Maine Beer Company Lunch
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What the brewers say
“There’s a whale that’s swum off the coast of Maine since 1982… we named our IPA for her. Intense hop flavors and tropical, citrus fruit and pine aromas dominate the flavor profile, balanced by subtle malt sweetness.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Yeast and a light bread note come from about 1 inch of head. After it diminishes, bitterness with a bit of spiciness emerges. Citrus notes of orange, lemon, and pineapple, with notes of pine. Restrained aromatics.”
Flavor: “Moderate bitterness up front, with dank, pine, and spicy bitterness. The hops bitterness is present but not big. Smooth body, with great carbonation and a nice blended character of spicy pine bitterness from the hops and citrus-rind notes. A light melon note toward the end of the sip.”
Overall: “Fans of juicier NE-style IPAs will notice the pine bitterness of the hops before the citrus notes peek through, but once that initial shock wears off, the layers of fruit flavors emerge. Subtle aroma is not as pronounced as many other American IPAs, but if you prefer a balance toward the bitter side, you’ll like this IPA.”
