Great Marsh Brewing Company – Peach Hard Seltzer

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Great Marsh Brewing, Massachusetts, New England, Seltzer

Hi folks! Just posting a little something from my summer backlog. Taking advantage of another beautiful late Summer afternoon, the family and I took a Sunday out to Appleton Farm in Ipswich, MA a couple of weeks ago. While there, we took in some beautiful scenery and enjoyed a couple of beverages from the folks at Great Marsh Brewing and their line of hard seltzers.

Beer Name: Peach

Brewery: Great Marsh Brewing Company (Essex, MA)

Style: Hard Seltzer

ABV: 4.5%

Description: For their line of seltzers, the brewers wanted to distinguish themselves from a crowded field of similar products. To do so they made efforts to capture the water profile of Selters, Germany and took the additional, and somewhat novel, step of not adding any additional sugar.

Appearance: I drank this one from the can, but I have sufficient reason to believe it was clear and bubbly.

Smell: Faint sweet notes of peach.

Taste: Light notes of ripe peach throughout. The finish was pulpy with faint alcohol notes.

Mouthfeel: Lightly carbonated and light-medium bodied.

Hype: None. I’m not exactly up on developments in the world of hard seltzer.

Overall: I really enjoyed this as an outdoor, warm weather beverage. Standout for me was the refreshing, light, and natural taste and (most importantly) the fact that it wasn’t as aggressively carbonated as a lot of other hard seltzer options I’ve come across.

 

 

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Night Shift Brewing Company – My Peachberry Brings All the Hops to the Yard

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DIPA, Massachusetts, New England, Night Shift Brewing

Taking advantage of an absolutely beautiful day last weekend, I made a stop at Night Shift Brewing Company for the first time in quite awhile.  I’ll admit that it still feels a bit weird going into public these days, but the brewery and staff did an excellent job keeping people distanced while serving up food and beer in their outdoor patio space.

Beer Name: My Peachberry Brings All the Hops To the Yard

Brewery: Night Shift Brewing Company (Everett, MA)

Style: Milkshake IPA

ABV: 7.0%

Description: I couldn’t find a full description, but this was a milkshake IPA brewed with lactose, strawberries, and peaches.

Appearance: Cloudy orangish/grapefruit juice color with wisps of white head

Smell: Faint tart berries and mild bitterness.

Taste: Initially a bit on the tart side, but that was replaced quickly by sweetness blending both the strawberry and peach ingredients.  The middle of the sip mixed in a bit of creaminess and pale malt while the finish reintroduced a touch of berry and a mild to moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Smooth medium body with roughly moderate carbonation.

Hype: None that I was aware of, I just really liked the name.

Overall: I liked it.  I can be hit or miss on this style but this one appealed to me.  It had a nice mix of sweet, tart, and bitter notes to keep it interesting throughout.

Time for Some Baseball and Brews!

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Baseball, Beer, Beer Review, Idle Hands Craft Ales, Massachusetts, New England, Summer

Baseball is back and so am I!  I’ve had difficulty finding inspiration for posts lately, but this is definitely an occasion that has me excited.  Although I have some very mixed feelings on whether or not the time is right for the sport to return, it does make me happy to see games again.  As I’ve said here before, the MLB season is the soundtrack to my summer, sometimes in the background and sometimes blaring front and center but it’s always there.  To help welcome it back in true BeerRantsAndBooks style, I paid a visit to my friendly neighborhood brewers at Idle Hands to no contact pickup a pair of baseball themed brews!

My beverages of choice were a pair of brews named Short Season and Backwards K.  I started out with the 6.0% Short Season, a NEIPA brewed with Sabro and Galaxy hops.  It poured to a bright, cloudy pale yellow body fully capped by thin white foam.  It featured a distinct base of pale malt and oats beneath a sweet tropical haze and a low-key bitterness that mixed in just a hint of spiciness.  Overall I’d say this was a fine beer, but I was perhaps expecting a bit more from it.  I think if the malt backbone just a bit more subdued this would have been a real winner.

Batting second was Backwards K, another NEIPA that checked in at a slightly higher 7.3%.  Brewed to emphasize the glory of Mosaic hops, it poured a darker/more amber tinged color yellow with a thin layer of foam covering the top.  It had an invitingly sweet aroma followed up by smooth tastes of melon, berry, and tropical fruits.  It finished with a mild bitterness that followed perfectly from the front end of the beer.  This was the star of the night for me and one that you definitely don’t want to get caught looking on.  Check it out if have the chance!

Well, that’s it for now.  Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy out there!

Bone Up Brewing Company – Uni-Dog

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Beer, Beer Review, Bone Up Brewing Company, Massachusetts, New England

Checking in with one more brew from Bone Up Brewing that I wanted to showcase this week.  This one caught my eye because it reminded me of something they released a little while back that I really enjoyed.

