Beer Review – Deschutes Hop Slice Summer Ale

• Name: Hop Slice Summer Ale
• Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
• Style: IPA
• Origin: Oregon
• ABV: 5.0%

I picked up this beer at Trader Joe’s when preparing to write my Battle of the Beers – Summer Brews article. I had seen Deschtue’s all over social media, but couldn’t remember seeing it in stores here in Texas. It was a no-brainer to pick up a bottle and give it a whirl.

Hop Slice Summer Ale pours a slightly hazy, amber color. It has low carbonation and produces a medium head. Aroma wise, it is slightly hoppy, with fruity scents being the most prominent.

Related: JosephsBrau Summer Brew Reivew

It has a thick and smooth mouthfeel, particularly when compared to more typical summer-style beers such as St Arnold 5 O’Clock Pils or Sierra Nevada Summerfest. Flavor wise, it is very sweet. A base flavor profile, typical of an ale, is punctuated by a lemony and hoppy notes.

Its aftertaste is an interesting mix of both sweet and bitter. After a short time, the bitterness dissipates, leaving behind a subtle sweetness. Each mouthful of this beer was crisp and refreshing.

I very much enjoyed this beer. It has a great flavor profile, a solid aftertaste and a nice, crisp texture. It’s well made for cutting through the heat of the summer. One of the best things about Deschutes’ summer offering is that it breaks all the typical rules of summer beer. Instead of offering a straw colored, carbonated and thin beer, Deschutes decided to offer a deeper, more complex flavor profile that is still very refreshing. Don’t get me wrong, I love summer lagers, but I was impressed by Deschutes’ willingness to push the boundaries of what is considered normal in this realm.

TL;DR

Deschute’s Hop Slice Summer Ale is a refreshing break from the status quo of summer beers. In place of a predictable, yet refreshing, summer kolsch or pilsner, Deschutes offers a deep summer ale that is just as refreshing as the rest. In doing so, they are able to bring an unusually complex flavor profile to what is usually a very light genre of beer. I highly recommend picking this one up and giving it a try.

Rating: 8.5/10

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Learn more about Hop Slice Summer Ale on Deschutes’ website, Untappd and Beer Advocate.