Quick programming note before I get started. I am doing a family trip up to Maine later this week, so this will be my last Hoppy Boston post until at least next Thursday. It will be weird doing the Maine trip without all of the brewery stops, but I will still get some excellent beer to enjoy while I’m there. Remember to follow @HoppyBoston on Instagram to see which beers I am enjoying on my vacation.
One of the small blessing of life in quarantine, at least for me, has been the large number of new beers I’ve been able to try. With bars, restaurants and taprooms closed it seems like many breweries are pushing more beer into distribution, and I’ve been able to sample beers from a bunch of local breweries on my “need to visit” list. This has been especially true for South Shore breweries, I rarely make it to that part of the state and there is a ton of awesome beer being brewed in the area. A good example is Stellwagen Beer Company in Marshfield, I’ve heard great things but haven’t tried many of their beers. Stellwagen makes a range of beers but their focus is hop-forward NEIPAs. I grabbed a few of their beers on a recent stock-up run, including Whale Watcher, a sessionable New England style pale ale. Stellwagen Whale Watcher is brewed with Citra, Centennial, Cascade and Columbus hops and is available on a rotating basis in 16 oz cans and on draft.
Stellwagen Whale Watcher pours slightly hazy pale yellow with a massive white head. The aroma features a big burst of hops, lots of tropical and citrus fruit. The flavor is also hop-forward, notes of orange, mango, and lemon along with a mild bitter bite. This is balanced by the malt backbone, hints of crackers and bread crust. Whale Watcher is very light bodied and sessionable at 4.5% ABV. The finish is crisp with some lingering hop flavor. Overall Whale Watcher is an excellent summer beer, it’s easy-drinking and refreshing. Grab some now for your next adventure, even if that is just sitting at home and sipping a beer on the porch. Hoppy Boston score 4.25/5.
Hoppy Boston 
