I am a bit behind on my reviews, I did a major stock up run in mid-August and then my trip to Maine, and while I’ve sampled and taken notes on all of those beers I haven’t written the reviews yet. Need to get used to this two articles a weeks schedule, it’s just too hard to consistently do three with my new commute/job/schedule. Anyways, one of the stops I made in Maine was to Marshall Wharf Brewing Company in Belfast, easily the closest brewery to my parent’s house. This wasn’t my first visit to Marshall Wharf but it’s my first review, last year their canning line was down and the growler I bought didn’t make the trip back. Marshall Wharf is a throwback in many ways, while many breweries are building state of the art taprooms with décor by local artists the Marshall Wharf taproom is on the lower level of a building, with furnishings that are scant and clearly second (or third) hand. The location of the brewery couldn’t be better though, right on the waterfront of Belfast harbor. The brewery is only open during the early afternoon, by 4 you can sample their beers upstairs at Three Tides, an affiliated restaurant and bar. In August I stopped by and did a tasting of their eclectic selections, leaving with a four pack of Bitter Truth, a traditional English ESB. The one downer from the trip, I also grabbed a pint glass but it broke on the trip back south. They don’t appear to have an online store, so I guess this gives me a good excuse to go back the next time I’m in Maine!
Marshall Wharf Bitter Truth ours a clear deep copper with a pillowy off-white head. The scent is a mixture of bready malts and herbal hops. The flavor is balanced, just what you’d expect from an ESB. There is a solid malt presence, notes of toast, biscuits and caramel. This is complemented by the old world hops, touches of cut grass, flowers and pine along with a little bitter bite. Bitter Truth is medium bodied, smooth and not too boozy at 5.5% ABV. The finish is a mixture of crisp hop bite and just a hint of malt sweetness. Marshall Wharf Bitter Truth is a well done take on an underappreciated style, and the brewery will continue to be part of my routine when I visit family in Maine. Hoppy Boston score: 4.25/5.
Moat Mountain East Intervale pours deep gold with a solid off-white head. The scent is solidly hoppy, aromas of resin and citrus. The flavor is remarkably balanced for a session IPA, so many tend towards hop flavored water but this beer has some substantial malt flavor and body. The hops are at the forefront, notes of grass, herbs and orange along with a little bitter bite. This is nicely balanced by the malts, hints of toast and honey along with solid body for a session beer. East Interlude is medium bodied and easy to drink, clearly a session beer at 4.5% ABV. The finish is crisp with a bit of lingering hop flavor. Moat Mountain East Intervale is a quality beer, plenty of flavor and more balance than most session IPAs, but still very drinkable. I look forward to trying more of their offerings and maybe checking out the smokehouse in the near future! Hoppy Boston score: 4.0/5.
-My friends Tim and Amanda drove up from Providence stocked up with Rhode Island beers that haven’t made it into Massachusetts yet. One of the highlights was definitely a couple growlers from Long Live Beerworks in Providence. Their IPA was very good and the session IPA was exceptional, one of the better SIPAs I’ve tried. Keep an eye on this brewery, I expect big things based on my first tastes.
Lost Nation The Wind pours a hazy bright yellow with a massive white head. The scent is mostly citrus hops and grapefruit. The flavor is more complex. The grapefruit is well represented and the hops add notes of orange, lemon and lime. This complements the mild tart bite from the fermentation along with a subtle salinity that is unique to the gose style. A light malt backbone rounds out the flavor with hints of wheat bread and crackers. The Wind is light, easy to drink and sessionable at 4.5% ABV. The finish is crisp, dry and refreshing, a perfect beer for the last warm days before the cold weather returns. I am still a little wary of mixing hoppy and sour beers, but this beer definitely works. Hoppy Boston score: 4.5/5.
Foundation Epiphany pours a clear golden yellow with a moderate white head. The scent is a mixture of fruitiness from the expressive Belgian style yeast strain and citrus aroma from the hops. The yeast leads the flavor, notes of green apple, apricot and peppercorn. This is complemented by touches of lemon, mango, cut grass and tangerine from the hops. It’s not a hop-bomb beer, but there is significantly more hop flavor than the average saison. The beer is rounded out by a light malt backbone which contributes hints of whole grain bread and crackers. Wanderlust is light bodied and very easy to drink, sessionable at 4.5% ABV. The finish is dry and crisp with some lingering hop and yeast flavors. It was great to revisit Wanderlust, it was no surprise that the first time I tried this beer I left impressed by the growing potential of Foundation Brewing. Hoppy Boston score: 4.25/5.
Ipswich Riverbend Pils
Cambridge Brewing Company Pearls of Wisdom
Trillium Melcher Street IPA
Kent Falls Alternate World pours a clear straw yellow with a massive white head. The scent includes some mild acidity and an extremely subtle aroma of floral hops. The yeast/lacto leads the flavor, notes of lemon, sour apple and barnyard funk along with a little tartness. Again the hops are not as evident as the title would suggest, a touch of cut grass and herbs. The light malts round out the flavor, notes of white bread and cracked grain. Alternate World is light and refreshing, sessionable at 4.6% ABV. The finish is dry with just a little pucker and salinity. I actually really enjoyed Alternate World as a complex and easy to drink gose, but was disappointed by the lack of hop flavor and aroma. Hopefully I’ll get to try another batch at some point. Hoppy Boston score: 4.0/5.