ST. PAUL, Minn. — “Water is a beer’s foundation,” said Summit Brewing Company’s Founder and President Mark Stutrud. “Hop is like a spice. Yeast is the character. But barley — barley is the soul of beer.”
Stutrud and the Summit Brewing team so believe in barley’s significance that they’ve developed a new year-round beer to celebrate it: Summit Dakota Soul.
Featuring a lightly toasted body and pleasant bitterness from spicy and floral hops, Summit Dakota Soul honors traditional Czech-style pilseners without forgetting where it’s from — Grain Country.
“If we forget our grain,” said Stutrud, “We forsake our soul.”
Crafted meticulously from farm to finish, Summit Dakota Soul features Moravian 37 barley, a heritage variety that imparts notes of English biscuits, honey and graham cracker in the final beer. What’s more, since 2010 it’s been grown exclusively by Mark Stutrud’s cousins near Rugby, North Dakota.
“It’s kinda neat to send our barley to Summit,” said Jim Stutrud of Barton, North Dakota, who plants and harvests the barley on a family farm alongside his son, Todd, and grandson, Josh. “You gotta be proud of it. You raised it. It has a purpose.”
Todd and Josh Stutrud agree, adding it’s a point of pride to know where the barley ends up. They like the beer, too, of course.
“Bottom line, it makes the beer taste even better when you’ve got Stutrud barley,” said Mark Stutrud.
Additional ingredients in the new pilsener include Loral hops, a new American variety with appealing floral, citrus and peppery qualities; Czech Saaz hops for floral and spice notes; and Carapils malt for a slightly elevated body and toasted note. At 4.8% ABV and 28 IBU, a long period of cold conditioning ensures a classical approach to the style and a crisp, balanced beer with refreshing drinkability and no gimmicks.
Summit Dakota Soul will debut at the Summit Beer Hall Friday, January 12, 2018. In the weeks following, Summit Dakota Soul will join our year-round rotation on draft and in 12-packs of 12-oz. cans, as well as 6 and 12-packs of 12-oz. bottles.
Summit Dakota Soul
ABV: 4.8%
IBU: 28
Color: Golden Yellow (5.5 L)
Malts: Moravian 37, Carapils
Hops: Saaz, Loral
Yeast: Lager
Serving Tips: Serve at 38–42º F in a pils glass alongside Havarti cheese, poultry, seafood, Asian food and/or grilled meat, depending on how hungry you’re feeling.
Summit Brewing Company
Founded in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1986, Summit Brewing Company has remained close to its roots, refreshing thirsty folks throughout the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions. Currently available in five states, Summit now produces seven year-round premium craft beers, seven occasionals, four seasonal brews, and the limited-release Unchained Series and Union Series. Since our inception, we’ve been a consistent pioneer in the craft beer movement. For everything Summit Brewing, visit summitbrewing.com.