Mixed ratings

Allagash Victor Ale, 8
surprisingly, this is the first time i have tried this. a serious beer at 9%. well put together, as always.

Anchorage Whiteout Wit, 6
hazy and dry but uneven. not bad but definitely overpriced.

Baxter Celsius Summer Ale, 5
bitterness not altogether pleasant. too bad too, since i am always looking for a good sessionable beer in a can.

Breckenridge Vanilla Porter, 2
maybe i got a bad bottle but this was a no doubter drain pour.

Jolly Pumpkin E.S. Bam, 6
this spring seasonal is a bigger version of the bam but still only 4.7%. still not my favorite though.

Mikkeller Grassroots Wheat Is The New Hops, 9
hoppy, clean, delicious.

Onion Pub Jack Stout, 4
took a shot on this unknown illinois canner. sometimes you swing and miss.

Sixpoint Spice of Life Crystal, 7
first i have tried of series. or crystal hops for that matter (a derivative of hallertau made in oregon...) makes for a flavorful, if not overly polished, ipa.

The Alchemist Celia Saison, 3
still haven't had a good gluten-free beer, sadly...

Maine Weekend, Part 2

Our beer sampling trip to Maine didn't end Saturday night at Lion's Pride. The next morning we went to the Sea Dog Brewing brewpub in Topsham, Maine. Located in a historic mill building on the river, the brewpub has built quite a reputation for its Sunday brunch. An all you can eat buffet, this smorgasbord has everything from eggs benedict to shrimp cocktail to cheesecake. Sadly, the food is a little more memorable than the fruity-bending beers. A very worthwhile take nevertheless.

Of the sampler tray, I had only tried two before: Blue Paw Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale (5) and Riverdriver Hazelnut Porter (4). The others are as follows:

Sea Dog Cabin Fever Winter Stock Ale, 6
Rich, toffee malt flavor. Refreshing after a bunch of watery options. The best of the bunch.

Sea Dog Old East India Pale Ale, 4
Hoppiness level more typical of a pale ale.

Sea Dog Old Gollywobbler Brown Ale, 4
Dull. Bland.

Sea Dog Owl's Head Light Ale, 1
Watery... go figure at only 3.25% abv!

Sea Dog Stout, 3
Charred flavor, one-dimensional.

Sea Dog Topsham Pale Ale, 3
Floral hops but very weak.

Sea Dog Windjammer Blonde Ale, 2
Dull wheat flavor but easy drinking.

The world's new #1 beer bar?

Regular readers know that once a year a round up a few friends to soak up the Maine beer scene for a weekend. Two years ago this trip took us to remote Lovell, ME and the world's number one rated beer bar: Ebenezer's. This Belgian bar has been so successful they recently opened a sister restaurant called Lion's Pride in Brunswick, ME. This Belgian bar has been so successful that it is actually rated higher than Ebenezer's on BeerAdvocate.com.

While this wasn't my first trip (http://www.joshsbeerblog.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html#3004440215689136921), it was the first chance I had ever had to sit down and spend some time with the impressive beer menu. Over the course of four hours our group of worked through many of the 36 taps and some of the rare bottles as well. To top it off, the food is very good, the beer memorabilia very impressive, and the service excellent and knowledgeable. I am not sure Lion's Pride can match the experience of Ebenezer's just yet (they will let you pitch a tent in the back yard!) this unquestionably belongs in the discussion of the greatest best beer bars in the world.

Here come the tasting notes. And I'll be coming back for the Drie Fontein Oude Guese and Lindemans Cuvee Rene.

Bahnhof Brettanomyces Lambicus Berliner Style Weisse, 6
Puckering, incredibly sour, wine-like qualities. Not as drinkable as I look for in the Berliner Weisse style.

La Rulles Triple, 8
Citrus hops (apple, pineapple), hint of medicine, with funk in back. Incredibly unique flavors.

De Dolle Dulle Teve, 8
Hoppy, yeasty concoction. Better known as "Mad Bitch".

Oude Beersel Framboise, 7
The tap kicked so this was just a sample. I found the flavor to be more musty and dry than other fruit lambics.

RepoTerrior, 2
Collaborative brew from Dogfish Head, Allagash, Sierra Nevada, Lost Abbey, and Avery. After that list of brewers would you believe that this was terrible? They opted to brew a light cucumber beer for some reason. Cucumber flavor seemed closest to watermelon to me. Poor either way you cut it.

Fantome Biere Artisinale Sur Lie, 9
I loved Strange Ghost enough to give this one a try. Sour nose, lively, citrusy, yeasty. Very fun beer.

Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel, 10
I first wrote about this beer in a column for The Providence Phoenix about beer oddities. This is about as odd as it gets too: the beer uses coffee beans made from the droppings of a civet cat — a Vietnamese weasel! Weird, I know, but man was this good. Rich, beautiful flavor that demands to be sipped. The highlight of the night -- high praise.

Birra Del Borgo Duchessic Ale, 8
Recommended by a knowledgeable stranger at the bar. Dry and fruity. The first good Italian beer I have ever had.

Winter grab bag

Whether you prefer dark or hoppy for your wintertime drinking, there is something for everyone in this grab bag of recently sampled beers. Dig in!

21st Amendment Bitter American, Score: 8
at 4.4% abv, this is an excellent session beer. great bitter flavor without being over-the-top. my favorite offering yet from this canner.

Blue Hills Three Peaks Holiday Stout, Score: 9
flavor is complex, bordering on crowded. an unusual milk stout but the best new winter seasonal i have tried this year.

Full Sail Elevation, Score: 7
nice beer. don't let the imperial ipa tag scare you off -- bitterness isn't brash at all.

Full Sail Wassail, Score: 5
malt heavy, lacking in pop. if given a choice, i would go for another one of their seasonals, wreck the halls.

Furthermore Obscura, Score: 7
a coffee california common lager. so pretty unique and it worked.

Green Flash Imperial IPA, Score: 8
off the charts IBU's at 101. a nice beer i would have tried before now if the price point wasn't always so high.

Maine Beer Mean Old Tom, Score: 6
i think this beer was a victim of the brewers previous success... and my sky high expectations. was hoping for bigger aroma / taste considering aged on vanilla beans.

Shipyard Applehead, Score: 4
clearly the brewer is trying to match runaway success of Pumpkinhead with a seasonal offering for the rest of the year. so much so, that i would have trouble distinguishing the two in a blind taste test. not my thing, but friends have enjoyed it.

