Summit's new beers: The 'Saga' continues

Maybe you've heard the rumblings -- Summit is getting ready to release a new batch of beers in the coming months. And I'm not talking about the occasional Unchained Series (although, there's a new one of those, too).

In April, the St. Paul brewery will introduce Summer Ale, a Kölsch-inspired brew made to be sipped on a hot afternoon. The seasonal beer will replace Summit's Hefe Weizen (which debuted in 1993). Bigger news: In May, the brewery will release Summit Saga (great name!), its first new year-round beer since Horizon Red Ale. Summit Saga is considered a West Coast IPA, inspired by the hop-forward Summit 25th Anniversary beer. The beer sounds intense: made with rare New Zealand Rakau hops. It's said to have notes of kiwi, passion fruit, apricot and gooseberry.

To tide beer fans over, Summit will release its next small-batch Unchained beer, Dunkel Weizen, on March 5. Release parties are scheduled for Hell's Kitchen (March 6) and the Hole (March 8).

There's a 'Hole' in my 'Pizza'

What's the Hole, you say? The owners of the Imperial Room have taken over the Leaning Tower of Pizza at the University of Minnesota and renamed it the Hole Sports Lounge. They've cleaned up the place and are throwing a grand-opening party March 4, highlighted by a flair bartending show. Call to reserve a table.

Hear, hear, cheers to cask ale

Fresh off a busy release party for Surly Mild, Brit's Pub is back with another big craft-beer event. On Tuesday, the downtown bar is hosting its first Cask Ale Beer Fest. Brit's will feature five casks from Surly, Fulton, Summit, Crispin and New Belgium. The pub is a fitting place to hold such a party -- cask-conditioned beer was first popularized in Great Britain. This is unpasteurized beer that is served without the additional nitrogen or carbon-dioxide pressure. The mouth feel is ultra smooth. For $40, bargoers will get unlimited samples, plus an appetizer buffet.