Beer Name: Uni-Dog

Brewery: Bone Up Brewing Company (Everett, MA)

Style: Red Ale

ABV: 4.6%

Description: Best enjoyed while “fearfully scurrying away from a cat,” this red ale was brewed with Massachusetts grown Rakau hops and named in honor of a departed Pyrenees named Domino.

Appearance: It poured to a light caramel and amber colored body topped off by a firm line of white foam.

Smell: Subdued malty sweetness.

Taste: Mild caramel and citrus sweetness upfront followed by a dry, malty finish.  There was also an underlying toastiness throughout bringing a smooth, even presence to the beer.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Hype: Not a whole lot, though seeing this beer did remind me of how much I miss the dog-themed glass I had from them that met with an unfortunate accident.

Overall: This was a tasty, no nonsense beer that really found a way to hit the spot.  Perhaps not the flashiest of brews, it was still a nice beer to kick back and relax with.

Bone Up Brewing Company – Get Proud and Get Loud

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Beer, Beer Review, Bone Up Brewing Company, Massachusetts, New England, Pride

I’m not quite sure when this happened, but somehow the calendar has flipped over into June!  June, of course, is Pride Month and when I saw that my neighbors at Bone Up were once again brewing a special beer to mark the occasion we decided to make them next on our curbside pickup list.

Beer Name: Get Proud and Get Loud

Brewery: Bone Up Brewing Company (Everett, MA)

Style: Saison

ABV: 6.0%

Description: Listed as a “hoppy Saison” brewed with Grüngeist hops.

Appearance: It poured a hazy, pale yellow body with wisps of white of white foam clinging to the edges of the glass.

Smell: Fruity sweetness atop a hint of spicy, floral yeast.

Taste: It opened with sweet fruit punch notes followed by a smooth, almost creamy run of pale malt mid-sip.  The finish featured a mild spicy/peppery yeast presence more typical of the style accompanied by similar hop profile.

Mouthfeel: Roughly medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Hype: I was definitely looking forward to this one.  Last year’s Pride beer was very good and I had no doubt this release would be something the brewers were, um, proud of showcasing as well.

Overall: Very tasty and a great beer to sit back with on a warm day.  It drank like a NEIPA/Saison hybrid that captured the best and most distinct aspects of each.  Definitely one of the beer highlights of quarantine this far.  Grab one if you can!

Idle Hands Craft Ales – Essential Premium Lager

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Beer, Beer Review, Craft Beer, Idle Hands Craft Ales, Massachusetts, New England

Checking in again on another fine day with a brew we picked up at Idle Hands.  

Beer Name: Essential Premium Lager

Brewery: Idle Hands Craft Ales (Malden, MA)

Style: Lager

ABV: 5.0%

Description: Intentionally brewed to channel the subdued, easy drinking experience of a macro lager, this beer was intended to be enjoyed with “sunny days and outdoor adventures.”

Appearance: It poured to a clear, bubbly pale yellow body.

Smell: Subtle hints of pale malt and sweetness, but not a whole lot to report in this department.

Taste: Crisp and clean with mild tastes of pale malt and yeast stop a subtle sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied and bubbly.

Hype: None really, but it was nice to have a fresh, easy drinking beverage on hand.

Overall: Immensely satisfying and exactly as advertised.  Definitely a welcomed addition to the fridge this past holiday weekend.

Idle Hands Craft Ales – Time Enough at Last

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Beer, Beer Review, Craft Beer, Idle Hands Craft Ales, Massachusetts

My wife and I braved the outside world this past weekend and swung by the no contact pickup station at Idle Hands, our friendly neighborhood brewery.  One of the centerpieces of our order was this wonderfully named lager that drew its inspiration from a classic Twilight Zone episode I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.

Beer Name: Time Enough at Last

Brewery: Idle Hands Craft Ales (Malden, MA)

Style: Czech-style Amber Lager

ABV: 5.1%

Description: Listed as a clean lager that pays tribute to Czech brewing traditions, I couldn’t in my admittedly limited searching find out what that means exactly, but was willing to just go with it.  This is the sort of thing the brewery tends to do quite well.

Appearance: Poured a clearish amber/copper body with a resilient and foamy beige head.  A steady stream of small bubbles trickled up the glass throughout the experience.

Smell: Toasty malt backed by a mild toffee sweetness.

Taste: Solid nutty, toasted malt backbone with notes of bread and a toffee presence that added a bit of sweetness.  It closed with a creamy culmination of the previous flavors, with just a slight hint of fruity sweetness added to the mix.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, medium-plus body with less than moderate carbonation.

Hype: No real hype I suppose, but it sure was nice to get some beer direct from a brewery again!  I honestly wasn’t really sure what to expect from the style, but the name made me want to love it.