Sierra Nevada Grand Cru, Score: 8
another solid offering from the 30th anniversary series.

Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA, Score: 7
a new offering. well balanced. solid.

Slumbrew Flagraiser IPA, Score: 8
nice hoppy brew out of the gate for this somerville newby. there is a hef, cream, and porter out there too...

Southern Tier Unearthly Oak Aged, Score: 6
not sure i would choose this over the regular unearthly.

Maine's next great brewpub

It was another busy December at my real job. While I didn't get a chance to post on the blog, my family was hard at work reviewing the fare at Maine's newest brewpub, Mainely Brews Tavern in Waterville. Their review was more than enough to bump this pub up to the top of my to-do list. Hopefully, I will be adding my own, more beer-centric view shortly. Until then, bon appetit!

Good grub, Great pub . . . Who needs the post office?

The Travelin Maine(rs), George and Linda Smith of Mount Vernon, have spent their lifetimes enjoying all that Maine has to offer. Now they’ll tell you all about it — their favorite inns, restaurants, trips, activities, experiences, and travel books and websites — in their own personal style. They’ll be offering anecdotes, tips and all the details you need. So join them in exploring, experiencing and enjoying the great state of Maine.

If Luke Duplessis could turn every post office location that is closing into a Mainely Brews, people would happily forget about the mail.

After several friends and readers of this column told us how much they like Mainely Brews Tavern, in Waterville’s old post office, we scheduled a visit last week. This is a fun place with a great pub atmosphere, superb micro-brews, and a surprising (and enticing) menu.

Home for Christmas last week, our youngest daughter Hilary, who works at a high-end restaurant on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., joined us for our adventure at Mainely Brews.

Hilary

The atmosphere at Mainely Brews is what will bring you in — jovial, warm, and lively — but the food is what will keep bringing you back. Walking into the well-lit basement tavern with Mom and Dad just a few days before Christmas, I was surprised by how many families had chosen this place for a holiday dinner. This is not your average bar in central Maine.

The layout of Mainely Brews is great — something for everyone, with a horseshoe bar, large wooden tables fit for large groups, and cozy leather booths scattered around the oddly shaped historic basement. You can even have a private dinner or event in the old mail vault, a separate room adjacent to the tavern.

The history of the building makes for an authentic, charismatic restaurant with real Maine character.

The live music from a five-piece band was upbeat and a perfect accompaniment to the meal, without overwhelming the conversation.

The food (and beer) is what will keep you coming back for more. We were thrilled with the lobster stew and Southwest chicken rollups as appetizers, and blown away by the steak tips entrée and Mediterranean baked haddock entrée special.

These were all washed down with $3.50 pints of Maine microbrews that the tavern pours from taps.

My favorite was the Drop Dead red ale, high-alcohol amber that was both smoky and delicious. Dessert was not to be missed — the peanut butter pie is a real standout.

We were too full from all of the aforementioned food to try their burgers and pizzas. I was sorry to miss the London burger with black pepper and blue cheese. It would have been great with a Post Office Porter.

Incredibly delicious food, for surprisingly low prices, with some pretty spectacular locally brewed Maine beer. Mainely Brews is a long way from Washington, D.C., but I will be back.

Linda

The story behind Mainely Brews Tavern is a good one. Luke Duplessis bought this bar when he was 23 years old. I wonder if he could have even imagined how successful his restaurant would be now, eight years later.

The first thing you’re apt to notice is the beautiful old brick walls. Sconces and hanging lights give it a warm, welcoming feeling. One might think this is just a bar, but it actually is a restaurant serving great pub food — including burgers, appetizers and pizzas — and delicious entrees.

It was hard to choose from all those appetizers. The warm spinach dip included large pieces of artichoke, and was served with just-fried tortilla chips. Beware because those chips are addictive!

If you want something different, and enjoy a spicy sauce, order the Southwestern chicken rollups ($6.99). These are tiny burritos filled with corn, black beans and chicken, and then fried. It was the spicy ranch sauce that made these spectacular. Next time I go, they are likely to be my dinner! Luke told us these are very popular and I see why.

A friend was raving about the beef tips, so I knew we had to try this dish. A good portion of beef (perfectly cooked), mushrooms and onions, were served in a delicious, wild mushroom demi-glace.

Order their great mashed potatoes with this and you have comfort food at its best. The $13.99 price included a delicious Caesar salad. This entrée was incredible.

George

Hilary’s restaurant experience helped us evaluate some of the key ingredients for a good restaurant, and Mainely Brews had them all — from friendly, knowledgeable servers to appropriately timed delivery of food.

My perfectly cooked (flaky) haddock had a topping well-chopped so that you got all of the taste with each bite, and was served in a baking dish that kept the food hot (although I gobbled it up so fast it had little time to cool!)

After we’d finished our desserts, our very accommodating server (and also the front-of-the-house manager) Sandra gave me paper copies of all their menus — including the “Bear Skinny” health and fitness guilt-free menu. Much to my astonishment, my haddock dish was on that menu! I asked Lin if that meant I could order another dessert. You can guess the answer!

The micro-brews are provided by one of my favorite breweries, Black Bear in Orono, and both dark beers — the porter and the stout — are superb.

After a bit of begging, the girls allowed me to describe the desserts, a scrumptious peanut butter pie (the soft center was amazing) and a crème brule cheesecake that combined two of my favorite things into perhaps the tastiest cheesecake I’ve ever had. Hilary agreed.

Desserts are made by Luke’s friend at Carriage House Confections in Veazie (who makes desserts from some of our favorite restaurants including Fiddlehead in Bangor).

Conclusion

You’ll get real value here, where low prices are combined with good food served in a great pub atmosphere where everyone around us — including families with small kids — was obviously having a great time. Good grub. Great pub. Who needs the post office?

IF YOU GO . . .

MAINELY BREWS TAVERN
ADDRESS: 1 Post Office Square, Waterville
PHONE: 873-2457
ON THE WEB: www.mainelybrews.com
HOURS: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day, with food served until 11 p.m.
• Outside seating in summer. Nightly entertainment and daily species, including their popular $6 burgers on Tuesdays and 2-for-1 pizzas on Wednesdays.
• Reservations are taken, parking is in front of the building and at the nearby mall.

