Widmer Brothers has come up with a new brew they call Drifter; it is a pale ale and it is quite unique. I have only had something similar from a local brew pub, the Pump Station Pale from the Albany Pump Station. While unique, Drifter is true to the pale ale style. It is golden amber in color with a light caramel sweetness. It has a light to moderate hop bitterness along with significant nose presence of grapefruit and tangerine. The twist comes from the variety of hops they used, the new Summit hops, which is not your typical American pale ale Cascade or other “C” hop, nor English Fuggle or Kent Goldings.

“We crafted Drifter to make waves in the category and provide beer lovers with a new pale ale experience,” said Kurt Widmer, co-founder of Widmer Brothers Brewing. “Most pale ales are brewed with Cascade hops. Ours is truly an original, made with Summit hops known for their delicate flavor and undertones of tangerine, mandarin orange and grapefruit.”

Drifter

I don’t know if it is the hops with their fresh citrus character or if it is just my love of these Amarillo-like hops, but this beer just tastes so fresh! It doesn’t taste like it came from a bottle, but rather off the tap from your local brew pub.

Drifter is intended to be savored (or quaffed) on a lazy summer day while drifting on the water. Saranac Pale Ale use to be my summertime “go-to beer”. Over time, I got a little tired of it and it was replaced by Southern Tier’s Phin & Matt’s Extraordinary Ale. I’m starting to look for a change again and Drifter could easily win that title.

So I’m looking at the unofficial Hop Talk rating guide I ask myself…

• Do I really, really like it? Oh, yes.
• Would I consider making it my “go-to beer”? Absolutely.
• Would I go out of my way to buy this? Sure, maybe not state borders, but I will drive out of my way.
• Would I ask my retailer to order it? Definitely.
• Would I resort to violence if someone takes it away from me? …define violence…

I consulted with Al and neither of us have ever given a beer a perfect 5 on our ratings. Drifter comes as close as to a 5 as any other beer I have rated.

Drifter was a Silver Medal winner in the Pale Ale category at the 2006 Great American Beer Festival (GABF); the beer sails in at an ABV of 5.7% and 32 IBUs. Drifter is already available on tap in 20 select states, with six-packs on shelves in early February. The beer will launch nationwide in mid-April and will be offered year-round.