267. Slumbrew Happy Sol

Summer is a great time to try hefeweizens as they are light, fruity and refreshing. Slumbrew is fairly new to Maine so I decided to pick up this beer as well as their IPA on one of my many visits to Bier Cellar in Portland. 


Appearance is slightly darker than other hefes but still has a nice cloudy look with very minimal white head that disappeared almost immediately leaving no lacing on the glass. Smell is mostly orange with some bread but unlike many other beers of this style there is little no banana. 


Taste has lots of citrus, some honey (which is actually quite good) and other spices. Beer is clean, crisp and quite refreshing, very easy to drink and something you should try if you enjoy this style.
Pros: Complex taste
Cons: No head
Alcohol Content: 5.5% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 18
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Slumbrew

Brewers Description: A refreshingly tart and crisp hefeweizen brewed with local MA wildflower honey, orange peel and coriander, and fermented with the juice from over 1,000 blood oranges. It’s a cloudy, yet effervescent beer, with lingering banana and citrus notes balanced against a healthy wheat backbone and hoppy finish from Mt. Hood and Crystal hops.

205. Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Black IPA

This is my fifth beer from Harpoon but the first from their 100 Barrel Series. This series is designed to give their brewers a bit more freedom with a little more freedom starting out on a pilot system and then moving it to a limited production. This is the 40th from the series but first for me. I do have #41 already and will review that in the coming weeks. Harpoon makes quality beer so I am sure I will continue to enjoy the 100 Barrel Series.


This one is the Black IPA which pours almost black, only slight hints of red in the color with a thick tan head. Aroma is minimal but there are some hops and roasted malts (as you would expect form a black IPA). Taste is good but nothing that makes it stand out from other run of the mill IPAs. Easy to drink with a fair amount of carbonation. Overall a good beer just not very exciting. 
Pros: Appearance

Cons: Average taste

Alcohol Content: 7.0% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 67

181. Clown Shoes Clementine

I'm going to start making my way through the Clown Shoes beers as they tend to make quality "big" beers. Decided to start with their White Ale (witbier) which unfortunately is not their best effort. Of course it may be that we have one of the best witbiers available right here in Maine with Allagash White that sours my review of this beer. The beer pours a pale orange with a towering frothy head. Citrus, coriander aromas abound and taste is about the same. These are the characteristics of a good witbier however there one is a bit off for some reason. Easy to drink at 5.9% ABV and certainly enjoyable but not up to the standards set by Allagash White. If you have the choice choose White. 
Pros: Appearance, aroma

Cons: Something off with the taste

Alcohol Content: 5.9% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Clown Shoes

Brewers Description: Clementine is Clown Shoes Beer’s Belgian style White Ale. Light-bodied and crisp, this is a terrific White Ale with plenty of zest! Hazy in appearance and healthily carbonated, it utilizes Chambly yeast to energetically shape its wheat malt base. Incorporated in the brewing process is Clementine, sweet orange peel, a hint of Coriander, and Summit hops.

At a sly, easy-drinking 5.9%, Clementine is dynamic and flavorful enough to satisfy discerning craft beer palates, yet light enough to count among “sessionable” beers.

Poured high into a pint or traditional pilsner style glass, drinkers can sip away lazy summer afternoons. As for food pairings, it is the perfect compliment to a range of salads and seafoods or light cheeses such as Feta, Monterey and Gruyere.