The evolving Maine beer scene

The Maine beer scene has always been known for its solid takes on traditional English Ales. However, within the past few years, the styles have become much more varied. As much as I love English styles, this is a good thing. For proof, look no further than these four new beers I have tried in the past month.

Baxter Brewing Stowaway IPA, Score: 9
baxter's first beer, pamola xtra pale ale, was good not great. in the ipa however, fresh, juicy citrus flavor makes this very enjoyable. this will be a campside staple.

Oxbow Farmhouse Pale Ale, Score: 5
a new brewer in newcastle who starts with a farmhouse? sadly, expectations did not pan out. far too bitter for a saison.

Maine Beer Lunch, Score: 10
i should probably write more about this beer but the verdict is simple: the best east coast ipa i have tried. period. find it, and when you do, buy out the store.

Shipyard Smashed Blueberry, Score: 6
searched this one out hoping it would be in the vein of their smashed imperial pumpkin. blueberry works in the background though and this feels a lot more like a porter than fruit beer.

Travelin' Maine(rs)

To no one's surprise, my parents also appreciate good beer. In fact, I am not sure my father has ever been prouder than the day I took up homebrewing. (Just keep the free beer coming, right, Dad?) The two of them also love to travel and eat and thus the Travelin' Maine(rs) were born. This column / blog allows the two of them to travel to some of Maine's best inns and restaurants and write up the experience. (And get some more free stuff...) Not a bad deal.

Their latest article highlighted the Maine Beer Trail and included a guest appearance by yours truly.

GET SOME EXERCISE: Take a hike on the Maine Beer and Wine Trails

Kennebec Journal, 7/25/11

The Travelin Maine(rs), George and Linda Smith of Mount Vernon, have spent their lifetimes enjoying all that Maine has to offer. Now they’ll tell you all about it — their favorite inns, restaurants, trips, activities, experiences, and travel books and websites — in their own personal style. They’ll be offering anecdotes, tips and all the details you need. So join them in exploring, experiencing and enjoying the great state of Maine.

The best hikes in Maine are on the Maine Beer Trail. And you don't need hiking boots!

Our state has gone from a wasteland to a wonderland of beer brewing. We've established an international reputation for finely crafted beers and many brew masters welcome you into their facilities for tours and tastings.

The Maine Brewers Guild provides maps and a list of brewery tours including days and hours. Some of the breweries include restaurants. Prizes are awarded if you visit 5, 10 or all 25 breweries on the trail. As if you needed any incentive.

Today's column includes a piece by our son Joshua Smith, who works for My Brothers Keeper, serving the poor in Brockton, Massachusetts. We're very proud of Josh, especially for his commitment to public service. He is also a home-brewer and writer with his own beer blog, and we're stealing a piece he wrote after visiting the Penobscot Bay Brewery in Winterport, also the site of the very fine Winterport Winery.

Joshua

During those cold winter months, many hunker down and put on a warm mug of cocoa. I decided to go the other way with it. Since 2008, I have rounded up a few friends, driven to northern Maine, and enjoyed a few cold beers.

Previous destinations included Ebenezer's Pub, Oak Pond Brewing, Bray's Brew Pub, Great Lost Bear, Sea Dog Brew Pub and Shipyard Brewing. The road less-traveled, I guess.

This year, on our way to a University of Maine hockey game in Orono, I arranged for a visit to Penobscot Bay Brewery in Winterport, operated by Mike and Joan Anderson who also own Winterport Winery.

They were kind enough to invite us for a tour despite being officially closed for the winter. It's a very nice facility with kitchen, tasting room, gift shop, winery and brewery -- all overlooking the Penobscot River.

This small brewery opened in 2009. Mike gave us a very entertaining tour, tracing each piece of brewing equipment back through its previous owners. While the room had the feel of a garage, I was impressed with how well-organized and clean the whole operation was.

Needless to say, Mike isn't haphazardly throwing handfuls of chipotle peppers into the brew pot like I do when home brewing.

The tasting room is simply beautiful, with shelves jammed with fruit wines, winery merchandise and local Maine products. They even sell Bay Brew Ice Cream, made with their own Half Moon Stout! My stout float was indescribable.

On tap were their Old Factory Whistle Scottish Ale, Stout and Wheat and Brown Ale. It made for a very enjoyable and tasty afternoon. Because you can only get Penobscot Bay's beers in Maine, this is a great stop on any beer trip.

George

Shipyard dominates Maine's microbrewing industry, so it's no surprise they their Portland facility offers the best tour, complete with a video, tour of the bottling process and tastings of my favorite Shipyard beers (be sure to try the Pugsley series). To get inside the huge brewery itself, reserve a space online for their Tuesday-night tour.

Bar Harbor Brewing Company produces one of my all-time favorites, Cadillac Mountain Stout, so Linda and I stopped by the brewery for a tour during our June visit to Bar Harbor. There's not a lot to see in a brewery, so a good tour guide is essential.

At Bar Harbor, our guide was a young guy named Ezra, nicely seasoned in his fourth year at the brewery. He was very humorous. He encouraged us to taste the ingredients that go into their beers, including barley, a chocolate malt that tasted like burned brownies and oats that Ezra claimed to eat out of the vat for breakfast.

He saved the worst for last, a hop he described as "bittery, sour candy with a hint of grass clippings." It was worse than described and stuck with me for a couple of hours.

Shipyard, as it does for a number of beer makers, brews some of Bar Harbor's beers, "but we send them our own yeast and recipe," Ezra was quick to point out.

The tasting went on for a while, helped by a tasty snack of pretzels dipped in Raye's mustard. I learned that another favorite brew, Coal Porter, is great in chili and beef stew. Who knew?

Last week up to the Forks, we enjoyed a visit at Northern Outdoors resort including a tour of their Kennebec River Brewery. Jim Yearwood and Mike McConnell spent a lot of time telling us about their brewing process. I really enjoy the smaller brewers that don't have established tours -- they just love to tell you about their beer, anytime you show up.

All but their IPA is consumed at the resort, so you'll need to get up there to see if you agree with me -- their smoky porter is superb. For the record, Lin liked the summer ale best.

Linda

Really good barbecue is hard to find. Once you've had great barbecue, you're always looking for a place close-by.

Lately, I've noticed more barbecue places popping up in Maine. Thank goodness. My theory is that restaurants specializing in good barbecue have figured out the perfect way to season and slowly smoke meats. Many have also created their own great barbecue sauce.

