Summit Unchained Series Sticke Alt Release & Harvest Party

There will also be harvest-themed fun and games including two costume contests – one for authentic German attire (you know — lederhosen & dirndl) and one for best-dressed scarecrow!

And because no fest would be complete without authentic German cuisine, our friends at The Black Forest Inn will be serving food at the event. Plus, live music from Brass Barn Polka Band, hammerschlagen, schnitzel & pumpkin dog treats from Barkley’s Bistro and much more!

PLUS a Keep the Glass special. Buy a pint of Unchained 20: Sticke Alt and you’ll receive a limited edition Unchained Series glass (one per guest).

Save the date. We’ll be opening the Beer Hall early at 2pm and the party will go into the evening. More details will be added to this page as we get things set.

This from Summit’s Mike Lundell:

About a year and a half ago, I was chatting with my friend AJ at the Muddy Pig in St. Paul. It was then we decided to go on an epic adventure to Germany and hoist beers at Oktoberfest! Bucket list item checked off! What else to do? Why, travel throughout the country, sampling all the regional beers we could. Plans were made with stops in cities with great beer cultures: Munich, Cologne, and Düsseldorf to name a few. It dawned on me; why not make an Altbier, the quintessential Düsseldorf beer! Many may remember fondly, myself included, the wonderful Altbier Summit used to offer in the fall, prior to our introduction of our Oktoberfest. It was nice and malty, not too sweet, with a nice dry finish. A wonderful beer to enjoy in the fall.

I could easily have pulled the recipe from the file cabinet and made that beer, but what fun is that? Let’s try something new! This is the Unchained Series, not the Recycled Series! There are a few regional variations of Altbier, but I thought I’d stay in Düsseldorf, but try something different and make a Sticke Alt. Sticke Alt is a beer the brewmasters make in Düsseldorf as a treat for their regular customers, as well as themselves. It is stronger, darker, maltier and hoppier than the regular Altbiers. The word ‘sticke’ is German for secret. This beer was a very special brew only known to those who were worthy of it, and if you are reading this, you are most definitely worthy of it.

My take on this ale style utilizes German hops and Czech and German malts. An authentic Alt yeast strain is also used. The word Alt means old, and reflects the fact that these yeast and beer styles have been around for a long time. This beer will ferment a bit cooler than an English ale, and benefits from an extended aging time in the fermenter. The slower ferment, along with a ‘lagering’ period will create a nice malty beer with a clean finish. I hope you enjoy my take on this fantastic German beer style, perfect for sharing with friends on cool fall days!

Sticke Alt Düsseldorf Style Ale

Malts: Pilsener, Vienna, Light Munich, Dark Munich, Caramel and Black
Hops: Hallertau, Mittelfruh
Original Gravity: 1.056° Plato
ABV: 6.3%
IBUs: 55
Color: Reddish Brown
Yeast: German Ale
Serving Tip: Best served in Alt tumbler or Stange beer glass. Pairs well with hearty German fare: pickled herring on rye bread, pig’s knuckle with potato salad, rolls with aged cheese and blood sausage, bratwurst and sauerkraut.