I have received Narragansett samples before and have generally enjoyed them. The basic lager and especially the porter were solid as was the bock. But summer ale? What is that other than another name for "Lite"? At 4.2%, the beer is certainly light in the North American context but is it a good one?

It pours a surprisingly rich aged pine with a whipped egg white sort of head. Heavy carbonation action. The nose is marigold and toffee. Marigold is not usually a good thing but in this case, I am not sure it's all that weird. In the mouth, this is a bitter beer - weedy more than herbal with a nod to steely. But, that being said, it is no a phony weedy. A bit of citrus, too. And there is pale malt and, for that mere 4.2%, a good level of body. It reminds me a bit of Beau's Lugtread with less of the malt and a bit rougher hop. By which I mean, you will note, "a bit." But what it really reminds me of is that this is a good value beer.

Frankly, I would buy the lager and especially the porter first but if you are looking for a great example of a biting American beer in the classic style with enough to set it well apart from most of its competition, try this summer ale. BAers push the limit of what I know as love.