So when we noticed that one of Bar Harbor's two Mainely Meat BBQ restaurants was right next to the Bar Harbor brewery, we decided we had to try it. And we're soooo glad we did!

All of their sandwiches (chicken, hamburger, veggie burger, and pulled pork) come with choice of chips, potato salad or coleslaw for $7.71.

We ordered the pulled pork and it was absolutely delicious -- lots of tender pork with a choice of barbecue sauces. Dinner choices include ribs, chicken, hot Italian sausage and steak ($10 to $15) and a sampler plate.

We dined inside at a long high table with bar stools, but there's also a screened-in porch with lots of seats. The atmosphere is casual and friendly.

Conclusion

Join us this summer on the tastiest trail in the state: the Maine Beer Trail. And check out Josh's beer blog!

Drinking in the dead of winter

During those cold winter months, many hunker down and put on a warm mug of cocoa. I decided to go the other way with it. Since 2008, I have rounded up a few friends, drove to northern Maine, and drank a few cold beers. Previous destinations have included Ebenezer's Pub, Oak Pond Brewing, Bray's Brewpub, Great Lost Bear, Sea Dog Brewpub, and Shipyard Brewing. The road less traveled I guess.

Guy's Weekend started at Gritty McDuff's in Portland's Old Port. With solid food, comfortable atmopshere and communal tables, and reasonable prices, Gritty's has never let me down. While it would be nice to see a little more variety in their largely static menu of beers, their seasonals are very strong and there really isn't a bad beer in the lineup. Pitchers of their 21 IPA, Best Bitter, and Black Fly Stout all went down nicely.

Stop two for the evening was one of my new favorite bars: Mama's Crowbar. Not everyone in the group was grooving on the atmosphere as much as I was, but after spending so much time in trendy brewpubs, I've really become a sucker for a dive / townie bar with good beer. Crowbar definitely meets this criteria with Allagash and Stone on tap, and bottles ranging from Smuttynose IPA to North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner. After a game of trivial persuit and marathon round of cricket, it was closing time before we knew it.

Our destination for Day 2 was a University of Maine hockey game up in Orono. On the way, I had arranged for a visit to Penobscot Bay Brewery. Operated by Mike and Joan Anderson, also owners of Winterport Winery, were kind enough to invite us in for a tour despite being officially closed for the season. It was a very nice facility with kitchen, tasting room, gift shop, the winery and brewery, all overlooking the Penobscot River.

This small brewery is pretty new, only started in 2009. Mike gave us a very entertaining tour, tracing each piece of brewing equipment back through its previous owners. While the room had the feel of a garage, I was impressed with how well organized and clean the whole operation was. Needless to say, Mike isn't haphazardly throwing handfulls of chipotle pepper's into the brewpot like I do when homebrewing.

The tasting room is simply beautiful, with shelves jammed with fruit wines, winery merchandise, and local Maine products. They even sell Bay Brew Ice Cream, made with their own Half Moon Stout! (My stout float later that night was indescribable.) On tap was their Old Factory Whistle Scottish Ale, Stout, and Wheat and Brown Ale described below. It all made for a very enjoyable taster and afternoon. Seeing as you can only get Penobscot Bay's beers in Maine, this is a great stop on any beer road trip. Highly recommended.

The last beer destination of the weekend was Black Bear Brewpub in Orono. Two years ago we stopped here only to discover they were out of all of their beer! We decided to give them one last chance and we are glad we did. My pulled pork sandwich was phenomenal and prices were downright cheap. Only three basic beers were available (pale ale, red ale, and stout) but I thought the stout was excellent. As good as you are going to do in Orono, Maine, that is for sure.

The weekend allowed me to revisit a lot of old favorites, with a few newbies as well. Suddenly a road trip to Maine in February doesn't sound quite as crazy, huh?

Penobscot Bay Meadow Road Wheat Beer, Score: 6
most of the traditional banana / clove characteristics come out in the aroma. wheat dominates flavor but there was a medicinal off-note present too. pretty drinkable, but i prefer their whig street blonde ale as a sessionable brew.

Penobscot Bay Red Flannel Ale, Score: 7
brown ale meets winter warmer. sweet malt and fruity hops combine in aroma. i recall some minor spices in the taste, but flavor is ultimately more of the same. the half moon stout was the group's favorite beer of the day, with this as a close second.

Black Bear Microbrewery Stout, Score: 7
a seasonal beer from this small microbrewery. nice looking beer on pour with great lacing. chocolate malt is oh so tasty. so smooth you have to watch that 6.3% abv. i'm already looking forward to drinking it once again next february.

Buzzworthy beers

I spent this past weekend up in Maine and while there encountered two exciting new beers. I found both of these beers at The Lighthouse Wine & Seafood in Manchester, ME, now my go-to bottle store in the state. You will find bigger selections, but everything is quality, fresh, and well-marked. And they are always the first to stock that new, buzzworthy beer.

Rising Tide Ursa Minor, Score: 10
i thought rising tide's ishmael was an ambitious, if not quite spectacular, debut. a little pricey as a starting price point, but i definitely wanted to give them another try.

as a "weizen stout" this beer drew on mostly german ingredients... which concerned me, quite honestly. german wheat often has a skunkiness i can't get into. but all of this worry was for naught. this was amazing!

nearly black pour with attractive tan head... i get both weizen and stout characteristics in the aroma... a cacophany of flavors hit your tongue: chocolate, banana, vanilla, hazelnut, roastiness and bitterness. and yet, it isn't cluttered in the least... medium bodied, spot on carbonation, and very clean. wow.

simply put, this one shocked me. i thought it came together just perfectly. the best beer i have had for a couple of months. not cheap at $7 bombers, but worth it. try it.

Baxter Brewing Pamola Extra Pale Ale, Score: 6
a new brewer moving into the bates mill complex in lewiston, maine? they are naming it for baxter state park? their logo is pamola, a flying moose? and they are going to be the first all-can brewery in new england? seems too good to be true, i know.

first beer off the line is an american pale ale. the word extra gives you an idea of what you are in for... their flagship appears determined to compete with maine's ultimate session beer -- shipyard export. although at $9.99 for six cans it appears that baxter, much like rising tide, is pricing themselves as an elite craft brewer.

pale color with quickly dissipating head... hint of floral hops in aroma but that is all... light, sweet malt profile leads, followed by very light hoppiness. hops are fruity, not bitter though. balanced, for sure... extremely crisp, light-bodied, and clean.

hard to get excited by a beer this light but i thought this was a great first effort. at 4.9% this is a session beer in the truest sense of the word. this could be a huge summer beer. that said i am really hoping their next beer, the stowaway ipa, brings a bolder flavor.

