269. Widmer Bros Drifter Pale Ale

When I don't feel like any specific style of beer I usually grab a pale ale from the fridge as I always seem to have a few on hand. Also when I just need to drink a quality beer I usually grab a Smuttynose or something from Widmer as it is hard to go wrong from these 2 breweries.


The Drifter Pale Ale from Widmer is a solid pale ale providing a nice balance of malts and hops. Color is a deep copper with slight white head. Aroma has a bit of malt and some nice hop smell. Nothing overpowering but certainly pleasant. Taste is much the same with some sweet malts that give way to grapefruit hops.


Very smooth and easy to drink. This is a great example of a pale ale and something most beer drinkers would enjoy.
Pros: Very well balanced and full of flavor
Cons: 
Alcohol Content: 5.7% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 28
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Widmer Bros

Brewers Description: Kurt and Rob Widmer have never been known to "follow the leader"; their take on a pale ale is no different. With its unique citrus character, smooth drinkability,and distinctive combo of hops and malts, drifter pale ale is truly an original. 

241. Widmer Brothers Nelson Imperial IPA

Picked this one up at RSVP a couple of weeks ago and was not sure where the name Nelson Imperial IPA came from. Assumed it was named after the brewer but in fact it is named after a variety of hop from New Zealand.


Beer pours a dark orange almost amber color with a nice white head. Lots of grapefruit and citrus aromas coming from this one. The taste is all hops to start but evened out nicely by the sweet malts Complex flavor which changes a bit as the beer warms. Easy to drink for the amount of alcohol in and leaves little to no aftertaste. Very well done. 
Pros: Complex flavor

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 8.6% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 70Rating:
Brewers Website: Widmer Brothers

Brewers Description: Take your taste buds on a journey to the far side of the world. New Zealand's legendary Nelson Sauvin hop gives us a powerful hoppy character, but none of the heaviness you sometimes find in imperials IPAs. The result is a big brew with a sweet, malty character that perfectly balances the intense hop aroma and flavor.

216. Widmer Brothers Pitch Black IPA

I am not really sure why the beer industry felt the need to create a black IPA but they did and I will drink them just like any other IPA. The theory is the black IPAs will blend the chocolate, coffee taste of the malts with the hops from the IPA but most I have tried are still hop heavy just darker than the normal IPA or DIPA. 


The Widmer Pitch Black IPA follows this pouring a deep black with thin tan head, a very nice looking beer with only light aroma of citrus and pine. The second glass had a bit more malt smell as the beer had warmed slightly. Taste follows the smell with plenty of hops and a some malts coming through. Nothing too special here but a solid black IPA. Worth a try but don't spend any time seeking out a bottle of it. 

Pros: Appearance

Cons:  

Alcohol Content: 6.5% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 65
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Widmer Brothers

Brewers Description: Pitch black IPA takes you to the dark side with our take on Cascadian dark ale. Debittered black malt lends a midnight hue along with rich, toasty malt flavor. Generous doses of alchemy and cascade hops provide a complex herbal aroma and subtle citrus note, balanced perfectly by a smooth Widmer Brothers finish. Embrace the dark side.

101. Widmer Brothers Rotator IPA: Falconer's IPA

This is a much better representation of an American IPA than the Redhook Longhammer I reviewed last week. This has a great fruity aroma, solid white head and leaves a fair amount of lacing on the glass. Taste has the hops you would expect from an IPA but also a bit of citrus and a fair amount of malts in there to balance it out. Easy to drink even at 7% ABV and if you a good IPA give this one a try.
Pros: Color, aroma, balanced

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 7.0% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 65
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Widmer Brothers

Brewers Description: Glen Falconer was passionate about friends, family and great IPAs. So in tribute we've created an IPA worth of this master brewr. Made with Falconer's Flight Hops from Hopunion, LLC. A blend named for Glen himself. The result is a bright, moderately bitter IPA with stonefruit aromas and a strong malt backbone. We think Glen would have approved. Proceeds from the sale of Falconer's Flight Hops go to the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation prociding scholarships to professional and aspiring brewers. In addition Widmer Brothers Brewing is making a donation to grant two additional scholarships. Learn more at www.glenfalconerfoundation.org Prost! to true hop heads. 

44. Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen

I remember the first time I had this beer at a restaurant in Portsmouth NH after a day of golf. On that day it was one of the best beers I had ever tried and different than anything I had before. This was the first Hefeweizen and still is the best in my mind. When compared with the others I have reviewed this has a much more cloudy appearance as an unfiltered beer should have. Overall the aroma is great - taste is smooth and it is very easy to drink more than one. I was fortunate to find a 12-pack in a local grocery store and I would be surprised if they made it through the weekend. Be sure to drink this from a glass, add a slice of lemon and I am sure you will enjoy. Check out this video on how to properly pour a Hefeweizen (video link)- because it is unfiltered it is important to drink from a glass and swirl to get anything that settled to the bottom of the bottle. 

Pros: Easy to drink - great cloudy look and aroma

Cons:  Hard to find in Maine

Alcohol Content: 4.9% ABV
Calories: 156
IBU (Bitterness): 30
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Widmer Brothers

Brewers Description: Meet the beer that started it all. Our naturally cloudy flagship brew starts with the highest quality wheat. It's bold, clean flavor and pronounced citrus and floral aromas are what define American style hefeweizen. So pour yourself a cool, cloudy glass, finish with a lemon and enjoy the original.