169. Samuel Adams Whitewater IPA

Another new style of beer. First it was the black IPA and now a White IPA combining a witbier with an American IPA. This makes for an interesting combination and one that is very appealing visually. The orange of an IPA with the cloudy appearance of a witbier. Nice thick white head that has a decent amount of retention. Aroma is minimal but some hops and slight fruit. Might have more aroma if I let it warm slightly but I didn't. The beer itself is very drinkable and something that would well throughout the spring and summer if they decide to keep this one around. Malt sweetness up from with a solid amount of hops in the finish. Not a bad start to a new style, I am sure other brewers will make them bigger and more complex but Sam Adams certainly makes it drinkable. 
Pros: Appearance, easy to drink

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 5.8% ABV
Calories: 197
IBU (Bitterness): 60
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Samuel Adams

Brewers Description: We love hops at Samuel Adams, and while we enjoy traditional IPAs, we thought we might spice things up a little bit, literally, by combining the intense hop character of an IPA with the crisp spicy wheat character of a Belgian-style white ale. The resulting fusion-style brew is Samuel Adams Whitewater IPA. The white ale and IPA combination make this crisp, smooth, yet hop-friendly beer the perfect pairing with a variety of meats and cheeses. Intensely flavored and firm in texture, Blue cheeses need a bold beer like Whitewater IPA to cleanse the palate. The brew's strong hop character also adds an earthiness to the savory flavor of meat.

149. Samuel Adams Alpine Spring

Initially I was disappointed to hear Sam Adams replaced their White Ale with the Alpine Spring for 2012 but after trying this new variety from Samuel Adams I felt a bit better. Pours a nice cloudy light orange with finger wide white head. Lemon aroma which comes through to the taste. Very refreshing and easy to drink. This 6-pack disappeared from my fridge very within a couple of days. While many craft beer drinkers dislike Samuel Adams I still enjoy most of their beer. All are very drinkable and while they may be more mainstream than the smaller brewers that does not mean they are not quality beers. I will continue to miss my White Ale but the Alpine Spring is a solid offering and you will not be disappointed if you typically enjoy beer from Boston Beer Company. 
Pros: Easy to drink

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 5.5% ABV
Calories: 186
IBU (Bitterness): 19
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Samuel Adams
Brewers Description: Brewed especially for the season, this bright citrusy unfiltered lager is both satisfying and refreshing. It’s the perfect transition from winter’s heavier brews to the lighter beers of summer. Borne of our brewers’ many trips to Germany, Alpine Spring features a unique blend of lager attributes: the balanced maltiness and hoppiness of a Helles, the smoothness and slightly higher alcohol of a traditional spring bock, and the unfiltered appearance of a Kellerbier. The beer is brewed with Tettnang Noble hops to add a unique, bright orange-citrusy aroma and flavor.

110. Samuel Adams Winter Lager (draft)

Another beer that I originally reviewed from a bottle (review #79) but again I enjoyed it more on draft. Still a bit watery compared to the old Winter Lager from 3 or 4 years ago but still enjoyable and went well with my meal. Color is a deep orange with a nice small head, leaving quite a bit of lacing on the glass. Slight spicy aroma and minimal hop finish. Very smooth and enjoyable on a cold winter day. 

Pros: Color

Cons: Watery feel 

Alcohol Content: 5.6% ABV
Calories: 193
IBU (Bitterness): 22
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Samuel Adams

Brewers Description: Bold and rich, with a touch of holiday spice.
The first thing one notices about a Samuel Adams® Winter Lager is the deep ruby color. Then comes the magical aroma which promises something special on the tongue. The cinnamon, ginger, and hint of citrus from the orange peel blend with the roasty sweetness of the malts to deliver a warming, spicy flavor. On the palate Samuel Adams Winter Lager is rich and full bodied, robust and warming, a wonderful way to enjoy the cold evenings that come with the season.

91. Samuel Adams Holiday Porter

Before I started this blog I did not drink many porters but I have to say I have enjoyed these dark and complex beers. This is certainly one of the better ones with lots of flavor, great almost black color and thick tan head with lots of lace on the glass. IBU rating is a fairly high 40 but you do not really taste the hops. Lots of malt, toffee and molasses flavors here. Easy to drink even with a decent amount of alcohol. A solid porter from Samuel Adams and a good addition to the winter variety pack. 

