Sebago “Slick Nick Winter Ale”
November 30, 2008 4:57 pm
More details coming soon, but Sebago writes, “Slick Nick Winter Ale is our most popular seasonal ale. The caramel and black malts we use to brew Slick Nick gives it the deep amber color. This insidious brew is best enjoyed during New England’s freezing winter months. Slick Nick himself is pictured on our label casing out the Victoria Mansion in Portland on a blustery night. Warm up with one of Maine’s best winter offerings. Slick Nick is a perfect match with rich sauces, BBQ, grilled meats and hearty sandwiches or simply enjoyed as a stand alone meal.
Brewed with American 2-row, caramel 60L; Black Patent
Hops:Tettnanger and Northern Brewer 6.2% Alc.\ vol.
Available in Maine and Massachusetts in 6 packs, 12 packs, 22 oz. bottles and kegs.”
Kicked 1/6/09 – the first kicked keg of the year! I’m not sure how many days we had it on tap, since my computer (with the respective file) is currently DOA but I suspect it’s a pretty long time. Drinking at Belknap has really decreased since Lauren’s been pregnant. Not sure what the next keg will be, but I might wait until the 2ng log is kicked and grab a “leftover” keg from work. We’ll see….
Southern Tier “Pumking”
October 1, 2008 6:04 pm
It’s on, and paired with Smuttynose “Old Brown Dog”. It should be a good October.
This very limited seasonal beer has an “A-†rating on BeerAdvocate. I gave it an A+ and added;
A beer-buddy and I did a “Pumpkin Lineup†last night and the Pumking was by far the most desired beer.
This beer is a league of it’s own. It has a very unique flavor that we didn’t find with any other pumpkin beers. While most seemed to taste of cinnamon and nutmeg, the Pumpking smelled and tasted better – very similar to pumpkin pie.
Kicked in 64 days! That was the longest lasting beer we’ve had on tap. I suspect it was too sweet – everyone loved one glass, but couldn’t drink too much of it. 10% ABV is a deterrent, too. Time for some Christmas beers.
Smuttynose “Old Brown Dog” #2
6:00 pm
This is the second year we’ve had OBD on tap, and we’ve served it at TripAdvisor, too. It’s always been a huge hit so I’m glad we can get it again. It’s also going to be paired with Southern Tier’s “Pumking”. Decisions, decisions, decisions….
Smuttynose’s description of this beer; “Old Brown Dog has been cited as a classic example of the “American Brown Ale†style of beer. Compared to a typical English Brown Ale, Old Brown Dog is fuller-bodied and more strongly hopped. Old Brown Dog has been around for many years. It was first brewed in 1988 at the Northampton Brewery. In 1989 it won a silver medal in its category (American Brown Ale) at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.â€
Kicked during the Friday-after-Thanksgiving session, 11/29.
Sierra Nevada “Anniversary Ale”
August 22, 2008 3:16 pm
Slight error, but the 1/2 barrel was ordered instead of the 1/6, so until this one is gone it will be one beer for a while. Not too bad, since next I’ll pair something with the Southern Tier “Pumking”.
Sierra Nevada writes;
Each fall we celebrate our anniversary as one of America’s craft brewing pioneers with a special beer.
Anniversary Ale is an American-style IPA featuring Cascade hops, the signature hop used in our Pale Ale. The beer has a pronounced pine and citrus hop aroma balanced by the sweetness of two-row pale and caramel malts. The result is an unusually well-balanced IPA that proves an IPA can be both assertive and elegant. Anniversary Ale is a medium-bodied, well-hopped ale that finishes with a slight malt sweetness.
The 2008 batch got an “A-” on BA (up from a B+ in 2007). It’s just been tapped and I’m looking forwards to having it on tap for a while!
This beer was on tap for a very long 39 days and had the highest consumption rate (partially due to me giving out 2-3 growers of it). I wasn’t a fan of this beer – I thought it was much too hoppy and the drinkability suffered.
Ordered: Southern Tier “Pumking” x3
July 31, 2008 5:33 pmYup, 3 kegs. It’s one of my favorites, so one for me and two for the kegerator at work.
This very limited season has an “A-” rating on BeerAdvocate. I gave it an A+ and added;
A beer-buddy and I did a “Pumpkin Lineup” last night and the Pumking was by far the most desired beer.
This beer is a league of it’s own. It has a very unique flavor that we didn’t find with any other pumpkin beers. While most seemed to taste of cinnamon and nutmeg, the Pumpking smelled and tasted better – very similar to pumpkin pie.
A+, indeed.
Gritty McDuff’s “Vacationland Summer Ale”
June 18, 2008 11:44 am
On tap Wednesday (6/18), thanks to Tim @ Colonial, is a 1/6 1/4(!) of Gritty McDuff’s “Vacationland Summer Ale”.
Gritty says, “You can’t put summer in a bottle, but we may have come close! When the weather gets warm we roll out our summer seasonal, Vacationland Summer Ale. Vacationland is an Extra Special Golden Ale that’s light in color but full-bodied, with a snappy hop finish. A bit of extra time in the conditioning tank rounds out and mellows the ale. We use generous portions of pale malt with just a touch of wheat malt to give VSA unique flavor that’s richer than most summer brews. Cascade leaf hops add a delicate and forward hop character as well. It’s the perfect brew for all things summer.”
Starting Gravity: 1049
Finish: 1012, ABV: 4.9%
Hops: (22 I.B.U.s) Cascade Leaf, Cascade, Saaz
Availability: 6 and 12-packs, 22 oz bottles, mini-kegs and draft,
April-August
I had some “Vacationland” up in Maine this past weekend and I’m looking forwards to getting this in. This beer got a [very underrated] B- on BeerAdvocate.
Currently paired with Shipyard Export Ale. Kicked after 51 days.