Stock watch

Entering year four of this blog, my taste in beer has definitely evolved and grown more sophisticated. These are some of the risers and fallers that stick out most in my mind:

Berkshire Dean's Beans Coffeehouse Porter
love everything about this beer. so smooth, delicious flavor. a perfect 10.
Original Score: 9, Score: 10

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
sweetness has become rather cloying to me.
Original Score: 10, Score: 8

La Chouffe
more watery than i remembered, but still very good.
Original Score: 9, Score: 7

Liberal Cup Backhouse Bitter
as smooth and creamy a beer as you will find. definitely bitter, but i love it. a great english beer. Original Score: 7, Score: 8

Ommegang Hennepin
while i prefer allagash, the price point for ommegang is definitely better and results in my drinking it more often.
Original Score: 10, Score: 9

Samuel Adams Boston Lager
my ranking of sam adams' beers tend to be too high across the board, which is understandable since this was my introduction to craft beer. i still end up drinking the boston lager all the time as it is often the best beer available at dive bars and functions. the bitterness and drinkability make this a solid beer but hard to get excited about.
Original Score: 9, Score: 6

Samuel Adams Summer Ale
not unpleasant but not a good beer by any stretch of the imagination.
Original Score: 7, Score: 4

Shipyard Export Ale
same deal as with sam adams. this is one of my favorite session beers, but 7 is a more accuarate scoring.
Original Score: 9, Score: 7

Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale
too spiced for my tastes now.
Original Score: 8, Score: 4

Stone IPA
for around $4 for a bomber this has become one of my favorite buys.
Original Score: 9, Score: 10

Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen
tasty, if slightly watery. it's nice to have access to some portland beers out east.
Original Score: 9, Score: 6

Last call!

My decision to scale back the release of Complete Updated Rankings to every six months has not been a popular one. The thing is, they are a lot of work. Although I do have to admit, they are pretty out of date right now. Regardless, it is almost time for new rankings. Here is what I've been drinking lately. Last call!

Blue Hills Black Hops Beer, Score: 5
i love that they are tackling the Cascadian Dark Ale style. unfortunately there is an odd sourness that really doesn't belong.

Blue Hills Red Baron Ale, Score: 6

Brasserie Dupont Foret, Score: 7
a good saision, but i've had better for cheaper...

Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale, Score: 7

Full Sail Wreck the Halls, Score: 8
sold as a west coast ipa meets a winter warmer. certainly the hops play a bigger role than any malts or spices -- a good thing mind you. i liked it.

Great Divide Hibernation Ale, Score: 6

Lakefront Pumpkin Lager Beer, Score: 4

Rising Tide Ishmael, Score: 6
a new maine brewer! got to say though, i thought it was a little overpriced ($6 for a bomber) being a new beer and all. i didn't like the initial aroma, which one beeradvocate user accurately identified as closest to tobacco. i warmed too this beer as i drank though and am looking forward to their next offering.

Rogue Chatoe First Growth Wet Hop Ale, Score: 7

Sierra Nevada Estate, Score: 9

Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA, Score: 5
the "e" in emperial should give it away, but this is a Double IPA in the English style. points for uniqueness, but the hops tasted almost stale to me.

Ebenezer's sister

My experience at the world's number one beer bar - Ebenezer's in Lovell, ME - has been well-documented on this blog. Not surprisingly then, the recently opened sister bar of Ebenezer's, The Lion's Pride in Brunswick, has ranked high on my to-do list. Last week on our way home for Thanksgiving, Kelly and I got the chance.

For starters, this was a sizeable place with a pretty big bar and even bigger eating area. Much like at Ebenezer's, beer paraphanalia lines the walls, albeit with more representation from American brewers. But what really caught my eye were the apparently hand-blown, illuminated, glass tap handles. I've never seen that before!

The tap list was as great as expected. Lots of great Belgian beers that I have never seen on tap anywhere else. I will say, however, it wasn't close to the quality of the taps in Lovell - I didn't see anything vintage on tap. My biggest problem with this place is the fact they don't have a single written list of their abundant supply of bottles. Get your act together guys!

The food was good and reasonably priced. I got a lobster roll and Belgian frites for $14. The beers are substantially more pricey, but worth it. I ordered the Sinebrychoff Porter (9) from Sweden. Much like the menu promised, this is one of the best porter's I've had with tasty charred coffee making up the backbone of this beer. My wife went for the BFM Tarry Suchong (3) sold to us as a sour beer with tea as an ingredient, but labeled as a smoked beer by BeerAdvocate. I didn't enjoy this beer for the note of antisceptic within.

This was a quick trip but there will definitely be a return visit. Of particular interest, other beers on tap included: Cuvee Des Jacobins Rouge a Flanders Red Ale, Jan de Lichte a 7% Witbier, De Glazen Toren Onkineke Oilsjtersen Tripel, Van Steenberge Biere du Boucanier Golden a Belgian Strong Pale Ale, and De La Senne Stouterik an Irish Dry Stout. Talk about a to-do list!

Weekend in Portland

A weekend in Portland saw a lot of the normal haunts: Novare Res, Great Lost Bear, and Sebago Brewing. What was new was Mama's Crowbar, an awesome neighborhood bar on Munjoy Hill that I discovered thanks to Beer Advocate. Only four taps, but the bottle selection was stellar and it had a great relaxed vibe that many brewpubs lack. Add it to your list of must-stops in this craft beer destination.

Bavik Petrus Aged Pale, 5
all sour white grapes, not exactly delicately balanced.

Maine Beer Company Zoe, 8
my second offering from maine beer company and it was a fascinating amber. very hoppy, but with a heavy caramel malt backbone. try this beer.

North Coast Brother Thelonious, 4
a belgian strong dark ale. very dense with lots of dark fruit. reminded me of a red wine, or port even.

Run of the Mill What's Hoppenin' IPA, 6
bitter, with a slightly raw note.

Sebago Saddleback Ale, 3
i was expecting a simple light lager, but for some reason there was a fair amount of spice. not for me.

