Review: Maine Beer Company Lunch IPA

Maine Beer Company Lunch IPA
7.0% ABV

Maine Beer Company, Portland, ME

16.9oz btl
Served in Duvel tulip glass
Date on bottle: Bottled on 1/14/14
Reviewed on 1/26/14


This IPA pours a hazy golden color with a somewhat amber tint and an off-white bubbly head that has decent retention.  Quite good lacing.

Smell consists of hops, grapefruit, citrus, fresh herbs and flowers, pine, slight woody flavor.

Taste consists of strong bitter hops, grapefruit, pine, smooth herbs and flowers, citrus, slight wheat, hint of yeast.

Mouthfeel is bitter on the palate at the start, mellowing to a nice smoothness.  Somewhat dry but not overly so.

Overall, this is a strong tasting IPA that has many of the classic IPA flavors while also having a good mellow smoothness. Only days old when reviewed, it tastes quite fresh, revealing the best of hops, grapefruit, pine, and floral flavors. A top-notch IPA that compares well to Heady Topper and the West Coast style IPAs.  Expensive but worth it if you can find it.


My score: 97

Review: Maine Beer Co. King Titus Porter

Maine Beer Company King Titus Porter
7.5% ABV

Maine Beer Company, Portland, ME

16.9oz btl
Served in Dogfish Head signature glass
Date on bottle: Born on 3/19/13
Reviewed on 8/3/13

This porter pours a dark brown color with a toasty beige head that has decent retention.  Great lacing.

Smell consists of malt, chocolate, hops, slight coffee, slight burnt sugar, caramel, touch of cream.

Taste consists of malt, dark chocolate, touch of coffee, caramel, hops, smokiness, burnt toast, touch of tobacco, some cream.

Mouthfeel is smooth on the palate with good creamy texture.  Decent dryness and bitterness.

Overall, this is a nice tasting malty, creamy textured porter that has a variety of tastes.   Dark chocolate, caramel, and coffee flavors come through, with good toasty/burnt accents emerging.  Full bodied and bursting with flavor.  Another high quality, if somewhat pricey, beer from Maine Beer Company.


My score: 93

Review: Maine Beer Company Zoe

Maine Beer Company Zoe
7.2% ABV

Maine Beer Company, Portland, ME

16.9oz btl
Served in Duvel tulip glass
Date on bottle: 2/28/13
Reviewed on 3/30/13

This ale pours a dark amber color with a good bubbly light beige head.  Good lacing.  Decent carbonation evident.

Smell consists of hops, malt, brown sugar, caramel, biscuit, slight yeast, rye, floral notes, some spice, some pepper.

Taste consists of hops, rye, caramel, malt, bread, some yeast, spice, pepper, floral and herbal notes, mild dark fruit.

Mouthfeel is earthy and textured on the palate.  Well balanced with decent but not overwhelming strands of dryness and bitterness.

Overall, this is a nice tasting amber ale that has qualities of a rye and some of an IPA.  Quite hoppy with good mixes of brown sugar, biscuit, rye, and spices.  It sort of breaks the style or crosses the style--however you may look at it--which is a good thing to do as it provides a distinct flavor.  Maine Beer Company is new to my area and, judging by this beer, is a bit on the pricey side, which might be the main reason not to have this one regularly.  Good deep tastes come through after drinking more and it coming up to temperature (it becomes more and more like an IPA as this happens--fascinating!). 

My score: 94