By now you've heard that Bar Harbor Brewing Company was sold and moved from its prior location (Tod and Suzi Foster's place) to a new location in Bar Harbor. You may have also heard that the bombers that were rather limited in supply are no longer being produced. Bar Harbor Brewing Company is now contract brewing three of their beers at Geary's in Portland for sale in six-packs.
Since there are a lot of fans of the BHBC beers that are concerned about the taste and quality of those beers they've grown accustomed to, I present my personal comparison of the "old" to the "new" Cadillac Mtn. Stout.
Looks like...
Bomber (old) - Pours a perfectly dark, pretty much black color. The head is nice, fluffy and coffee colored. The contrast of the very dark stout and that light colored head is one of the greatest things about a good example of this style. The head on this one doesn't good away quickly which I'll say can be contributed to it being a well brewed beer.
12 ouncer (new) - Pours inky black, a bit syrupy with about a finger's worth of coffee colored foam on top. The head lasts for a bit before slowly disintegrating leaving about a quarter-inch ring around the glass with some oily foam left in the middle.
Smells like...
Bomber (old) - Smells like dark roasted malt, a little sweet with slight hints of vanilla, chocolate and coffee.
12 ouncer (new) - Smell is very rich, tons of dark sweet maltiness, lots of coffee and caramel. A few more whiffs bring out some chocolate soft serve smells. All in all a very tasty smelling beer.
Tastes like...
Bomber (old) - Tastes very rich with a smooth creamy finish. Chocolate and coffee notes galore. Lots of malt sweetness with some well placed dryness. An excellent example of the style. Once you drink a bit of this beer, you'll understand what all the talk is about.
12 ouncer (new) - Taste is very roasty and sweet. There is a creamy texture on the tongue which gives way to some bitterness and dryness. There is an aftertaste with this one that was also present in the new bottle of the Thunderhole Ale. I really can't explain it, but its a sharp almost metallic taste that stays in your mouth for quite a long time. It doesn't ruin the taste of this beer and this is still a very good stout.
Overall...
Okay, we all know that you weren't going to brew a Cadillac Mtn. Stout outside of Bar Harbor that tastes exactly like the original. I will give some credit and say that the "new" CMS smells great and looks great and maintains some of the rich, roastiness that the original head. That being said, its is not the creamy, smooth beer that it once was. The bombers were definitely better and the smooth, sweet dry finish has been replaced with the astringent, cloying taste. Such is life, grab the bombers while you can. I've already talked to a number of people that have bought cases so its only a matter of time before they go extinct.
If you do happen to see the bombers grab one and grab a 12 ouncer and do your own comparison. I'll try and do the same for the Thunder Hole Ale and the Harbor Lighthouse Ale (which I think could end up being one of the best six packs of "light" beer available in Maine).
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