Sierra Nevada Blackbird Black IPA, 8
surely the style of cascadian dark ale (or black ipa) has arrived when sierra nevada's version makes it to the east coast. true to style with a sharp bitterness.

The Ratings Are Coming! The Ratings Are Coming!

Here is a roundup of the new beers I have sampled in the past couple of months. Some overdue complete updated ratings to follow.

Blue Hills Wampatuk Wheat, Score: 7

Caledonian Organic Great Scot Pale Ale, Score: 4

Cape Ann Fisherman's Bavarian Wheat, Score: 5

Cape Cod Hot Blonde, Score: 7

Clown Shoes Black I.P.A., Score: 7

Dubuisson Scaldis Triple (Bush Ambree), Score: 7

Fuller's ESB, Score: 7

Goose Island IPA, Score: 8

Goose Island Sofie, Score: 8

Grand Teton Pursuit of Hoppiness, Score: 7

Kirin Ichiban, Score: 2

Koshihikari Echigo Beer, Score: 4

Les Trois Mouquetaires Imperial Weizen, Score: 5

Manchester Conspiracy Theory, Score: 4

Manchester Emperor Norton's Peppermint Stout, Score: 3

Mayflower Golden Ale, Score: 6

New Belgium Abbey Style Belgian Ale, Score: 9

New England Sea Hag IPA, Score: 9

Paper City Fogbuster Coffee House Ale, Score: 8

Penobscot Half Moon Stout, Score: 7

Piraat Ale, Score: 7

Rogue Somer Orange Honey Ale, Score: 2

Shipyard Wheat Ale, Score: 5

ProPho: Beer Heaven

A pilgrimage to Ebenezer’s Pub
By JOSH SMITH March 24, 2010

http://thephoenix.com/Providence/food/99086-beer-heaven/

Beer heaven does exist. And it’s in the backwoods of Lovell, Maine.

I love beer trips. They are an opportunity to discover a new favorite brewer and chase that perfect pint. At this point, I’ve covered most of New England and even took a Beer Trip/Honeymoon — in that order — to Portland, Oregon! (That joke only works in certain company.)

The key to a successful beer trip is a little research up front. I always create a Google map with points of interest en route. Even more important is finding that friend willing to step up and be the designated driver for the day. (Thanks, Nate!)

Our destination was Ebenezer’s Pub, the brainchild of restaurant veterans Chris and Jen Lively. The couple relocated from Los Angeles in order to live out their dream of opening their own restaurant. But this wasn’t to be a run-of-the-mill eatery; Ebenezer’s extensive collection of Belgian beer led it to be voted by Beer Advocate as the number one beer bar in the world!

In the craft beer universe, Belgium is renowned for brewing some of the most complex, diverse, beautifully presented, and just plain tasty beers known to man. Many of these beers are bottle-conditioned (whereby the yeast sediment remains in the bottle during fermentation) and brewed using centuries-old traditions. This tiny country is home to 125 breweries . . . and even the monasteries make beer!

I had convinced three friends to join me on a weekend excursion to the town in western Maine. Although to call Lovell a town may be an exaggeration; we passed a general store, bait shop, a quilting store . . . and not much else. We were not the first beer geeks to make this trip, and a couple of wrong turns along the way seemed a rite of passage.

Hidden down a dirt road, it isn’t hard to imagine how Ebenezer’s was once a dive bar. The Livelys had put in a beautiful bar and lined the walls with some very cool beer paraphernalia. We settled into a table overlooking the adjacent golf course, our home for the next five hours.

The tap list, with its 35 options, can be a bit overwhelming at first . . . and that isn’t counting the coolers full of bottles behind the bar or the cellar with even rarer beers downstairs. Fortunately, the staff is very knowledgeable and seemed to have tried every beer we ordered. Then the beer is not only brought to you in proper glassware for the style, but often from the very brewer you ordered!

I felt like a kid in a candy shop. My first pick was a CANTILLON GUEUZE, a lambic-style beer with many white wine qualities. Even better were the darker and complexly flavored VAL-DIEU GRAND CRU and a 2007 version of PANNEPOT OLD FISHERMAN’S ALE. The DUCHESSE DE BOURGOGNE was a perfect beer in my opinion, a Flanders Red Ale where the sour cherries and candy-like sweetness wrestled for supremacy.

Fittingly, this was the night where I would rate beer number 1000 on my beer blog. DE PROEF’S SIGNATURE ALE seemed appropriate as a collaboration with California’s legendary Port Brewing and billed as “a hybrid of American and Belgian brewing techniques.” The distinctive yeast, biscuity malts, and healthy dose of hops all shined through in this delicious and balanced brew.

Most wouldn’t consider the beer cheap at $8-$9 per glass (the De Proef bottle cost $25), but it was very affordable considering many of these beers can’t be found on tap anywhere else. Besides, Ebenezer’s isn’t just a bar, it’s an event, a destination. Dinner is a must, with an impressive menu ranging from massive burgers to my choice of mussels cooked in Witte Bier.

Ordering perfect beer after perfect beer was almost surreal and certainly one of the coolest beer experiences of my life. And while I highly recommend making the trek to the greatest beer bar in the world someday, you can start by getting to better know the joy of Belgian beer.

ProPho: Mix-the-ultimate-six

72 ounces of beer bliss
By JOSH SMITH February 24, 2010

http://thephoenix.com/Providence/food/97663-mix-the-ultimate-six/

My entry into the world of craft beer came thanks to complete strangers. I had been placed in Portland, Oregon, as part of a volunteer program based on "simple living." And though there wasn't much of an entertainment budget, the "community" part of the program made up for it. Soon an endless stream of kind-hearted, former-volunteers were welcoming us to the neighborhood . . . six-packs of locally brewed beer in hand!

While it was the flavor and diversity of craft beer that originally drew me in, ultimately it was how this beer was consumed that kept me coming back. My newfound friends in Portland taught me from the start that craft beer is meant to be appreciated and shared with others. In this light, drinking craft beer managed to feel both counter-cultural and patriotic at the same time.

Five years and nearly 1000 different beers later, my enthusiasm for craft beer remains. My hope as a beer columnist is to share this joy with you, just as it was shared with me. So let's start with my ultimate mix-a-six pack, with the goal that you can make up one of your own at finer local liquor stores. Remember, though, I don't have an answer key here — drink what you like!