Overall: I liked this a lot. Flavorful and easy drinking, it was a bit more robust that your typical warm weather lager but without the heaviness of something bigger.  This beer was a winner for sure and I kind of wish we got more than just a single four pack.

Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project – Baby Tree (2015)

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Beer, Beer Review, Massachusetts, Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project

My wife and I dug deep into our reserve this past Mother’s Day and pulled out a beer we’d been saving for a special occasion.  It had quickly become one of our favorite local brews back when we were first venturing forth into the beer scene and has held a special place in our hearts ever since.  With the brewery that made it sadly closing down back in 2015, this beer is something of a rare and dwindling commodity these days so we wanted to make sure it given a proper sendoff.

Beer Name: Baby Tree

Brewery: Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project

Style: Quadruple

ABV: 9.0%

Description: A Belgian-style quad from my one my favorite (and sadly disbanded) Massachusetts-based breweries.  The date on the label said March 2015.

Appearance: It poured a creamy, reddish brown body topped by a line of tan foam.

Smell: Sweet caramel malt with a distinctly Belgian hint of yeast.

Taste: The beer opened sweet, with notes of caramel and dark fruit, followed by a very slight toasted malt presence.  The sip closed with a complex dark sugar and smooth yeasty finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body with low carbonation.

Hype: Off the charts!  As I mentioned above, this was an old favorite that I probably enjoyed for the very last time.

Overall: Excellent and every bit as good as I remembered it!  Time certainly treated this beer well.  My only regret here is that this was the end of my Pretty Things stash.

Ipswich Ale Brewery – Pesky Pils

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Beer, Beer Review, Ipswich Ale Brewery, Massachusetts, Pilsner

After being stuck inside for so long, I am determined to take advantage of every nice day I can get.  This next brew was one of the last remaining stragglers from that mixed-pack I picked up back at the start of quarantine.  Although I don’t exactly root for the home team, its name (see below) made me acutely aware that in better times the Major League Baseball season would be in full swing right now.

Beer Name: Pesky Pils

Brewery: Ipswich Ale Brewery (Ipswich, MA)

Style: Pilsner

ABV: 4.6%

Description: A classic Pilsner brewed with German malts and a combination of Saaz and Lemongrass hops, the can art leads me to believe it draws its name in part from a former Red Sox player who has a foul pole made famous for cheap home runs named after him.

Appearance: It had a see-through yellow body with a topping of bubbly white foam.

Smell: Slightly sweet, with crisp light malt on the end.

Taste: Very similar to the smell.  It offered a smooth, crisp blend of pale malts, Pilsner yeast, and a light sweetness to create a flavorful yet laid back drinking experience.

Mouthfeel: Light to nearly medium bodied with slightly above average carbonation.

Hype: I like the brewery, but I can’t say there is a whole lot of hype around this particular brew.

Overall: It was fine beer and a solid example of a style perhaps better known for being easy going and approachable as opposed to challenging or overstimulating the palate.  It more or less tasted like a good version of your stereotypical beer of yesteryear and honestly there’s nothing wrong with that.  There’s a time and place for everything, and I would say this brew’s time and place is outdoors on a nice spring/summer day (hopefully with some baseball).

 

Ipswich Ale Brewery – Farmhouse Ale

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Beer, Beer Review, Farmhouse, Ipswich Ale Brewery, Massachusetts, New England

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I prepared for quarantine in part by picking up a mixed 12-pack from Ipswich Ale Brewery.  I wasn’t paying too much attention when I ordered it, but was happily surprised to find that it included two new to me beers along with old favorites Route 1 and the original Ipswich Ale.  Looks like we’ve unexpectedly got some review material folks!

Beer Name: Farmhouse Ale

Brewery: Ipswich Ale Brewery (Ipswich, MA)

Style: Farmhouse Ale

ABV: 4.8%

Description: Inspired by the traditional Belgian style, this dry hopped ale was brewed to refresh and pair with a variety of meals.  You can read the official release and see some of the brewing specifications here.

Appearance: It had a cloudy golden body topped by roughly half a finger’s worth of bubbly foam.

Smell: Distinct Belgian-styled yeast that offered a light blend of peppery/spicy/floral notes.

Taste: It opened with crisp pale malt, topped by a peppery yeast presence highlighted with hints of clove and spice.  The finish brought on a slight bit of spicy hops and an underlying sweetness that brought the sip to a pleasing end.

Mouthfeel: Roughly medium bodied with an elevated level of carbonation.

Hype: This isn’t really a hype brewery, though I am particularly fond of them.

Overall: All in all I found this to be a pretty solid beer.  It’s probably not going to blow you away, but it was incredibly easy to just sit back and drink on account of how crisp, clean tasting, and refreshing it was.  Definitely a good beer to have in the fridge right now!