Catch... And Release of the Day


Brewery and Country of Origin: Belfast Bay Brewing Company of 100 Searsport Avenue, Belfast, Maine, 04915, USA

Date Reviewed: 7-29-12

In a way, you could argue that this beer has a great name, or a completely unoriginal one. In New England, true lobster is a major economic resource. This is especially true in Maine, the state which produces the most lobsters in the country. Now sometimes, when people are under the ridiculous notion that you can consume one of these lobster creatures, you can cook them by boiling them whole in a large pot of water. When they're ready to eat, they turn red. And by now, we realized that this should have been fairly obvious to you to begin with. Either way, what's important is that this is an American Red. Red ales tend to be maltier and therefore sweeter than their pale cousins (not making fun of the British, seriously) and they are often perceived as being heavier and richer as well. Funny enough, it turns out that compared to fish or meat, lobsters are sweet and rich as well. Ok, so we love lobster. Does this beer go well with lobster? We don't know because we never tried, but Reds typically do go well with seafood, so there's a start. Is the name of this beer what it is because it's good with lobster, or because they simply decided it reminds them of the crustacean after it's been killed and prepared for wolfing down? Who knows... But in all Honesty, there is sadly nothing exciting or notable about the actual substance of this beer. Interestingly enough, it was obviously the name (combined with the location of the brewery) which got our attention. As you will see however, when you judge an object by its cover or brand, you miss the what's important (see: Apple, Inc.).
Date Sampled: 7-21-12 At: 7 Prescott Place, Allston, Boston, MA, USA
Beer Style: American Red Ale
Alcohol by Volume: 5.00%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle, Tall Mug Glass
Rating: 2.43

Look

This is a darker red with a rich, deep amber/bronze color with a reddish tone. A fairly choppy pour gives this beer a somewhat thick half inch tall foam head which dissipates somewhat quickly. This beer leaves a modest amount of lacing around the glass.

Aroma

This beer has a restrained, faint overall aroma which reflects a general malty character with some bitterness in the hops and a slight caramel note mixed in as well. There are no lingering smells or anything bold.

Feel

This is a somewhat solid beer with a moderate body and somewhat weighted feeling. There is a lot of carbonation packed in this brew, giving it a choppy overall feel with a refreshing character towards the finish. A lower viscosity and crisp finish make this an easy going beer.

Taste

Overall, this is a malty beer which has a prominent caramel and sweet flavor. There are also some roasted notes mixed in as well. Towards the end, this beer turns very bitter with the hops coming out at the finish. There is a lingering bitter aftertaste full of hoppy flavor.

Our Take

Though there is nothing particularly special about this ale, we do think that it is a pretty decent example of what the American version of the style is all about. Unfortunately, there are many many other beers out there which will, by way of simply being more enjoyable, perform that task with better results. And worse yet, these guys, being in the Maine market, have to compete against one of the best established regional craft beer industrys in the continent. And trust us, once you're there, you won't be asking the bartender for one of these. So with that, we apologize. Not because we're giving a lower than average review on this beer, but because this was so uninspired that we simply can't deliver any deeply invested tale about it. Being able to comment on a brew's characteristics is simply a confirmation of its ability to inspire the transcribing of your sensation driven thoughts. But when that inspiration isn't happening, neither is a memorable review. Shame.