Harpoon - Peche

Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Beer: Peche (part of the 100 Barrel Series)
Rating: 2.7

Having been intreigued by Dogfish's Festina Peche, a peachy-sour beer, this caught my eye. It is in a big bottle and is part of the "100 Barrel Series" which features a brewer tinkering with recipes in limited releases.

The bottle had foil covering the top of it (like a Fin Du Monde) and underneath it was a plain bottle cap. So, I reached for my favorite bottle opener and I pried the cap off. Much to my surprise/dismay, the beer poured out of the bottle like I had just uncorked champagne. As I ran to get a towel, I realized that my hands smelled a LOT like peaches.

I let the beer settle down before trying to pour it. Even so, it made a really fluffy, foamy head that kept growing after I stopped pouring. I smelled the beer as it settled and was overwhelmed by peach. It was like someone running up to you and yelling "PEACH" in your ear.

When I tasted it, I liked the first half. It was peachy and smooth, but as soon as the sweetness went away, it tasted almost musty and sour. I don't know why I am thinking of something dusty/musty but that's what I tasted or smelled. I wasn't a huge fan of that flavor, but if I kept drinking it I could minimize that taste. Between the two, the Harpoon is probably the *authentic* Peche, but I would rather drink the Dogfish Festina Peche because it has a more enjoyable taste.

Sea Dog Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale (Bluepaw)

Brewery: Sea Dog Brewery, Portland Maine
Beer: Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale (aka Blue Paw)
Rating: 3.6

Sea Dog brewery's "Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale" is a well-known summer beer in New England, especially in Maine. It is a frequent find on tap at local bars, and you need only ask for a "Blue Paw" and the bartender will know exactly what you mean. The blueberries in the beer are from Maine, so I give this one an automatic thumbs up for staying local with their ingredients.

When you take the cap off the bottle (even before pouring) you get the immediate smell of mashed up blueberries, and your brain tells you that the beer that comes out of the bottle has got to be blue. (It isn't, of course.) When poured it is a light, warm yellow. Some of the powerful blueberry smell goes away when you pour it into a glass and it gets a little head.

When you bring the glass to your face, you still get a light blueberry smell, but the taste is actually very subtle, which I was happy about. You can taste the wheat of the beer and a slight tartness. The taste fades quickly but the overall impression is good.

This is the best blueberry beer that I've tasted because it is very well balanced, and the wheat blends seamlessly with the fruit. I applaud this beer for not going overboard on the blueberry and still making it taste really interesting. I'm not a pairing expert, but I kind of have to say that I would want some sweeter bread to go with this to bring out some sweetness/tartness in the beer.

Atlantic Brewing Company - Mount Desert Island Ginger

Brewery: Atlantic Brewing Company, Mount Desert Island, Maine
Beer: Mount Desert Island Ginger
Rating: 3.0

A friend of mine always asks his brother to bring him down some ginger beer when he visits in the summer, because it's so different and not usually available around here. I stumbled across it at my favorite beverage center the other day so I thought I'd try it -it sounded fun, and I was feeling adventurous. It is brewed by the company in small batches, so its bound to be a little different each time, so I wasn't sure what it would taste like. I like ginger, so I figured it was worh a shot.

When I tasted the beer, I was surprised at its lightness and overall lack of strong flavor. It had a very crisp taste (probably due to the ginger) but the taste did not linger for very long. This made it very refreshing, but not something that could be savored or sipped. I was very happy that I was also not overwhelmed by ginger.

I think this might make this a good beer for someone who likes light beer but is bored with the typical pale ale or pilsner, and it is kind of a pallete cleanser so it may go well with any meal, or between courses.