A trio of Beers at the Great Lost Bear

Posted by Jim on Sep 2nd, 2009
2009
Sep 2

Belfast Bay Lobster Ale

B / 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Served in a 12oz pint glass at the Great Lost Bear. It’s fairly dark at the bar, so it’s hard to judge the appearance, but it looks like a dark copper color. It’s quite clear and has almost no head. It has a light hop aroma. There is a good caramel malt flavor to the Lobster ale (no, it doesn’t taste like a lobster) that is balanced with some non-bitter hop flavors. There’s a medium body and almost no coating of the mouth; it goes down clean. Personally, I find this beer very drinkable. I’m a big fan of red ales, and this is one of the best ones readily available in Maine. I could drink this beer all night.

Brooklyn Sorachi Ace

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

I ordered this beer knowing nothing about it. I vaguely recognize the name, but I don’t know from where. BA says it’s a farmhouse ale that was only brewed once, so I order one. It is served to me in a 12oz pint glass, and it looks good. A finger of white foam that goes tot he top of the glass atop a full pour of golden orange beer. It’s translucent and has plenty of bubbles rising to the surface; I’m expecting some high carbonation. It smells sweet and spicy with a bit of floral hops hidden in the back. Wow, there is a really interesting taste to this beer. It has a strong malt character reminiscent of some other high quality farmhouse ales, and a unique aftertaste that is bitter and alcoholic. I bet that is the Sorachi Ace hops showing their stuff. It has a full body and decent mouth coating properties. I can see myself drinking a few of these, but not too many. It feels strong, and the aftertaste may not feel so impressive after a few rounds, but if you see this one on tap, I recommend getting a pint. It’s another great Brooklyn beer.

Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Ale

I got to have one of the first pours of this once The Great Lost Bear tapped their first keg of this new beer. It was served in a tulip glass. It has a orange/ruby hue and almost no head, just a skim of bubbles. As you would expect, there is a pumpkin aroma to the beer; it is like a less intense, higher quality version of Pumpkinhead. It tastes quite good. It begins with some cinnamon up front, then turns to a real pumpkin taste (unlike the Pumpkin that so many hate, this has real pumpkin flavor; detractors rejoice). It tastes like autumn. As you drink it, you can hardly notice that this is a 9% ABV beer. It’s only in a lingering aftertaste that you pick up the alcohol. It has a bit of a lighter body that I thought, but I’d still classify it as medium-bodied. As for drinkability, I’d love to drink a number of these, but I think the strength of this brew would do me in. But in terms of enjoying the flavor, you could taste this beer over and over. I can’t wait to crack a bottle of this open on a crisp fall day. Once again, Alan Pugsley has outdone himself with his signature series. I’ve had the Imperial Pumpking, and this holds up as an equal to that fine beer. This is one beer worth seeking out. Get it this season, if you can. Hopefully, the Smashed Pumpkin will become as much of a fall tradition here in southern Maine as it’s less-respected cousin, Pumpkinhead.

Twitter Updates for 2009-09-02

Posted by Jim on Sep 2nd, 2009
2009
Sep 2

Twitter Updates for 2009-09-01

Posted by Jim on Sep 1st, 2009
2009
Sep 1
  • First staff day at SPHS; already had teachers walk off with the wrong equipment. I hope this gets sorted out quickly. #
  • So if Disney buys Marvel, how does that affect the Marvel stuff at Islands of Adventure? #
  • @timmahlevesque Mickey as Prof. X and Scrooge as Magneto in reply to timmahlevesque #
  • The request button has been reactivated on Minerva, the state-wide library catalog. Inter-library loan is back! #

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