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July 31, 2005

Shipyard: Ringwood Old Thumper

Name: Shipyard: Ringwood Old Thumper
Brewed In/Type: Portland, Maine / Ale (ESA)
Bought at/Price Joka's Discount Bev, ME / $13.45 12 variety pack
Dennis: I was actually pretty surprised that this beer has a 5.9% alcohol, at first the smell of the beer had me afraid it would be a poorly replicated english pale ale. But the taste came across nice and smooth, certainly this is a malty yeasty beer, but after the swallow you get a bitterish tasty burst of flavor that dissolves on your tongue. I'm not a big fan of this type of beer, but I think this is nicely done.
Jen: What a nice ESA. It has a definite scent of malts. It starts off sweet and almost has a creamy feel in your mouth. After you swallow, you get a twinge of hoppy bitterness to it. This was brewed better than most ESA. Tasty and easy to drink.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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July 29, 2005

Boathouse Brown Ale

Name: Boathouse Brown Ale
Brewed In/Type: Portland, Maine / Brown Ale
Bought at/Price ?
Dennis: Probably one of the best brown ales I've ever had. Unusually hoppy for this type of beer, with a smooth body that makes it deceptivly drinkable. A nice nutty flavor is complimented with a bitterness that really just makes everything that much better. If you ever have a change, certainly try this brew. Just try not to chug it.
Jen: This beer just started being bottled for distribution and I was lucky enough to happen upon it while vacationing in Maine. It starts off with a nice malty sweetness that isn't too overwhelming. It that tranforms into a nice mild citrus hop bitterness, but you never lose the sweet flavor. It also has a nice burnt caramel flavor to it.
Rating: 4 out of 5

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July 27, 2005

Belfast Bay: Lobster Ale

Name: Belfast Bay: Lobster Ale
Brewed In/Type: Belfast, Maine / Ale
Bought at/Price Joka's Discount Bev / $7.99 6pack
Dennis: Here is another beer that Jen brought back with her on her trip to Maine, and probably one of the best of them. The smell is malty and sweet without being overpowering, the taste is a whole other thing. I'm having hard time putting my finger on it, because I don't really feel this is a "red" ale execpt in a marketing sense (lobster and all...). The carbonation is spot on, the body has a nice full malty feel w/ a hop taste I can't describe. And the aftertaste leaves behind a woody, fruity, almost tart taste that really is what makes this beer shine. Honestly, if you have a chance to drink this then don't pass it by.
Jen: I seem to get a little bit of everything out of this brew. It smells sweet and malty. Drinking it howeer gives me something completely different. It is aggressively carbonated. It has the bitterness of piney hops, and ends with a mild sweet caramel malt. I have to say, tha tif you are in the New England area, definitely try this!
Rating: 4 out of 5

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July 25, 2005

Shipyard: Brown Ale

Name: Shipyard: Brown Ale
Brewed In/Type: Portland, Maine / Brown Ale
Bought at/Price Joka's Discount Bev, ME / $13.45 12 variety pack
Dennis: This brown ale comes out of the gate with a malty taste that is quickly followed by a sweetness. I assume you can attribute that to the maple and hint of chocolate the brewer says they put in. Mostly though I'd day this comes out sweet, but not to much, goes down smooth and finishes softly. A real velvety type of beer that isn't rough at all on the palette.
Jen: I wasn't super impressed with this brown ale. It is over-carbonated to the point where it overpowers the true flavors. It does have a very caramelly taste to it with lots of malts. It has a mild burnt taste to it and ends with a faint bittersweet chocolate flavor. This is kind of ho-hum. Not bad, but I wouldn't go out of my way when better browns exist.
Rating: 3 out of 5

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July 23, 2005

Smuttynose IPA

Name: Smuttynose IPA
Brewed In/Type: Portmouth, NH / IPA
Bought at/Price Maine Beer and Beverage, ME / ?
Dennis: Another fine brew that you just can't find locally. Thankfully Jen brought some back with her from Maine. If your a hop head, or just like decent IPA's then this is something you'll not want to miss. Rather than just throwing cascade hops at it, this brew claims to mix in three different hops for it's strong bitter flavor, as their website explains. Either way the taste is strong, hoppy, and leaves just the right amount of bitterness for IPA lovers.
Jen: This is an IPA that you don't want to pass on. It has a nice light, crisp body that is filled with the nice smooth hop bitterness that should be present in any IPA. It has a nice blend of floral and grassy hops that adds a bite to it. Best give this one a try because otherwise you are certainly missing out!
Rating: 4.00 out of 5

