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Sunset Summer Ale

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The summer entry in the Skeena seasonal series, a Belgian-style farmhouse ale in which the yeast does most of the talking: bubblegum, banana and citrus up front, white pepper and clove behind. A heavy charge of rye malt adds a spice of its own, and locally sourced wildflower honey leaves a floral note without making the beer sweet. The finish is bone dry, the carbonation lively. Label art by Roy Henry Vickers.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
clovebananabubblegum
clove
banana
bubblegum
floral
citrusy
yeasty
Aroma
The nose is immediately expressive, dominated by the yeast's signature esters: bubblegum and ripe banana leap forward, backed by white pepper and a subtle clove spice.
also:honey,spicy
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Sunset Summer Ale

◎ Appearance

A pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head. The lively carbonation is evident in steady streams of small bubbles rising through the glass, with good Schaumhaftung that leaves a delicate lacing on the walls.

pale goldenbright clarityfine carbonationpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose is immediately expressive, dominated by the yeast's signature esters: bubblegum and ripe banana leap forward, backed by white pepper and a subtle clove spice. A floral character from the wildflower honey emerges beneath, alongside a light citrus note and the dry, peppery undertone from the rye malt.

bubblegum, bananawhite pepper, clovewildflower honeycitrus esters

◐ Taste

The palate opens with the same fruity yeast character—bubblegum and banana—balanced by the rye's assertive spice and a gentle white pepper finish. The honey provides a floral sweetness that never tips into cloying, while the rye's peppery edge and the beer's overall dryness keep the profile crisp and refined throughout the mid-palate.

fruity, esteryspicy rye maltfloral honeybone-dry finish

◑ Finish

The finish is bone dry and cleanly articulated, with the white pepper and clove lingering softly on the palate. The lively carbonation amplifies the sense of crispness, leaving behind only a whisper of floral honey and rye spice.

bone-drypeppery spicecrisp carbonation
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 6–9°C

Serve at 8–12°C. Saison is refreshing but complex — cold works, but slightly warmer shows its farmhouse character.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within a year. Farmhouse character is liveliest when the beer is relatively young.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Sunset Summer Ale

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About Saison

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Saison?

Saisons are Belgian farmhouse ales with 5–8% ABV and IBU 20–35. Spicy, fruity yeast — pepper, citrus, hay — with high carbonation and a dry refreshing finish.

Finding a similar Saison

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dry, clove, banana character as Sunset Summer Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Saison beers in hopIQ →New to Saison? Read our guide →Browse Canada beers →