Summer in a Can - From a Can

Yeah, so what.. it's Sept 10.  Shut ya mouth, summah ain't ovah til I say it's ovah, got it!?  And I can stand to wear short well into October, so get used to it!

So I moved a few weeks ago and compiled all my various caches of beer, and DAMN do I have a lot of beer.  So I pulled two summer cans from the hoard and this is what you get...

Saranac - Blueberry Blonde Ale - a 5.0% ABV 18 IBU wheat ale.  Not a giant fan of the blueberry beers, but when done right, they can be really good.  Haven't seen a blueberry blonde, so I had to pick it up.  Typical hazy wheat pour, a bit lighter than the picture indicates.  Interesting nose, fresh blueberries, however fairly light on this, along with a different grain aroma, hints of citrus and a touch of yeast.  Very very light beer, medium-bodied, but light in flavor.  Wheat malts, touches of lemon peel citrus and the smallest little bit of blueberry in the background.  Most blueberry's are a bit overpowering.. this, sadly, is a bit underwhelming.  Falls a bit short of that blueberry sweet spot that seems to be so elusive.  Sweet, malty aftertaste, very crisp.  Drinking it not for what it is, it's a nice little summer number.  Drinking it and expecting a blueberry blonde..you'll be a little bit disappointed.

Up next is the summer offering from Maine's own Baxter Brewing Company! - Celsuis Summer Ale.  A 4.7% ABV summer ale brewed with lemon&lime peels, Kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass.  A bright hazy pour with an amazing nose - citrusy, spicy, just a touch of the malt and some floral notes mixed in.  Touches of lime present here, if you didn't know it had lime involved, you'd definitely pick it out and it'd be an instant stand-out.  Very smooth beer, just sweet enough to not be crazy and the spice is pleasantly present.  Crisp malts, the lemongrass and Kaffir lime leaves sets this beer apart for sure!  They add a whole 'nother level of flavor complexity that most summer beers lack.  Sweet, just a touch drying and the hops finally poke through on the finish.  If you didn't get the chance to try Celsius this past summer, you better hope they do it again next summer.. a terrific brew!