Mybeerbuzz .com Highlights Summit Brewing Nialas Irish-Style Dark & Nialas IPA (Review)

Many moons ago I sat on the beach enjoying a beer from a brewery I had never heard of before, and it was coming from St. Paul, MN. The beer was Extra Pale Ale and the brewery was of course Summit Brewing. This was the first time I had even heard of Summit Brewing, and even though they had been around since 1986, they were only recent to our markets at the time.

A full 30-years after they opened, I interviewed their Brewmaster Damian McConn on the WILK Friday BeerBuzz, and I knew right then that Summit Brewing beers would become among my favorites. I should also note that Damian is Irish and the beer names we’re sampling today include the word  “Nialas” which is Irish Gaelic for “Zero” or “nothing.” The process to build these beers took 3-years and according to Damian, these beers were purpose-built and brewed from the start as non-alcoholic rather than brewing a normal beer and stripping out the alcohol.

I’m admitting up front that reviewing non-alcoholic beers has not been my strength, but in the end the absence of alcohol really doesn’t make a difference and a good beer is a good beer…and of course today I found some good beers so off we go.

Summit Brewing Nialas Irish Style Dark

ABV:  >0.5%
Style:  Non-Alcoholic Irish-Style Dark
Packaging:  12oz cans
Appearance:  Light straw
Aroma:   Caramel grains, chocolate and mild spice
Mouthfeel:   Medium
Taste:   Sweet caramel malt, chocolate, coffee and spicy hops
Overall:  Nialas Irish-Style Dark feels a lot like a traditional dry stout but the color may fool you. I found traditional stout flavors of coffee, chocolate and sweet caramel malt with some really nice balancing spicy hops. The overall mix works well and and the balance and complexity make it really drinkable and enjoyable.

Summit Brewing Nialas IPA

ABV: >0.5%
Style:  IPA
Packaging:  12oz cans
Appearance:  Clear golden
Aroma:   Tropical fruit, stone fruit, biscuit malt and berries
Mouthfeel:   Medium
Taste:   Toasted malt, fresh berries, peaches and citrus
Overall: Nialas IPA has loads of classic IPA citrus and malt flavors but with a light malty presence. As an old-school IPA drinker, this beer seems to lean more into the British-style IPA category, but with a fresh take on the fruit-forward imported hops on board. Overall the balance leans British but I think the mix of peach, berries and citrus from the hops really makes it all work.

Summit Nialas Irish-Style Dark and Nialas IPA are available now in 12oz cans so get out there and try them for yourself. And when you do try them, be sure to let us know what YOU think.   zzubreebym