As a transplanted Mainer — and shameless homer — I must start with a beer close to my heart: ALLAGASH WHITE. Maine truly is "the way life should be," starting with a brewing scene that can go toe-to-toe with any other state. Allagash Brewing deserves a lot of the credit. The Belgian-style ales that Allagash specializes in are characteristically flavorful and easy-drinking, making their White a crowd favorite.

Where Allagash is one of the great technical brewers, Dogfish Head may be the most creative. When brewer Sam Calagione wanted to add hops continually through the brewing process for DOGFISH HEAD'S 90 MINUTE IPA, he jerry-rigged his old-school, vibrating football game to drop the hops into the brew kettle! As intended, this Imperial India Pale Ale is hoppy and sweet, without the biting bitterness of some other imperial beers.

I'm going out to Michigan next, but FOUNDERS BREAKFAST STOUT is relatively available on the East Coast. This is unquestionably my favorite label: a little kid, replete with bib, going to town on a bowl of oatmeal. Flaked oats help to give this beer an almost supernatural smoothness that is meant to be savored. I have literally spent two hours drinking a single 12-ounce bottle!

For two of my favorite styles of beer we can go back to New England. In my mind, New Hampshire's SMUTTYNOSE ROBUST PORTER stands out among other English Porters for its sharp bitter edge. While that may not sound too appealing, it actually balances out the roasted coffee malts. And balance is good. Although I love dark beers, I'm still an unabashed hop head. THOMAS HOOKER'S HOP MEADOW IPA out of Connecticut is a great example of what IPAs bring to the table: floral hop aroma, a flavorful, almost fruity bitterness, and smooth texture. I never pass this up on tap.

My last choice in this mix-a-six may surprise you, but I have to pick IPSWICH ORIGINAL ALE. This Massachusetts product has become my go-to session beer of late, combining drinkability with plenty of flavor.

You may find it odd that not a single international or West Coast beer made this list considering where this article started. I tried to keep these selections relatively close to home because while there are some amazing beers out there, there are also plenty of great brewers worth supporting in our own backyard. One of the best parts of this absurd hobby of mine is that by drinking local, you are doing something good by keeping money in the community and encouraging the local craft beer scene. Let's keep these special places around: mix-a-local-six.

Guy's Weekend, Part 2 of 2

Back in January, I posted an article about the Number 1 beer bar in the world (according to BeerAdvocate.com.) Ebenezer's Pub is a Belgian beer bar located in the backwoods of Maine, in the town of Lovell. And I can say, it was possibly the greatest beer experience of my life.

With three friends in tow, we made the drive (thanks to our Designated Driver Nate) and settled in for the next five hours. Below are the results and note the high marks.

Cantillon Gueze 100% Lambic
Tap -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
i had never had a beer from cantillon and was anxious to get started with this one. ebenezer's did a short pour on this one since it has such a strong taste. pours a translucent amber with a pretty sour nose. taste is closest to apple cider and very acidic. as dry as a white wine too. interesting, but probably ended up being my least favorite beer of the night.
Score: 7

Val-Dieu Grand Cru
Tap -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
planning for a session of drinking, i ordered what i thought would be a relatively light drinking beer. instead, i got a murky brown, 10.5% quad. i never would have guessed the abv though. all i could pick in the flavor was sweet molasses, and a note of coconut / vanilla. silky smoothness made this a pleasure to drink. the fact that the tap kicked 3/4 of the way through and this was on the house made it that much sweeter! thanks, guys!
Score: 10

Avec Les Bons Voeux
Tap -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
a saison from dupont. and just what you would expect: yeasty aroma and fruity taste. 9.5% doesn't prevent drinkability at all. nice if somewhat simple.
Score: 7

Duchesse De Bourgogne
Tap -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
a flanders red ale. has that sour cherry taste and is balanced by some candy sweetness. medium bodied. my friends weren't feeling it; too salty they thought. i'm going to have to agree to disagree on this one though -- i thought this was amazing.
Score: 10

Pannepot - Old Fisherman's Ale (2007 Version)
Tap -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
served quite cold, which was a little sad. dark fruit materializes as dates. burnt malt also present while hops are in mouthfeel more than flavor. nice texture.
Score: 9

Kasteel Tripel
Tap -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
has 11% of most tripel's, but fruity overtones dominate. a very good tripel that dan fell in love with.
Score: 9

De Proef Reserve Signature Ale (w/ Tomme Arthur)
750 ml -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
this will go down in history as my thousandth beer. i chose this beer since it was a collaboration between two legendary brewers: De Proef and Port Brewing. it being "a hybrid of American and Belgian brewing techniques" just seemed appropriate. brettanomyces flavor, biscuity malts, and healthy hopping make this a tasty brew. well-balanced too. a little steep at $25 for the bottle, but it was a special occasion, after all!
Score: 10

Beer number 1,000 ushers in a new era here at Josh's Beer Blog. First off, after writing the words malts and hops at least a thousand times, I am ready to cut back on my descriptions in ranking each beer. I will still keep scoring beers and adding them to my Complete Rankings, but will only do a full write-up on the most interesting beers.

More importantly, I have been offered a position to write a regular column about beer for The Providence Phoenix! What's Brewing will be printed every-other week in The Providence Phoenix and on their website. My first column debuted last weekend and can be found at: http://thephoenix.com/providence/food/97663-mix-the-ultimate-six/ I will put up the whole article shortly. And you can look for a little more info on this epic trip to Ebenezer's on The Phoenix in the coming weeks...

Guy's Weekend, Part 1 of 2

My first beer trip of 2010! The destination for this guys weekend was none other than the number one beer bar in the world: Ebenezer's Pub in Lovell, Maine. Of course, there were a couple of stops along the way. Here are a few new beers sampled the night before at Great Lost Bear, as well as rundown of the beers from my first visit to the very homey, Bray's Brewpub of Naples, Maine.

