Maine Lunch

The freedom of having favorite American craft beers over and over again is sending a tingling sensation down to the very fibers of my being that appreciate beer. It brings back fond memories, sort of like muscle memory for athletes but for American craft beer connoisseurs. The aroma, the flavor, the look, and the feel on the palate are all titillated with old repetitions and snap into shape quite quickly. Of course this is all bull shit but it makes my mouth water for the American craft beer that is on the docket for this evening.

Lunch, brewed by Maine Beer Company, is an American IPA that can confuse you from which coast this beer is brewed. Citrus and pine hops are center stage in all facets of this beer, there is an underlying sweetness that is barely noticeable, creating a ridiculously delicate balance.

I always get his beer from a transaction partner up in Maine. I am delighted each time I receive it and any of the other Maine offers. They do a solid job and you owe it to yourself to try their beer. Enjoy!

Aroma: 10 (25%), Taste: 9 (25%), Look: 9 (15%), Drinkability: 9 (35%), Overall: 9.3

Useless Fact: A “clue” originally meant a ball of thread. This is why one is said to “unravel” the clues of a mystery.

Maine Lunch

American craft beer transactions are the best way to get American craft beer that you normally can’t get your hands onto. Finding someone on the other end that you can count on, creating a relationship of “friends” without every meeting them is bliss. I am fortunate that my transaction buddy in Maine, Matt, have created such a relationship. It is nice to receive a package that you never even knew about, especially when it is full of crazy goodies.

I have had three other American craft beers, via Matt, from Maine Beer Company. All three have been well above average and high on my list of “have again.” This time something knew was in the box: Lunch an American IPA.

Lunch might come from the east coast (actually about as far east as you can get) but the hop profile of pine and grapefruit citrus quickly make your senses think back to all those wonderful west coast IPAs. Well balanced, easy to drink, and refreshing with only a slight bitterness, this beer was fantastic after a day at the pool.

Thank you Matt for another great beer and kudos to Maine Beer Company for hitting four for four on their beers. Keep up the good work. Enjoy!

Aroma: 10 (25%), Taste: 9 (25%), Look: 9 (15%), Drinkability: 9 (35%), Overall: 9.3

Useless Fact: Toward the end of her life, Sarah Bernhardt had a wooden leg and often wore it on stage. The “Divine Sarah” slept in a coffin, owned her own railroad car, and played Juliet when she was seventy.

Maine Beer Company Spring Peeper Ale

Hopefully everyone has realized by now that I blog about my American craft beer tasting the day after I had it as I usually consume the beverage at night. This also allows for my thoughts to come clear, reasoning out any bias I might have had towards the beer in the heat of the moment.

Spring Peeper Ale by Maine Beer Company is not a beer that I can get locally but have been fortunate enough to receive over and over again from a frequent trading partner in Maine.

Spring Peeper is an American Pale Ale that is nicely dry hopped, making the beer so inviting. The rest of the beer is just a solid pale ale. Some sweetness with a mild hop balance. If this beer was local, it would be my go to beer. I find it really well balanced, easy to drink, and refreshing.

Now I have to figure out a way to get this beer on tap. Zoe, another Maine Beer Company beer, is also bottled now a really solid porter. Try and get them both. Enjoy!

Aroma: 9, Taste: 9, Look: 9, Drinkability: 9, Overall: 9.0

Useless Fact: Papaphobia is the fear of Popes.

What is the best American craft beer of all? No, not a free one. It is a beer that is quietly surprising and comes from out of no where to impress and surprise and inspire the senses to new heights. by Maine Beer Company did exactly that for me. I was a little leery as it is from a small brewer up in Maine and this is their first attempt at bottling for distribution off of their premisses. Also, sometime American Pale Ales from the east coast fail in comparison, in terms of hop profile, from their brethren out west.

Opening the bottle quickly shot down all my apprehensions as a wet burst of the bottle conditioned beer hit my nose. Nice floral, citrus, and fruity hops exploded from the bottle as did a nice bit of sticky, white foam. There is a nice fruity sweetness to the beer but the hops profile is the star. The mix is pleasant, subtle yet strong, and enticing to the senses. There is a touch of hop bitterness to the beer but it is not long lasting. A good drinking light beer that has enough aroma and taste to make up for the light body. 9/10

Now I just have to try and get some more of that delectable nectar. Enjoy!