Black Barn Program No. 36
Maine Beer Company

Finally made it to the brewery after all these years and scored glass of this on draft. Classic interpretation of the style with plenty of bready, roasted malt. Crisp and easy drinking, perfect for fall.

On tap at Sabatinis in Exeter pa this lunchtime.

Great looking pint. Deep copper body, persistent white head, streaks of lacing. Aroma is good and malty. Faintly sweet tasting, with a great finish where a little bitterness creeps in for balance.

Very good interpretation of the style, and happy to find an Altbier on tap.

 

16oz Draught at the brewery 10-21-25.
1 finger off white head with good retention and spotty, sticky lacing.
Glowing copper body with excellent clarity.
Malty, floral, red fruit, an appealing aroma.
Toffee, fruit, floral perfume, cherry, honey, and herbal bitterness
Medium body and carbonation with a bit of malt sweetness and moderate bitterness in a lingering finish.
Pleasantly off-dry, I was expecting sweeter.
Very Good to Outstanding.

 

 

Pours a beautiful and absolutely crystal clear copper; big hefty and very cohesive and dense light brown head. A nice thick cap just linger and lingers, substantial lacing.

Nose is malt forward; showing toffee, slightly toasted rustic bread, and earthy woodsy hops.

Tastes mirrors nose, without the toffee, with heavy rustic bread vibe the toastiness shows a bit more and even gives off some nut and grain, followed by black tea and earthy hops and some subtle darker fruity vibe from the yeast.

Light but close to medium body with a full hearty feel, the carbonation is very present but creamy and smooth, there is low but noticeable bitter finish that lingers on a clean and dry finish. Super easy to drink.

This beer is very enjoyable, it’s best part is how well balanced all the flavors are and how drinkable it is. It also retains a decent head and continues to lace the whole glass. A wonderful altbier.

 

 

 

Serving: Bottle
Bottled: Aug-2-2022

Pours a pretty much crystal clear pale copper with a couple fingers of white head that settles to a healthy film leaving swooping lacing in its wake. The aroma has a hay, brown bread, lightly lemoned iced tea flavor. Papposilenus calls it urine soaked hay and I think that is a great descriptor that actually pretty well gives you an idea of how much it sticks out. I think it is mainly the pilsner malt coming through with bright graininess. I know there are brewers that don't like specific pilsners for this reason, I've had beers that were intense in this way, but I am a piss hay fan at this point, I'd say. At least in this particular case.

The flavor follows suit. More and more bread crust as it warms (smell too). Hay, tea, light noble hops, bread crust, wheat (or other "darker" grain) crackers. It is very drinkable dry without being too dry, fairly clean but perhaps with the faintest berry character from the yeast. A very nice beer in a style your don't see around as much these days. Judging from the label for a good cause. Nice and I'd have another pint if I had it. Possibly the closest I've ever been (save maybe an NBS or two RIP) to having an unplanned virtual beer with someone. And the first two reviews! Whoda thunk it!?

4...4.25...4...4.25...4.25

From a 16.9oz bottle, dated 08/02/22, and surreptitiously slipped into my cooler by TheDoctor, apparently while my attention was diverted elsewhere. Served in a stange.

Pours the color of a shiny new penny, with two fingers of pouffy, cream colored foam. The head holds up for a couple of minutes before collapsing into a wispy cap with a solid blanket of sudsy lacing.

Nose is thick and malty, sharp and grainy. Robust aroma of whole grain bread with strong, verging-on-unpleasant odor of chopped hay and urine.

Tasting under-baked whole grain dark bread, chopped hay, black pepper and lemon, baking soda and apple cores. Spicy-bready enough that I think of rye, but nobody puts rye in an altbier, right? Still, that kind of sharpness, like pumpernickel, like a sticke alt.

Feel is smooth as silk, clean and dry, medium-light bodied with ample fine, tingly carbonation. Super clean and easy drinking. Almost makes me feel like I should do some actual work so I can feel like I deserve it.

Overall, just as tasty and pleasant as can be. The nose was so assertive - not something I often complain about! - that I was initially a little put off by it but I guess I just needed to spend a little time with it. As always, overall is marked down 0.25 in recognition of the over-priced pint-plus bottles - even though I didn’t actually pay for it myself.