Allagash Burnham Road
Sample -- Great Lost Bear, Portland
brace yourself -- this was terrible! i never thought i would say such a thing about allagash. this smoked beer has an unmistakable cloroseptic spray taste... which does not work for me.
Score: 2

Freeport Black Gold Porter
Sample -- Great Lost Bear, Portland
my first beer from freeport brewing! aroma is of coffee, while vanilla defines taste. sweetness is balanced by some roasted bitterness. smoothness completes this porter. very good, i thought.
Score: 8

Gritty McDuff's Red Claws Ale
22 oz -- Portland, ME
a cheap bomber. sweet malt has darker coffee note. overall, fairly bitter though. not going to come rushing back here.
Score: 4

Run of the Mill State Budget Red Ale
Sample -- Great Lost Bear, Portland
reddish in color with note of coffee in malt. i ordered intending to get run of the mill's ipa, so this was a bit of a letdown.
Score: 5

Bray's Brewpub Brandy Pond Blonde Pale Ale
Sample -- Bray's Brewpub, Naples, ME
i've tried to order bray's before, but never had any luck. what i was really looking for was their Yammityville Horror Sweet Potato Ale. but maybe next time. my first beer was their blonde ale, creamy but very watery too. grainy wheat / corn taste.
Score: 4

Bray's Brewpub Causeway Cream
Sample -- Bray's Brewpub, Naples, ME
nitro pour, which is always nice. muted, bland taste but hops at finish redeem this beer. went very well with my pastrami sandwich.
Score: 6

Bray's Brewpub Mount Olympus Special Ale
Sample -- Bray's Brewpub, Naples, ME
"hopped like IPA but with darker malts," according to menu. good head, hopped nose... husky bitterness that builds. little watery but smooth. kind of sloppy.
Score: 5

Bray's Brewpub Red Eye Pale Ale
Sample -- Bray's Brewpub, Naples, ME
don't know if this was the dregs of the keg, but had absolutely no head. this beer rallies though. forceful bitterness and... taste of spruce! sticky with slightly thin mouthfeel. probably my favorite offering.
Score: 7

Bray's Brewpub Smokehouse Brown
Sample -- Bray's Brewpub, Naples, ME
my friends liked this beer, but i couldn't do it. cloroseptic taste brought me back to the previous night's disaster of allagash's burnham road. for the record, the smoke materializes as pulled pork.
Score: 3

Agree to Disagree

A few weeks back I mentioned that I should do a post about my most overrated and underrated beers. Which begs the question: overrated and underrated by who? I have said it before, but I find Beer Advocate to be a tremendous resource for my research needs. It is interesting to see what the broader beer community thinks of a beer, and their reviews have helped me pin down an unidentifiable flavor or aroma. That said, sometimes I have to agree to disagree with you other craft beer drinkers out there.

Most Overrated

Bell's Java Stout

BA Rating: A-, Josh's Rating: C+

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA
BA Rating: B+, Josh's Rating: C+

Rogue Brutal Bitter Ale
BA Rating: A-, Josh's Rating: C+

Sam Adams Chocolate Bock
BA Rating: B+, Josh's Rating: C-

Southern Tier Jahva
BA Rating: A-, Josh's Rating: B

Most Underrated

Cape Ann Fisherman's Brew
BA Rating: B, Josh's Rating: A-

Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale
BA Rating: B+, Josh's Rating: A+

Geary's Pale Ale
BA Rating: B, Josh's Rating: A

Olde Burnside Ten Penny Ale Reserve
BA Rating: B, Josh's Rating: A

Widmer Hefeweizen
BA Rating: C+, Josh's Rating: A-

Countdown to 1,000

I have alluded to this point already, but we are nearing a big milestone on the beer blog: 1,000 beers rated! A countdown has been added so stay tuned. To aid us in our march, here are a dozen new beers that cover the spectrum.

Bear Republic XP Pale Ale
22 oz -- Luke's, Rockland
i only have access to the most basic of bear republic products, so any time i have a chance to try another, i do. this had the prominent floral hops you would expect and is well balanced with nutty / biscuity malts. good not great.
Score: 7

Brown's IPA
Bottle -- Minogue's, Saratoga Springs, NY
a pretty raw beer. eric warned me against it and he was right. not reccommended at all.
Score: 2

Genesee Cream Ale
Can -- Minogue's, Saratoga Springs, NY
not sure how it started but i have kind of taken to trying the local equivalent of bud where i travel. genesee is one of those beers that have been around forever, but now is pretty much limited to upstate new york. kind of fun to drink, and slightly better than i expected.
Score: 4

Hair of the Dog Adam
Bottle -- Corks's, Portland, OR
barleywine or old ale, either way i wanted to age this beer as long as possible (it is left over from my honeymoon in may.) i finally broke down but eight months was a pretty good run. smokey, hoppy, with a hint of liquorice. does remind me of a scottish. creamy and drinkable. worth the wait.
Score: 9

High & Mighty Home For The Holidays
22 oz -- The Lighthouse, Manchester, ME
my first high and mighty beer didn't go over too well, which made exceeding expectations doable. while its a holiday ale, there is no spice, it is a straight up brown. alcohol was high, but drinks pretty easy. not bad, but wouldn't rush back.
Score: 6

Liberal Cup For Richer or Porter
Tap -- Liberal Cup, Hallowell, ME
roasty and smooth. i like most all porter's, but this was good. heavy enough though that i had to switch over to their backhouse bitter after just one...
Score: 7

Ommegang Witte
Bottle -- Julio's Liquors, Westboro
a very light translucent color. spicy, yeasty, almost musty smell. taste is unmistakably tart lemon. thin and chalky mouthfeel. good not great. victim of high expectations to be sure.
Score: 6

Southern Tier Cuvee Series 2 (Oak Aged Series)
22 oz -- Cork's, Mansfield
a strong ale. tons of vanilla here. all kinds of sweetness. unlike anything had tried before -- never a bad thing.

Score: 6

St. George Summer Ale
Bottle -- Rick's Wine and Gourmet, Alexandria, VA
the last beer remaining from my dc trip. biscuit malts provide more body than you would expect in a summer. not bad.
Score: 6

Victory Yakima Twilight
Bottle -- MA
i saw this referred to as a double ipa, but beer advocates designation as a strong ale seems much more on point to me. a bold beer with 9% abv, plenty of hops and malts. pretty good, i thought. thanks, dan.
Score: 8

Weyerbacher Insanity
22 oz -- Luke's, Rockland
i am kind of off of barleywines right now so this bottle sat on my shelf untouched for over a year. didn't exactly mellow in that time though. big sweetness and definitely warming.
Score: 6

Wild Goose IPA
Bottle -- Luke's
product of maryland. i knew this was an english ipa before i looked it up because it definitely has those distinctive biscuity malts. didn't meld together especially well though.
Score: 5