Double Bag Ale (Long Trail Brewing Co.)

I love Long Trails beers. Too bad we can only get some of them here in Maine. Which is sort of odd considering that Vermont isn't all that far away. Why can't they just send all of their beers over here? Anyways, if you are ever anywhere near Bridgewater Corners, Vermont, stop in at the brewery. Its a great little place in a really nice location.  

Double Bag, according to the label, is a "full-bodied double alt known as "Stickebier" - German for "secret brew"." This is definitely not a beer that you can throw down and walk away from unscathed. Its going to leave an impact.

Pours clean and dark amber in color with a wispy head that goes away rather quickly. Smells of malty sweetness, faint smell of alcohol, stewed fruit and cinnamon. If you really inhale this it has the smell and tingle in your nose of a strong alcohol like whiskey.

Tastes malty with a definite alcohol backbone. Kind of surprising as stronger beers mask that a little better. The alcohol content in this one is definitely not a secret. Aftertaste is slightly bitter without the initial sweetness. Its a very easy drinking beer despite the alcohol content being over 7%.

I like this beer, its not my favorite Long Trail ale, but its a good option especially if you find it on tap. 

BEER FACTS

Name: Double Bag Ale

Style: Altbier

Brewery: Long Trail Brewing Company

Location: Bridgewater Corners, Vermont, USA

Container: 12 oz. bottle

Malts: Crystal and chocolate malts, wheat

Hops: Northern Brewer and Mt. Hood

ABV: 7.2%

IBUs: 25

Foonf Zane Auld Ale (Atlantic Brewing Co.)

Once in a while you can get tricked when buying beer. I found this bomber at the store and grabbed it thinking it was a new or one off beer that I hadn't seen by Atlantic Brewing Co. Well, it turns out this was a beer brewed in recognition of Atlantic's 15th Anniversary (Foonf Zane is how you would say the number fifteen in German), which means it was brewed in 2006!

The good thing is that this is an Auld Ale (or altbier) and drinking it now just means its a bit Aulder. Nonetheless, its only fair to let you know that this beer is not fresh and its not been properly aged so this review is really not going to mean much of anything to anyone other than me. I consider the Foonf Zane Auld Ale coming out of retirement for just one more review.

Pours dark amber with a bit of a reddish hue. Head is white but dissipates quickly leaving just the outline along the glass. Smell is sweet, the sweetness you get when a malty beer sits and gets maltier. Smells like caramel, brown sugar with whiffs of alcohol.

Tastes malty and of baked apples but its definitely been sitting and no longer fresh. Its too bad, I bet that two years ago when this was released it was a great beer. If you check out the major review sites it is pretty high across the board. Don't get me wrong, this is still a drinkable beer and I am not wasting any of it! In a couple years though, I will be sure to be on the look out for a 20th Anniversary ale from Atlantic!

BEER FACTS

Name: Foonf Zane Auld Ale (Anniversary Small Batch)

Style: Altbier

Brewery: Atlantic Brewing Company

Location: Bar Harbor, Maine, USA

Container: 22 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

ABV: 7.3%

IBUs: ?

Brewed in Maine