Summit Unchained No. 26: Westie 7th

Summit Brewing Company hasn't done a lot of Belgian-style beers. There were some witbiers in their past and a recent Belgian pale, but their other attempts at the Belgian styles have all been in the Unchained series. They've done a dubbel, and a strong golden, and a few saisons, but never anything quite like this. The name nods once to the nickname for the most famous trappist beer of all, Westveleteren, and the chummy nickname that some apply, and also to the West 7th St. neighborhood so near to the Summit brewery. It's clever, and fun, and how is the beer?

Summit Unchained Series Batch no. 26: Westie 7th Belgian-style Dark Ale.  Nick Hempfer, brewer. 7.5% ABV, 25 IBU. Brewed and canned by Summit Brewing, St. Paul, Minnesota.

To the eye: dark, deep, burgundy-hued, with crimson highlights, and a slim, brownish head.

In the nose: Belgian funk, sweet and fruity, stone fruit, dark fruit, pitted fruit, plums and raisins and figs. We've got the general tenor of the Belgian quad, the Trappist high orders, the wild and the wonderfulness. It's beautiful.

In the mouth: So tasty. Delicious. Nails it. All the flavor of a dubbel or a quad, but below 8% ABV, and just a straight-up tasty treat. All that detected in the nose settles onto the palate. Not too big, not too heavy, but still loaded with flavors. Hangs hard on the sweet side, with just enough bitterness to keep it nice and balanced.

I like this one, and can see myself taking down a pint when I see it, but I only have one quibble. This brewery is canning their beers more and more, but seem to switch off when it comes to the Unchained Series. Of all the beers I'd like to see not in a can, it would have been this one. It just doesn't feel right.

With rich notes of dark fruit, dark caramel, and — lucky us — rum, Summit Unchained 26: Westie 7th features a complex blend of specialty malts, subtle, noble-type hops, and dark Belgian candi syrup. Finished with a Trappist-Style Ale yeast, expect traces of fig and raisin to round out the beer.