Zoe
Maine Beer Company

ZoeZoe
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Maine Beer Company
 
Maine, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #1
ABV:
7.2%
Score:
93
Ranked #3,139
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 8.35%
Reviews:
651
Ratings:
2,625
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 08, 2024
Added:
Dec 03, 2009
Wants:
  346
Gots:
  518
Our take on an American amber ale. Complex malt bill delivers notes of dark raisin, chocolate and biscuit. Copious additions of American hops yield notes of pine and citrus: Centennial, Columbus, Simcoe.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mfgreene:
Photo of mfgreene
Rated by mfgreene from Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -16.5%

Jan 09, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.25 by Sinister from New York

Jan 08, 2024
 
Rated: 4.38 by Taenim from Maine

Dec 16, 2023
 
Rated: 4.44 by darktronica from Indiana

Dec 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.09 by Bhubbard34 from Pennsylvania

Nov 07, 2023
 
Rated: 4.32 by not2quick from Missouri

Oct 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4.17 by ctbeerman1 from Connecticut

Sep 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.89 by KC_beerman from Missouri

Jan 01, 2023
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

4.12/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
(500 ml bottle, 26Oct21; purchased single off shelf with reservations... poured into my Belhaven pub pint)

L: polished-clear, tawny-amber liquid; not much foam until I poured in the dregs which posted up a tan, bouncy pad... ends up retaining a medium-thick, gradient collar, and it does lace a bit

S: caramelized bread crust and forest floor... maybe a slight undertone of peppermint?, ghostly hint of diesel... mild note of alcohol... aromas not popping, and why would they? but great depth is apparent and I'm still eager to dive in

T: a good bit more toast, wood, and stinging hop bite than expected... mild almost generic pancake syrup in the aftertaste... more malty than caramel-malty, or at least they've achieved a curiously well-measure contrast and expression between the base malt, caramel additions, and hop bitterness; all apparent and sitting in their own zones

F: relatively light, airy, buoyant... aft drags soft rug burn friction across the tongue... liquid velvet residuals

O: kind of tastes like a cask amber in this state... why the hell have I never been able to find a fresh bottle of this, let alone find it at all most times??... not sure I've ever had a Maine BC beer more than once, but I'll still keep an eye open for newborn magic (1976)
Aug 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by LAM01833 from Massachusetts

Aug 01, 2022
 
Rated: 4.53 by Jaymgould from Minnesota

May 28, 2022
Photo of Whyteboar
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan

4.32/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured a translucent, almost unfiltered looking, reddish brown amber and topped with a 3 finger beige to tan dense head.
The aroma was faint (my damaged nose, not the beer’s fault) but I did get whiffs of piney hops (unexpected for me in a red ale, but maybe I just need to try more of them) and biscuit like malts.
The taste definitely tended towards the malts but had a surprisingly hoppy edge on it. The hops act to accentuate, not clash or overwhelm the malt aspect.
The feel was excellent, well within the expected viscosity.
Glad to finally get to try this one, darn good and wish it was available in West Michigan.
May 25, 2022
Photo of maddogruss
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had this from a bottle.
A: pours dark amber body with thick, off-white head with nice retention and lacing.
S: sweet, grapefruit smelling beer with some floral notes
T: solid, earthy grapefruit taste with a sweet, malt taste to balance; aftertaste Is very similar, with some of the sweet alcohol notes coming through
M: solid, smooth body; full bodied
D: nice feel and taste combo; solid dining beer overall
May 06, 2022
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16.9oz bottle. Bottling date stamped on label is '22Feb22'.
Clear, deep amber colored body. Two fingers of off white head. Leaves some spots and strings of lacing.
Aroma has malt tones of toast and chocolate. Citrus and piney hops.
Taste is malty with dark fruit, toasted bread, and a touch of chocolate at the end. Hops are citrus and pine. Has a base bitterness but not too much to scrunch up the face. The grains of the malt really stand out. Tail off of the main flavors in the aftertaste.
Smooth, medium weight mouth feel. The pine gives the impression of dryness. Excellent carbonation.
Very well balanced and full of flavors. A showcase for malts.
May 06, 2022
Photo of morimech
Reviewed by morimech from Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
It is truly a shame when the #1 ranked amber ale is ranked 3000+ overall in the database. Dark, reddish amber with a large, dense head. Aroma is a combination of pine and floral elements. Some toasted grain as well. Bittersweet flavor with plenty of pine and citrus rind with malt adding some caramel and toast. Solid body and carbonation. Lively but stopping short of harshness. I like Nugget Nectar when that beer is on point, but I can see why this is rated so highly.
Apr 24, 2022
Photo of jonphisher
Reviewed by jonphisher from New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark cloudy amber, backlit leaves shows a nice red. Light brown head, very good retention and some great lacing.

Nose is a beautiful combination of pine, toastiness, and semi sweet citrus rind.

Taste follows along the same lines with a great combination of sappy orange like citrus and pine. Nice malt presence adds a nice touch a light toast.

Medium body, resiny drying hop presence; medium to high bitterness.

Probably one of the only hoppy ambers accessible in these parts. I’m glad to see it show up from time to time. If like piney, sappy flavors gives this one a try you’ll like it a lot.
Mar 25, 2022
Photo of ovaltine
Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a beautiful amber with a substantial tan head that laces the glass beautifully. The nose has some stone fruit and a nice resiny pine note and some toffee notes as well.

The citrus and pine are forward on the taste and are absolutely delicious - and then the stone fruit and subtle toffee notes elevate this even more. The mouthfeel is medium and a bit drying. What an outstanding hoppy amber ale this is.
Mar 22, 2022
 
Rated: 3.99 by SViterileroux74 from Texas

Mar 20, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Nitty703 from Virginia

Nov 24, 2021
Zoe from Maine Beer Company
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 2625 ratings