Long Trail Ale

Beer Name: Long Trail Ale
Brewery: Long Trail Brewing Company
ABV: 4.6%
Serving method: 12-oz bottle in a pint glass
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Bottled 11/3/10

Doesn't beer just taste better when it's in a glass? I think so.

This has been in the fridge for a little while, but I think that it will still be ok since it's been at a pretty constant temperature and out of any direct light. I've read that light is actually the beer killer and not temperature fluctuations, but I don't trust heat either. Leave my beer alone!

Long Trail Ale is what would probably be considered their flagship beer. It's an amber or copper colored ale with a short-lived light head. There is a medium amount of lacing left behind. The aroma is sort of grainy but also fruity, like apples. Last time I tasted a beer with an apple scent, it was awful. But that's because it was a dreaded Belgian white ale, so hopefully that won't be an issue here.

Well, those apples seem to have vanished. I can smell them, but I can't taste them. What I can taste is a malty sweetness with a smooth finish and a little bit more carbonation than I was expecting. There's not really anything hoppy going on here, and no real aftertaste to speak of.

Final thought - At only 4.6%, this would make an excellent substitute for macro-swill during a long night of drinking. It doesn't taste like water, but you should still be able to drink an entire case. But don't do that, because you also might die. A good beer, but nothing majorly outstanding.

-Jon

Blueberry Ale

Beer Name: Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale
Brewery: Atlantic Brewing Company
ABV: 5.2%
Serving method: 12-oz bottle poured into a pint glass
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown, best by Feb 2011

I wonder who the first person was that decided that combining blueberries with beer might be a delicious idea. Obviously this man was a genius. I realize that it's pretty sexist to assume it was a guy, but I'm just playing the odds here. As they say, don't hate the player; hate the game. I am not exactly sure how that fits in here, but let's just go with it.

This particular blueberry offering comes from the folks who brought you Coal Porter: Secret Agent. It's an amber-esque colored beer with hardly any head. And that little bit is not there very long. I also did not get much lacing. Blueberry Ale smells mostly like blueberries. Big surprise. There is also a background smell of something grainy, which gives an overall impression of a blueberry muffin. That's good, as blueberry muffins are delicious.

The first sip is dominated by blueberry. Strangely, the berry taste faded as I continued drinking it. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. The beer has a crisp taste from the carbonation, and finishes without an aftertaste. Very refreshing.

Final thought - As far as fruit beers go, this is a good one. I'd like to enjoy a few in the summer while sitting in Kathryn's hammock and pretending I'm not going to fall asleep. Hopefully I finish the beer first so that I don't spill it all over myself.

-Jon

Red Giant

Beer Name: Element Red Giant
Brewery: Element Brewing Company
ABV: 7%
Serving method: 16-oz pint poured from a growler
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Bottled (growlered?) 9/10/10

As a native of Massachusetts, I try to buy local whenever possible.

Ok, that is a complete lie. I buy whatever is cheapest when it comes to food, and whatever looks exciting when it comes to beer. But I suppose when the beer that looks exciting happens to be a local one, that is probably good for the local economy. Or not. Hey, I wasn't an economics major. I was a barely competent CS major.

I stopped by the Element Brewery because it's one of only a handful of breweries whose actual physical location I know and because I assumed that getting beer directly from the brewery would result in the freshest possible beer. Seems logical.

Right from the start, this beer comes on strong. It smells like a serious beer, and it's not afraid to let you know. If you're into head (beer head you sicko), this one brings the heat, with almost an inch of that foamy silliness chilling out on top of the beer. I have been told that it's good to have a head on the beer, but I can't see how. More foam = less space for beer = less beer for my enjoyment. But other "experts" claim it's important, so there you go. This beer has got aroma and head in abundance.

This beer has got some bitterness to it as well. There's a little carbonation, but what really hits you is the bitterness and the hops. I think the bitterness is what keeps the flavor in your mouth after you've had a sip. It definitely sticks around. The red ale taste is in there too, and it comes through at the end. It's not like most other reds that I have had though. Or at least it seems different. This one feels like it's quite a bit stronger, and further down the darkness scale in terms of color. If you hold up the glass, you can pick out the hints of red, but mostly this beer is dark. Deal with that!

Final thought - The Red Giant is good, but I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone. I think the bitterness would push people away, and the fact that it is really strong means that little sissy drinkers wouldn't like it. Although to be fair, I imagine that if I drank the whole growler, I'd be knocked on my ass and have another "bagel incident." I like it though, and will enjoy it again in the future.

-Jon

Honey Ale

Beer Name: Rapscallion Honey Ale
Brewery: Rapscallion
ABV: 4.5%
Serving method: 16-oz draft in a stange glass
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown

One of the most exciting parts of going to a restaurant is checking out the choices on tap in case there is something I've never tried, or possibly never even heard of. Such was the case tonight.

I cannot figure out what this beer smells like, but it is definitely something. Hey, maybe it's honey, but I'm not sure. I have read that the nose can recall some ridiculous number of smells, but mine apparently sucks. That is disappointing. It's not a bad smell though, so I will put the aroma in the "plus" column. Be careful if you smell it though, because this beer is a bit foamy, which means you may put your nose too far into it and have beer foam on your nose. You're welcome in advance.

The Honey Ale has a slightly sharp taste at the beginning, and then has a sweet finish, which I have to attribute to the presence of honey. There's probably just the right amount of honey in there, because it's not overpowering, but it's noticeable. I bet this beer would be really good with food, but I finished it before the meal came and then switched over to something else. I think the beer improved as I got closer to the end of the glass, which means that this beer gains the coveted quality of being able to be served warm. Hooray!

Final thought - Honey Ale is a delightful draft beer to relax with while you're waiting for a table to open up at a restaurant on a Friday night. That is a very specific situation there, but it's definitely applicable. I bet it would also be good in lots of other situations. Delicious!

-Jon