. Whatever those are.
ORIGINAL GRAVITY
14.5º P
BITTERING UNITS
36
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME
6.1%
MALTS UTILIZED
2-Row Pale, Caramel, Carafa II
COLOR, (DEG L.)
Brown, 42° L
HOPS UTILIZED
Willamette, Fuggle, Tettnanger
YEAST
Ale
ESTABLISHED
1987
-
Summit Unchained Series
Released Periodically
Venture off the beaten beer aisle.
The Summit Unchained Series gives our brewers free rein to create any beer style they want. To reinvent obscure traditional brews. To choose the finest, rarest and (gulp) spendiest ingredients. The result? Small batches. Huge flavor.
Summit Oatmeal Stout
Brewed year-round
A taste you won’t find everywhere.
While its cascading rich black color will be familiar to Stout enthusiasts, ours is decidedly different. It's made with naked oats from the UK, for one. Smooth and slightly sweek, with hints of coffee, caramel and chocolate. Sold only on draught in select places.
ORIGINAL GRAVITY
13.3º P
BITTERING UNITS
36
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME
5.1%
MALTS UTILIZED
2-Row Pale, Caramel, Oats, Crystal, Roasted Barley, Chocolate
COLOR, (DEG L.)
Pitch black, 92° L
HOPS UTILIZED
Northern Brewer, East Kent Golding, Fuggle
YEAST
Ale
ESTABLISHED
2004