In addition to the brewery stops I make in Maine, and I made quite a few on my recent trip, I usually try to swing by a local beer store and grab a little variety of beers from places I will probably miss. As I’ve mentioned before, there is a small convenience store in the town I grew up in that keeps an impressive selection of local beer. You need to check the date codes, especially on the stuff that is being stored warm, but I usually find a few gems on every stop. On this visit I grabbed a 4-pack of The Way Life Should Be, an IPA from Orono Brewing Company that is named after the state motto (I am shocked that no other Maine brewery had taken this name). I had heard great things about Orono Brewing but never make it far enough north to enable a visit to the brewery, so I was happy to find the beer locally. Orono Brewing The Way Life Should Be is brewed with Galaxy, Mosaic, Ella, Citra, El Dorado, and Vic Secret hops and is available year-round on draft and in 16 oz cans.
Orono Brewing The Way Life Should Be pours very hazy yellow with a small white head. The aroma is a big burst of fruity hops, loads of citrus. This is a quintessential hop-bomb NEIPA, notes of grapefruit, melon, mango, and lemon along with a hint of late bitterness. The hops are balanced by some mild malt, hints of crackers and bread. The Way Life Should Be is medium-bodied and easy-drinking and not overdone at 6% ABV. The finish is crisp with tons of lingering hops. This beer is stellar, the pack I bought might have been slightly past peak (~2 months old) and it was still one of the better IPAs I’ve had recently. I really need to track down some more beers from Orono Brewing! Hoppy Boston score: 4.75/5.
Hoppy Boston 