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July 21, 2005

Shipyard: Export

Name: Shipyard: Export
Brewed In/Type: Portland, Maine / Ale
Bought at/Price Joka's Discount Bev, ME / $13.45 12 variety pack
Dennis: This brew has the same distinctive subtle flavor to it as all the other shipyard brews we've had. While a respectable beer (clocking in at 5.1%) the only thing I got out of it was a sweet malt taste, with a hint of bitterness at the end (very soft though). Good beer, respectable beer, but not something you could drink a 12 pack of without feeling like the inside of your mouth was getting coated in the taste.
Jen: Nothing really too spectacular about this one. It has a strong sweet malt flavor that is followed by a wisp of hops. It has a nice light to medium body. The flavors are not too overwhelming, but I am not sure if I like this brew. It leaves a coating on your mouth like colas do.
Rating: 3.25 out of 5

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July 19, 2005

Sea Dog: Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale

Name: Sea Dog: Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale
Brewed In/Type: Portland, Maine / Ale
Bought at/Price Joka's Discount Bev, ME / $6.85 6pack
Dennis: Hands down this is the best blueberry beer I've ever had. Unlike some other nameless brews, this beer has some characteristics that make it worth drinking again. The blueberry smell is strong at first, but mellows out as you drink. While the body is a little light for a wheat beer, the taste is strong, but not bitter. Certainly the main thing you'll taste is blueberry's, but it's not so bad that you'll feel like you just were violated. Assertive, but not chemically this is a very impressive blueberry ale. I really think the wheat backing is what makes this more than just a gimic. If you have a chance, don't pass this by.
Jen: I think the first time I had this, I enjoyed it better, however, it was on draft. This starts off with strong blueberry tartness and is followed by a nice mild wheat finish. It is slightly overcarbonated, but it isn't badly done. It almost tastes like this blueberry cake my mom used to make!
Rating: 3.75 out of 5

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July 17, 2005

Gritty McDuff's: Original Pub Style

Name: Gritty McDuff's: Original Pub Style
Brewed In/Type: Portland, Maine / Pale Ale
Bought at/Price Maine Beer and Beverage, ME / ?
Dennis: This is definitely a very nicely done american pale ale, the use of not only cascade, but willamette hops really makes a statement in the taste. The smell is sweet and light, and the taste goes down with a butterscotch/musty mouth feel and just the right amount of bitter twinge at the end. Over all just a really unique easy to drink brew that should be tried.
Jen: This is a medium bodied ale, that they classify as a "classic" pale ale. I don't find it to be very much of one. It starts off with a toasty maltiness to it that is followed my a mild hop crispness and a slight bite to it at the end. It is quite fizzy, but too much. It is pretty refreshing, but I wouln't go out of my way for it again.
Rating: 3.25 out of 5

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July 15, 2005

Shipyard: IPA

Name: Shipyard: IPA
Brewed In/Type: Portland, Maine / India Pale Ale
Bought at/Price Joka's Discount Bev, ME / $13.45 12 variety pack
Dennis: What makes this IPA different from most of what I've had up until now is that it doesn't use Cascade hops....a staple for most American IPA's. What it does use is a hop called fuggles (which to me sounds like a horribly ugly teddy bear crime fighting group) that is a little less bitter but leaves a more rounded woody taste afterwards. The body is also a little bit more lagerish than I expected. Over all it is a good soft IPA with some lingering plesant bitterness that should be tried if only for the reason that every other IPA is nothing but cascade and centennial hops.
Jen: I truly enjoy a good IPA, this one doesn't quite live up to those standards. It doesn't offer the strong aroma that many do. It is quite light in body with a mild bitterness to it from the Fuggle hops. It also has a somewhat sour taste. I by no means dislike this, but there is a particular IPA I do enjoy more.
Rating: 3.25 out of 5

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July 13, 2005

North Coast: Old Stock 2004

Name: North Coast: Old Stock 2004
Brewed In/Type: Fort Bragg, CA / Old Ale
Bought at/Price Woodman's / $9.49 4pack
Dennis: This is to me a dessert beer, you sip it, you enjoy it, but you couldn't probably pound it without puking. Very strong as you would expect from an 11.4% alcohol, and incredibly malty, chewey and ready to hurt you with it's strong alcohol bite. Almost as warming as taking a shot, this beer is not for the light of heart.
Jen: This is a delicious beer. I say it in that way because it tastes like something you would have with a dessert, like creme brulee or tiramisu. It has flavors of dried fruits, like raisins and prunes, and is backed by a nice blend of malts. It has a vanilla flavor and, for the alcohol content, it goes down smoothly. Just don't pound this.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5

