Thank You (2020)
Maine Beer Company

I haven't had a Maine Beer Co. beer in quite a long time despite really always being a big fan of Lunch. I will admit I've never had Dinner, or even Second Dinner, even though it seems like both have become progressively easier to acquire. Shrug, guess I've never really had the drive to get them despite the hype. Maybe I'm kinda cynical. Anyway, I figured I'd pick this extremely fresh (three days old!) bottle of Thank You 2020 to see what they've been up to recently. Hope it leaves a good impression!

Pours a hazy though not opaque yellowish color with a slight green tint to it. Maybe it's just me but this definitely looks a bit green...? Anyway, it's about medium in terms of clarity; I can see the huge amount of carbonation rising from the bottom of my glass. A sizable head builds up and tops off with a nice dollop of eggshell-white foam, which eventually sinks down to a finger or so and leaves behind solid legs and lacing. Nothing wrong with the appearance, but it's also not spectacular. Like I said, the color is a bit weird and that's throwing me off. Hmm...

So, TY2020 features Maine-grown grains and experimental hops. That's not very specific or helpful information, there, guys, but okay. The nose is kind of funky and peppery, almost saison-like to some extent, with a bit of spice (rye?), lemon, bread crust, and grapefruit rind. Soft and maybe a touch mineral-y with some zippy tropical fruit as well. Doesn't really seem like it jumps out of the glass to me, but it's definitely pretty decent-smelling. Seems really light for a 6.2% beer, though. The dry-hop charge with these "experimental" hop varietals might not be fully there. Am I still sounding like a cynic? Huh, I couldn't tell...

My first sip is a little rustic and definitely slightly peppery, herbal, and grassy. Slight tropical fruit in the mid-palate with a cleansing, tasty hop bite in the transition to the finish. Bready grains and a little bit of spice in there, plus some light passion fruit and papaya. Maybe a touch of melon, too? Everything here is pretty subtle but well-balanced, so they did get that aspect right. I'm glad it's not out-of-whack and way too hoppy or something, though MBC has always been pretty good about keeping things centered. The feel is doughy, kinda wheat-y(?) and less effervescent than I thought it'd be considering the rushing carbonation I can tell is in this beer. Crisp in the swallow, but, again, just a tad thicker than expected. This isn't bad but it's certainly not something I could see myself running out to grab more of.

 

 

 

500 mL bottle. Pours clear pale golden until the sediment murks it up a bit. Smells of lemongrass and a little tropical fruit. Tastes has a pleasantly prominent grain backbone. Bright citrus and a bit of pine and grass. Light, if any, bitterness. Medium body. Very pleasant profile. Simple well-made, as Maine tends to do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from a bottle, dated 5/19/20.

Good aromas and flavors of citrus, tropical fruit and floral hops, bready grains. Bright and crisp, nice dry bitter bite in the finish. Very nice.

As expected, another solid IPA from Maine!

Poured from a 500 ml bottle dated 5/19/2020 into a goblet.
L - Pours a hazy yellow color with a large white head that dissipates slowly.
S - Smells of tropical fruits, with a slight bitterness
T - Tastes of pineapple.
F - Medium body and carbonation.
O - Really nice IPA.

 

 

 

 

A: The beer is hazy yellow in color and has a moderate to high amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high frothy white head that died down but consistently left a short head covering teh surface and some lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of floral hops and mangos are present in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of mangos and orange citrus with notes of floral hops and hints of grassy hops. There is a light to moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer had an interesting and yet delicate aromas and flavors from the hops. I particularly enjoyed the combination of mangos and floral hops. It is quite easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle