Sierra Nevada Summerfest

I like Sierra Nevada products. I've been drinking a lot of pale ale lately, and Torpedo IPA. Sierra Nevada appears to be expanding, pricing their beers competitively (usually around $16 for 12, often on sale for $13). I think the pale ale and IPA are fantastic.

It was in the high 80's today and fairly low humidity here in Orlando, but it was hot enough that I wanted a summertime beer. Especially since I've spent the past few months drinking mostly West Coast strongly hopped, extremely bitter ales. I wanted something lighter. Last year it was Modelo Especial with fresh limes, but this year I wasn't in the mood for that.

So I decided to give Sierra Nevada Summerfest Pilsner a try. And it reminded me that I don't like Pilsner Urquell. I think I just don't like lagers in general, and I don't like Czech Pilsners specifically. I don't know what it is, there is a "too rich" taste that doesn't agree with my palate. Maybe it's the Saaz hops. Maybe it's the lagering process. But I just don't care for it.

I'm desperate for an American Cream Ale. I used to make one, a Honey Cream Ale, that was just awesome and just right for those really hot Alabama summers. The only commercially available example is Little Kings and I haven't been able to find that for a very long time. The addition of my father-in-law's homemade honey to my homebrew made it even better.

Alas, I will have to wait until I get the homebewery spun up again later this year. In the mean time it's back to Sierra Nevada pale ale, Leffe blonde, Wittekerke witbier, and Weihenstephan hefe-weisses to get me through the summer, unless I can find something I like better.