In 2009, Maine Beer Company cofounders Dan and David Kleban brewed Peeper—over and over—on a one-barrel system until they were happy with the results. It’s a superb example of a modern, brightly aromatic American pale ale.

Our country’s signature flavor profile was not born in Burton, but in the hop fields of Oregon.

__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.”

**Aroma:** “Intense white grapefruit and lemon with a touch of pine to accentuate. Assertive with freshly peeled orange, hints of lemon zest, and tropical fruit. Net effect is exotic and interesting.” **Flavor:** “Intensely hoppy with a nice chewy malt backbone to support. Same white grapefruit and lemon predominate with some tropical-fruit notes peeking through. Well-balanced throughout. It’s a fruity citrus party—lemon dominates with orange, tangerine, and grapefruit facets, along with some pineapple and mango. After a moment, it shifts to grapefruit as the bitterness builds.” **Overall:** “The blend of hops with the malt to balance make this a really solid DIPA. A really wonderful beer that showcases the hops. It’s tight, refined, clean, crisp, dry, and juicy with absolutely nothing taking the spotlight away from the beautiful blend of hops.”

From our Love Handles files on beer bars we love: Near the harbor, this locus of Maine’s bustling brewing scene specializes in a variety of sausages paired with local beers.

Brewing is a tremendous consumer of energy. By maximizing its solar arrays and participating in community solar programs, Maine Beer Company is taking environmental stewardship seriously—and it's a model that other breweries could follow.

__Aroma:__ “A light yeast or bread note up front in the head. Once the head dissipates, the earthy/dirty hops bitterness emerges, with notes of pine and melon. Aromas of pineapple, mango, floral, and lemon show through, and as it warms, more of the tropical fruits come out.” __Flavor:__ “Moderate bitterness, with light pine notes that extend well into the finish. Light dank and earthy notes, with a little pine and hops freshness. The flavors are delicate, with notes of pineapple, lemon, and tropical fruit. The mouthfeel is creamy and soft, with gorgeous carbonation.” __Overall:__ “A strategic mix of hops bitterness and fruity flavors, with earthy and light dank notes. It’s creamy and soft with a subtle and delicate hops fruitiness that evolves and intrigues as you drink it.”

Maine Beer Company is known for its vibrant and bright hoppy beers, but the secret to their success is methodical work that starts at the very top of the supply chain—the hops fields of the Pacific Northwest.

Maine Beer Co.’s Dan Kleban is an ardent independent with a knack for hops and a company-wide commitment to treading lightly on the planet.

We asked five brewers to share some of their favorite IPAs with no limits as to sub-style or strength.

Maine Beer Company has developed a reputation for expressively hoppy beers, so it’s no surprise that half of Cofounder Dan Kleban’s 6-pack is lupulin-focused. But his love for Belgian-style funk, flavor, and character fills out the rest.

Josh Weikert—contributing editor and columnist for Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine®, the author of the Beer: Simple blog, and a BJCP Grand Master—offers some of his top picks and beer experiences from the past year.

Aroma: “Faint spice and soft chocolate with a pleasant roasted background. Slight grassy hops and a hint of tartness brighten it up a bit, though there’s a faint hint of sour milk.” Flavor: “Dark chocolate with a very roasty, almost astringent finish accentuated by the hops. The vanilla adds nice underlying spice but isn’t particularly strong. Finish is smooth and creamy, with lingering dry coffee and hops bitterness.” Overall: “It’s nice to taste a beer with restrained adjuncts. In this case, the vanilla adds some complexity throughout but isn’t a dominant characteristic. The underlying stout is balanced toward the bitter side, but that comes across well in this case and leaves a dryer impression where the dark roast notes linger on the tongue.”

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Released only last year, Allagash’s first year-round IPA is a modern take on classic American versions—golden, juicy, with hop-derived notes of pineapple, grapefruit, tangerine, and pine, balanced by refined bitterness and a dry finish.

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One of Belgium’s most broadly appealing styles is a reincarnation and a reinvention, inspired by a tradition that disappeared more than 60 years ago. Today it’s enjoyed around the world and ubiquitous in its home country—and in Maine.