Casco Bay Summer (Casco Bay Brewing Co.)

Casco Bay recently was bought out by Shipyard and their beers are now brewed and bottled at the Shipyard facility in Portland. I'm not sure how much has changed in the recipes and whether or not its just the marketing thats left but I guess we'll find out. I can say that the Casco Bay Red Ale that was on cask over at Peaks Island was fantastic.

Pours a deep golden color with about a finger and a half of head on top. A fine looking pour. The Casco Bay Summer is clean and clear in appearance with some nice bubbles bouncing around.

Smells sweet and sugary with a faint hint of citrus from the hops perhaps. A bit of apple cider comes out as well. Not a lot of strong smells with this one.

Taste is fruit esters, juicy and quite thirst quenching. There is a nice hop finish that balances this one out nicely. No major complaints from this light blonde beer. All around its a mighty tasty summer ale.

BEER FACTS

Name: Casco Bay Summer Ale

Style: Blonde Ale

Brewery: Casco Bay Brewing Company

Location: Portland, Maine, USA

Container: 12 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

ABV: ?

IBUs: ?

Brewed in Maine

Summer Golden Ale (Andrew's Brewing Company)

If you were to think of the prototypical Maine brewery, you'd probably imagine something like Andrew's in Lincolnville. The owner and brewer, Andrew Hazen, are one in the same, the brewing equipment was designed by Andrew and its in a very quiet area along the Maine coastline. I heard recently that Andrew's has acquired a grain silo that should help cut some costs.

Summer Golden Ale pours a very light golden color, more apt to be called straw colored I guess. Carbonation level looks pretty good and the thin white head is quite long lasting. Looks like a pretty clean light drinking beer.

Smell is sweet, malty and slightly like bread dough. A few more whiffs and their is some rather astringent and bitter aromas that come through as well.

First taste is pretty light malt and not much in the way of sweetness. The follow through is slightly bitter and sour and their is some definite dryness as well. This is a pretty light tasting beer thats pretty crisp and has some qualities that remind me of a continental lager.

BEER FACTS

Name: Summer Golden Ale

Style: Blonde Ale

Brewery: Andrew's Brewing Company

Location: Lincolnville, Maine, USA

Container: 12 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

ABV: ?

IBUs: ?

Brewed in Maine

Ex~Wife Bitter Blonde Ale (Freeport Brewing Co.)

The picture on the label for this is pretty self explanatory. Pissed off blonde (ex-wife?) dropping her ring into a mug of beer. The label reads "Bitter is in the ring of the beer holder". I am actually not all that sure what that means to be honest. I guess its best to move on and get to the beer itself.

Pours a nice, clean golden color with a nice white head. Lots of nice little bubbles in this one. Smell is bready, sweet, some hay but nothing too strong.

Taste is like a dry, pale lager. Its got a metallic aftertaste (maybe from the ring?) to go with some sweetness and citrus tastes. I am not a huge fan as this is simply a style that usually doesn't captivate me too much. Its a light tasting beer that I think could be a nice "crossover" beer for those that buy their beer in packs of thirty. 

As the Ex-Wife warms a bit it becomes a pretty decent and drinkable beer. Nothing too disagreeable, just not an outstanding offering from Freeport.

Try their chocolate porter if you see it in a growler. Its good stuff!

BEER FACTS

Name: Ex~Wife Bitter Blonde Ale

Style: Blonde Ale

Brewery: Freeport Brewing Company

Location: Freeport, Maine, USA

Container: 22 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

ABV: ?

IBUs: ?

Brewed in Maine