278. Hill Farmstead Harlan

You might start to see a pattern over the next few weeks with lots of beer from Vermont. After my 3 day trip last week I have tons of Vermont beer to drink and review. Will most likely start with the Hill Farmstead 750 ml bottles. I am sure the bottles would keep just fine but why chance it as they make some of the very best beer available.

This is Harlan which is Hill's IPA or as they describe it a more aggressive version of Edward. Edward is certainly the best pale ale I have reviewed so it is no surprise that I enjoyed this one just as much. Color is similar a very nice unfiltered orange with solid white head. This beer leaves amazing lacing on the glass too. 


Aroma is very pleasant - strong but not overwhelming with lots of fresh hop and tropical and grapefruits. The best way to describe the taste on this one is fresh. All types of hop flavor here with some pine, tropical, grapefruit and citrus. Just enough of a malt character to balance it out but the beer still finishes with a slight bitterness. Overall another excellent beer from Hill Farmstead. 
Pros: Not over the top like many of today's IPAs, very drinkable
Cons: 
Alcohol Content: 6% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Hill Farmstead

Brewers Description: Harlan is Edward’s slightly more aggressive alter-ego. Dry Hopped exclusively with Columbus hops.

277. Green Flash Hop Head Red

One of three Green Flash beers I purchased at Bier Cellar in recent weeks. Love the color and thick head on this one. Also leaves great lacing on the glass.


Certainly a bit darker than most IPAs but that is to be expected from a Red IPA. Aroma is middle of the road on this one, not overpowering but some hops, malts and a bit of fruitiness. Taste follows with plenty of hops and some sweetness to balance things out. Nothing too special but certainly enjoyable.
Pros: Well balanced
Cons: 
Alcohol Content: 7.0% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 70
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Green Flash

Brewers Description: Resinous hop characteristics emerge from an enormous hopping with Columbus, Nugget and Amarillo overtaking the rich caramel malt base. To add luscious
hop flavors and enticingly floral hop aromas, we dry-hop the brew with bucket loads of Amarillo hops. Welcome to the world of Red IPA.

271. Green Flash West Coast IPA

I've heard great things about Green Flash and their Imperial IPA (reviewed here) was an excellent double IPA so when they started to distribute to Maine I was excited to try more. I purchased a few different varieties from Bier Cellar last week and the other night decided to try the West Coast IPA. 


Color is great with a thick white head. Really nice looking IPA. Smell is also very good with lots of different hops; floral, pine and citrus are all there. Taste starts, continues and finishes with hops. This is not a bad thing as I do enjoy hops but overall I think this beer would be better if it was a bit more balanced. 


Looking forward to Rayon Vert, Hop Head Red and whatever else I come across from Green Flash. 
Pros: Tons of hops
Cons: Not very well balanced
Alcohol Content: 7.3% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 95
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Green Flash Brewing

Brewers Description: A menagerie of hops is layered throughout the brewing process: Simcoe for unique fruitiness and grapefruit zest, Columbus for strong hop pungency, Centennial for pine and citrus notes and Cascade for floral aroma. A multi-dimensional hop experience.

265. Bissell Brothers Brewing The Substance

If you are reading this please share this review, page, photo, anything to help spread the word about this new brewery opening in Portland, Maine. The brewery is operated by a 22 year old brewer (Noah) and his brother (Peter), both great guys and if their final product is anything like this beer you will want it.


I met up with Peter and Noah at The Thirsty Pig in Portland last week to talk beer, business and pick up a couple samples. Noah works at the bar and Peter is a photographer that took the pictures for their website. They have a solid selection of Maine beer available at The Thirst Pig including Oxbow Brewing.


Back to the beer - this beer is everything I like in a beer; unfiltered, huge aroma, solid 7.3% ABV and incredible mouth feel. Noah mentioned this batch was brewed with a different hop variety than he prefers but it was still amazing. If the label on the bottle looks bad that is my fault as the samples I received were not labeled and I printed them from their website. This beer pours a bright orange with a single finger white head. Beer is cloudy with some remnants left in the bottom of the bottle. I prefer unfiltered beer so this is right up my alley. Aroma is huge and very inviting, great IPA smell. Taste has tons of hops with just enough malt to balance things out. This beer is a huge IPA from a small brewer and will quickly become a top pick of IPA lovers throughout the State of Maine. 


If you can get your hands on this beer you have to give it a try. This is as close to perfect as I have tasted and rated it 4.5 stars only because Noah said his preferred hop was not available. If the final product is truly better than this it will be hard to beat. Again please share this post, their website, twitter profile, etc to spread the word about this up and coming brewery. 
Pros: Absolutely everything
Cons: Not available in stores
Alcohol Content: 7.3% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Bissell Brothers Brewing

Brewers Description: What happens when you mix an unhealthy love for huge American hops, an apathy towards malt, and a long-running joke born in the Nevada desert? You get The Substance. Our interpretation of the American IPA layers Apollo, Summit, and Columbus hops on top of just enough barley to create a rhapsody of bright citrus, heavy dankness, and resinous pine, delivering a nose and flavor profile which is, in a word, unique. This beer was created by our desire to take everything good about the biggest IPAs of today, and blast those qualities into tomorrow in high gear. Be warned – The Substance assaults the nostrils the moment it’s uncapped, and pours a hazy orange that leaves a whole lot to the imagination. But don’t be scared… just enjoy the ride.

264. Lagunitas Brewing IPA

Lagunitas is new to Maine and I purchased this one at Bangor Wine & Cheese last week. I had heard good things about this beer but decided to start with only one rather than an entire 6-pack and I am glad I did. 