Pros: Color, complex flavor

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 5.8% ABV
Calories: 212
IBU (Bitterness): 40
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Samuel Adams

Brewers Description: A traditional, British style.  Robust and full bodied. Introduced as a member of the Winter Classics Variety Pack in 2004, Samuel Adams® Holiday Porter, with its rich malt complexity, has become a favorite among our winter seasonal brews. In total, four types of malted barley are used in the brewing process including a variety of German malt called Carafa®*. This specialty malt, along with a bit of flaked oats, gives our Holiday Porter its smooth, roasted malt character. Add generous portions of imported hops to the mix and one has a brew that is both robust and drinkable.

90. Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock

I originally had this one a few years ago from the classic bomber and it tastes exactly as I remember it from this 12oz bottle. Pours a beautiful dark brown with a small head. Aroma is a great chocolate smell with plenty of sweetness. Taste is not exactly what I would expect from a Bock - a little thin but still has a nice feel to it. Very sweet with a lingering taste but in this case it is not a bad thing. Would not recommend having with a meal but certainly a good choice for dessert. I have another in the fridge and may try the next at a slightly warmer temp as I think it will have a different taste at 45+ degrees. 

Pros: Color, Sweetness

Cons: Thin compared to other bocks

Alcohol Content: 5.8% ABV
Calories: 237
IBU (Bitterness): 11
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Samuel Adams

Brewers Description: Smooth, rich, and dark, with the robust flavor and creamy texture of chocolate.

To create Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock, we wanted to take the flavor beyond the taste of dark roasted malt. For this year's brew we worked with a blend of cocoa nibs including Ecuador nibs from TCHO®, an artisanal chocolate maker in San Francisco. We started with hand selected Noble hops from Bavaria and combined them with a complex selection of carefully roasted malts. This dark beer has a big, malty character with the added sweetness of chocolate. We slowly age the beer on a bed of rare dark cocoa nibs, the primary ingredient in chocolate. Known for their quality, these cocoa nibs harvested in Ecuador, impart complex aromas and flavors from chocolaty to fruity, nutty, earthy, and citrusy.

84. Harpoon IPA

Before starting this blog I had not had any beer by Harpoon Brewing. Each variety from Harpoon seems to be a quality offering and overall they are certainly a top notch brewer. This IPA is a quality beer but I prefer most other types of beer to IPAs. IBU rating is lower than many IPAs, color, aroma, etc are all about the same. Overall if you enjoy this style of beer you will like this offering from Harpoon but for me it is "just another IPA". 

Pros: 

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 5.9% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 42
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Harpoon Brewing

Brewers Description: The high hopping of Harpoon IPA is not only noticeable in the nose but especially in the finish. The lingering bitter finish of this beer is not harsh or astringent, but crisp and pronounced. This is created, in part, by dry hopping – a technique that involves adding fresh hops to the conditioning beer to provide a fresh hop aroma. This beer is floral, medium body with an aggressive, clean hop finish.

82. Harpoon UFO White

If you have followed my blog at all you know I like Hefeweizens so it is no surprise that this one gets a high rating. UFO stands for UnFiltered Offering and this beer has the cloudy appearance of most unfiltered hefes. Easy to drink and only a hint of spice and wheat in the aroma. If you are new to craft beer or someone that usually drinks beer from the MEGA brewers hefeweizen is a good way to start drinking quality beer. Low alcohol content makes this easy to drink one or more and very low IBU rating so no aftertaste. This would be a great beer for hot summer afternoon.

Pros: Cloudy appearance, easy to drink

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 4.8% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 10

Rating: 

Brewers Website: Harpoon Brewing

Brewers Description: Light, crisp, refreshing UFO White follows in the tradition of spiced wheat beers that have been brewed in Belgium for well over 300 years. Brewed with orange peel and a unique blend of spices, UFO White is the perfect choice for a summer’s barbecue, a night out with friends or any time you¹re thirsting for something a little different. Like UFO Hefeweizen and UFO Raspberry Hefeweizen, we leave UFO White UnFiltered for a more natural taste and appearance.