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July 11, 2005

Murphy's Stout

Name: Murphy's Stout
Brewed In/Type: UK / Stout
Bought at/Price Woodman's / $5.99 4pack
Dennis: As a change from the American micro brew's we tend to favor we decided to pickup this UK made Stout in the familiar can (Guinness Draught). Funny thing is both times the can's pretty much went mt. Vesuvius
on us. That being said, this is a creamy, chocolatly, burnt coffee stout that comes across softer than Guinness, both in taste and body feel. Pretty damn good, but the cost really makes it hard to pick this over Guinness Draught. Worth a try at least once for the creamyness of it.
Jen: This is not too bad of a brew, but I don't necessarily think it is worth the $$. It has a nice bittersweet chocolate flavor with undertones of coffee and nuts. It has a nice full body that is "creamy", but ends with an almost watery feel. For a 4.00% ABV, I would pass this up for Guinness anyday, but this is worth a try for those stout lovers.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5

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July 09, 2005

Mojo: India Pale Ale

Name: Mojo: India Pale Ale
Brewed In/Type: Boulder, CO / IPA
Bought at/Price Woodman's / $6.79 6 pack
Dennis: This IPA has a semi sour aroma to it that doesn't really get your ready for the body. The label/website/etc says this is a hop lover's dream thanks to Amarillo hops, and that might just be true. What the smell doesn't convey the body does. Light in consistency, this packs a real punch leaving you with a bitter afterglow that slowly dissipates after the swallow (7% alcohol). Bascially it's really hoppy :) If you love hops you will love this, otherwise it might be just a little to much for you.
Jen: This IPA seems to have one slight different characteristic than others: it starts off with a creamy mouthfeel. This has a mild but prominent citrus flavor to it. This is from the Amarillo hops (something I don't think that I haved experienced before.) This IPA is clean and crisp and ends with the bitterness that only a true IPA can have.
Rating: 4 out of 5

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July 07, 2005

Anchor: Steam Beer

Name: Anchor Steam Beer
Brewed In/Type: San Francisco, CA / Lager
Bought at/Price Woodman's / $6.99
Dennis: Anchor Steam beer is hailed as on of the first micro brews made in the fledgling US after prohibition, and as such has place of distinction apart from the other generic macro golden lagers. That being said this lager comes across to me as a light bodied, malty, with a semibitter twange of mustiness at the end. It is a lot thinner than I expected, but not a bad beer by any means. I can see this as being a good gateway beer from somebody moving onto greener pastures from budweiser.
Jen: I don't find this brew to be anything special. At first it has a bitter hoppiness to it, but after the first sip, it seems to disappear. I then can taste the sweetness of the malts at the end. This also is slightly overcarbonated. Don't go out of your way to try this, but I wouldn't pass it up if offered one either.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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July 05, 2005

Whitbread Pale Ale

Name: Whitbread Pale Ale
Brewed In/Type: Cincinnati, OH / Pale Ale
Bought at/Price Woodman's / $9.99 12pack
Dennis: I purchased this pretty much based on price, and under the assumption that this was a London based brew....and it is...just made in Ohio. This is not an American Pale Ale, but rather a traditional London Pale Ale, or as I like to call it tradtional london rancid crap. It's malty with a taste of something sort of sour at the end. I don't recommend this really at all, and there's even no information on the intraweb about the brewery.
Jen: If this is a "pale ale" than I am a drunken sailor. It is not that good and not worth trying. It starts with a malty flavor and is than overpowered by a weird sweet flavor that almost causes a slight gagging reflex. This is gross; don't bother.
Rating: 2 out of 5

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July 03, 2005

Labatt Blue

Name: Labatt Blue
Brewed In/Type: Toronto, Canada / Lager
Bought at/Price Woodman's / $7.99 12pack
Dennis: I actually ended up liking this more than I thought I would. There's not a whole lot here for you beer wise, just a light bodied typical macro golden later with just a little bit of sweetness in the end. Nothing much here, but nothing that would really offend anyone. If it's on sale, and you want a change I say go for it.
Jen: This to me is just another macro brew, but it does offer something a little different than other macros. The sweet generic taste is a little better than those of Miller lite and such, and this does have a faint, almost see thu hop finish. Boring and cheap, a true college student beer.
Rating: 2.75 out of 5

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July 01, 2005

Great Lakes: Holy Moses White Ale

Name: Great Lakes: Holy Moses White Ale
Brewed In/Type: Cleveland, OH / White beer (witbier)
Bought at/Price Woodman's / $6.49 6pack
Dennis: Not being a huge fan of white beers I was surprised at how much I didn't hate this. Probably one of the best white beers I've ever had, both the aroma and taste are very spicey. The label says coriander, orange peel and chamomile. Personally it seems sort of clovey to me, but the main point is that this is a great crafted white beer. If you like white beers, then you certainly won't want to miss trying this.
Jen: Best white beer I have experienced. It has a nice medium body with a nice blend of flavors. The spiciness has a great citrus punch to it that is backed with mild flavors of hops. I like this one the best so far because it stands out from the other white beers that I have had. I can taste the chamomile and coriander, which makes this ale exciting. Drink this if you like white ales.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5

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