This beer pours a super clear gold with slight white head. Aroma has a bit of everything with some floral, pine and citrus hops but nothing overpowering and nothing too special. Taste is fairly subdued compared to a lot of other IPAs with some hop presence but not nearly what you get from Maine Beer Company Lunch, and so many others. This was easy drinking and would compare well with some of the pale ales I have reviewed but not quite up to the standards of other big IPAs. Give it a try as you will not be disappointed but I don't think you will find it to be anything special. 
Pros: Smooth and well balanced
Cons: Closer to a pale than an IPA
Alcohol Content: 6.2% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Lagunitas Brewing

Brewers Description: This is our unique version of an ancient style. A style as old as the ocean trade routes of the last centuries Great Ships. Not as old as the equator they had to cross twice enroute, nor as old as the 10,000 or so miles of Di-Hydrogen Oxide and Sodium upon which they sailed, but older than the Circulithium-4 Lentloid that binds the Lupulin Quartnate onto your taste buds. Weird. Think about it. Now stop. OK, go again, now stop. Think again, and stop. But we digress. Made with 43 different hops and 65 various malts, this redolent ale will likely float your boat, whatever planet you're on.
Thanks for your trust, and as always:Think Globally, Drink Locally!!

257. Founders Centennial IPA

Founders Double Trouble is one of the best beers I have reviewed to date so when I heard they were coming to Maine I was very excited. Stopped by Bier Cellar in Portland and picked up 5 different varieties of Founders beer. Being a big fan of IPAs I decided to start with the Centennial IPA. 


Beer pours a clear orange color with thin white head. Nice looking beer with a pleasant aroma of citrus and other hops. The taste was a bit disappointing with a lot of bitterness and not a lot else. I compare the taste ti celery, not a bad taste but something that I don't really enjoy. This is a quality beer that is on the edge of an IPA and and Imperial/Double IPA, good but not something I would seek out again. 
Pros: Color
Cons: Taste
Alcohol Content: 7.2% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 65
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Founders Brewing

Brewers Description: Get ready to bask in the glory of the frothy head's floral bouquet. Relish the citrus accents from the abundance of dry hopping. This one's sweet, yet balanced. Malty undertones shake hands with the hop character for a finish that never turns too bitter.

253. Black Bear Brewing IPA

On a bit of a growler kick lately, visiting lots of breweries and I just cannot seem leave empty handed. Left with three growlers last time I went to Black Bear Brewing in Orono including this classic growler with their old art work and even has the old address for the brewery.

Beer pours a nice orange with nice white head. Aromas are minimal but what there is smells great. Taste is very solid for an American IPA nothing over the top like many other IPAs try to do, just a very drinkable refreshing IPA. Finishes clean and makes you want another glass. Black Bear Brewing makes some excellent beer and I am looking forward to trying their Red, Stout and whatever else is available when I visit the brewery next.
Pros: 

Cons: Only available at the brewery in a growler 

Alcohol Content: 5.3% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 11
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Black Bear Brewery

Brewers Description: Not listed on the website

245. Atlantic Brewing New Guy IPA

Was excited to find this one at Tully's in Wells as I drink Maine beer whenever I can and also love a good IPA. This is my fourth beer from Atlantic Brewing Company and probably my favorite so far (although I do have to try the Summer Ale again as I think I had an old bottle the first time). The beer is generic in color, head and minimal lacing on the glass. Aroma is also fairly standard of an IPA with some citrus notes.

Taste is smooth and well balanced with a fair amount of citrus hops that are nicely balanced by the sweet malts. Overall this is a solid beer but nothing makes it stand out among the many other IPAs on the market. If you like supporting local beer and enjoy a decent IPA certainly add this one to your Summer drinking list. 
Pros: Easy to drink and local

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: ??% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating:  

Brewers Website: Atlantic Brewing

Brewers Description: Not currently listed on website

244. Shipyard Monkey Fist IPA

First you may notice the new glass from beerme. Had lunch with the owner on Friday and he gave me a glass, bottle opener and koozie. Click here to check out more merchandise including; t-shirts, glasses, stickers, etc. This is all high quality stuff from a local Maine small business. 


Now to the beer - I enjoy the occasional beer from Shipyard. In Maine if you go to a wedding or conference you can almost always get Shipyard Export as an option. I rarely buy Shipyard beer but they have been advertising their new Monkey Fist IPA a lot, posting YouTube videos (link here) and really hyping this beer as something different. It is slightly different than other options from Shipyard but still only middle of the road in my opinion. Read more after the break  

237. Sixpoint Bengali Tiger

Picked up a 4-pack of this at The Vault in Lewiston on Friday as they started to stock the Sixpoint Resin, Bengali Tiger and Apollo. Susan is working hard to improve her craft beer selection and has hired a beer guy to help staff the store and choose some new beer. If you have not checked out the store recently you should stop by.


Bengali Tiger is Sixpoint's IPA (Resin is their Double IPA) and this one comes in 16 oz cans instead of the 12 oz cans that Resin comes in. The beer pours a nice deep orange color with thick white head. Plenty of aroma coming from this one mostly orange and a bit of malt. Taste has lots of hops; pine, citrus, floral character with a malt finish to balance things out. Very easy to drink and refreshing. Really enjoying my Sixpoint purchases. 

Pros: Hop profile, easy to drink

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 6.4% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 62
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Sixpoint

Brewers Description: What immortal hand or eye. Could frame thy fearful symmetry? The Sixpoint homebrewed IPA interpretation. Blaze orange in color, with an abundance of citrus hop bitterness, and a full pine and grapefruit bouquet in the aroma.