66. Smuttynose "Finestkind" IPA

Smuttynose is quickly becoming one of my preferred brewers with every beer being in the top 2 for its style. Their Pumpkin is my favorite fall style, Brown ale was great and the Pale ale was solid while not my favorite Pale. This IPA is a perfect example of a pale ale with a solid amount of hops but the aftertaste does not linger too long. Color is great with a nice white head which lasts and leaves a great lacing on the glass. I cannot think of a better IPA and I am not usually impressed by IPAs.

Pros: Color, bite but not a lingering aftertaste

Cons:  Minimal aroma

Alcohol Content: 6.9% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 65
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Smuttynose Brewery

Brewers Description: Portsmouth is a colonial era seaport town, so it goes to follow that sooner or later we'd brew an India Pale Ale as a tribute to those big, hoppy 19th century ales that made the long sea voyage from England's temperate shores, 'round the Cape of Good Hope, to the sultry climes of the faraway East Indies.

But there's another reason we brewed this beer, one that's closer to our home and hearts. Hopheads. 

Ten years ago we brewed our first batch of Shoals Pale Ale, our American interpretation of the traditional British ESB (Extra Special Bitter) style. At the time, it was widely considered to be darned hoppy. However, a funny thing happened over the last decade - our Shoals Pale Ale didn't change; beer lovers did, and we started to hear more and more: “Why don't you guys make a really hoppy beer?”

You could say, then, that Smuttynose IPA is a physical salute to the glory of the American hop grower. The citrusy hop flavor coming from a mixture of Simcoe and Santiams is pleasantly balanced by a smooth bitterness from the Amarillo hops. The beer itself is light bodied and crisp with a golden color that will throw a slight haze, as we bottle it unfiltered. At 65 IBU's, this is definitely not a training-wheels IPA, but is meant for hop lovers looking to satisfy their craving in a way that's not easy to find. We think they’ll be quite pleased.

65. Atlantic Brewing Maine Logger Lager

Well it took me 65 beers before I came across one that I could not finish. I have nothing good to say about this beer. Had about 1/3 of the beer and the rest went down the drain. So far Atlantic Brewing Company is 0-2 with me. I am still have hope for the Bar Harbor Summer Ale but this one I will not give another shot and it has taken the bottom spot on my list of least favorite beer. 

Pros: NONE

Cons:  Skunky aroma, bad taste and aftertaste

Alcohol Content: 4.5% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 


Brewers Website: Atlantic Brewing

Brewers Description: Not currently listed on Atlantic Brewing site.

64. Tuckerman Headwall Alt

Two very good beers in one night. This is an excellent example of a German Brown Ale and is very easy to drink. Pours a nice dark brown with a solid hear that lasted throughout leaving a nice lacing on the glass. Carbonation was just right and overall just a quality beer. Don't let the color fool you this is an easy to drink beer with a relatively low alcohol content.

Pros: Smooth drinking and great color

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 4.75% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Tuckerman Brewing Co

Brewers Description: In 2005, the Headwall Alt was introduced. This is traditional style of altbeir from Düsseldorf, Germany. Alt literally means old in German. Staying as true to the recipe as possible, the Headwall Alt is brewed using German malts, plus German and American hops. Like the Pale Ale, the Headwall Alt is cold conditioned, dry-hopped and krausened in the bottle or keg. Similar to the Pale Ale, the process takes about 30 days. The Headwall Alt was rated in the Top 6 brews in New England in the Boston Globe Magazine in 2009. It also made Beer Advocate’s list of top altbiers. 

63. Magic Hat Hex

Back on track today with another good beer from Magic Hat. This is their fall seasonal amber ale and I have to say it is one of the better amber/reds that I have reviewed. First thing you will notice is the very sweet almost candy smell coming from the glass. Beer pours a nice red color with minimal head that dissipates quickly. Taste is very smooth and leaves minimal aftertaste. As usual the bottle has great art work and the cap has the normal funny saying. This one was "Better living through alchemy" which I think I had on one of the previous reviews as well. Overall this is a very good amber ale and I would recommend you give it a try.
Pros: Sweet aroma, smooth to drink, color

Cons:  Seasonal 

Alcohol Content: 5.4% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 25
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Magic Hat

Brewers Description: A malty amber ale with hints of toffee and caramel and a slightly smoky finish.

62. Atlantic Brewing Bar Harbor Summer Ale

I should have known better when I saw a Summer Ale still in the store in mid-October but the Best By date was December of 2011 so I thought it might be OK. The beer poured with no head, minimal carbonation, a skunky smell and tasted out of date. I will give this another try next Summer in hopes that it truly was a bad bottle or beyond its freshness date. Lesson learned to drink out of season beer. 

Pros:  

Cons: Flat, skunky smell, 

Alcohol Content: ?? ABV

Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??

My Rating:  (Gave it 2 stars as I hope it truly is not this bad and will give it another shot next Summer)

Brewers Website: Atlantic Brewing Company

Brewers Description: Now in six pack! This ale is light and crisp, yet retains the body and character of a micro brew. 

61. Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale

This is the second best Brown Ale that I have reviewed following only the Sebago Brewing Boathouse Brown and comparing the 2 probably is not fair as I had the Sebago on draft after a great day of golf and this one from a bottle after a long day of work. The only downside to this one is the color as it does not look like your typical brown ale. Aroma, taste, head are all great and it leaves a nice lace on the glass. I have been very impressed with Smuttynose and will have to find some of the beer on tap in the near future. 

Pros: Smooth, no aftertaste

Cons:  Color (I expect a brown ale to be darker)

Alcohol Content: 5.7% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 15
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Smuttynose Brewery

Brewers Description:Winner of a Silver Medal at the 1989 Great American Beer Festival. AWARDED BEST BROWN ALE IN THE NORTHEAST - 8th Annual US Beer Tasting Championship Old Brown Dog has been cited as a classic example of the “American Brown Ale” style of beer. Compared to a typical English Brown Ale, Old Brown Dog is fuller-bodied and more strongly hopped. Old Brown Dog has been around for many years. It was first brewed in 1988 at the Northampton Brewery. In 1989 it won a silver medal in its category (American Brown Ale) at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. 

60. Post Road Pumpkin Ale

This will almost certainly be my last pumpkin/fall beer of the season as the Winter brews are starting to be released. This one tastes very similar to Shipyard's Pumpkinhead ale which I enjoy. Maybe slightly less spice than Pumpkinhead but has similar  aroma and finish. Pours with a nice head and leaves lacing on the glass. This beer has just the right amount of carbonation and finished smooth. I find it hard to drink more than one pumpkin beer in a sitting but might have been able to do more of this one if I had not purchased just a single. 

Pros: Taste, color, aroma

Cons:  

Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Brooklyn Brewery

Brewers Description: Early American Colonialists, seeking natural ingredients for brewing ales, turned to pumpkins, which were plentiful, flavorful and nutritious. Blended with barley malt, pumpkins became a commonly used beer ingredient. Post Road Pumpkin Ale brings back this tasty tradition. Hundreds of pounds of pumpkins are blended into the mash of each batch, creating a beer with an orange amber color, warm pumpkin aroma, biscuity malt center, and crisp finish.