Lunch | Maine Beer Company
Brewed by:
Maine Beer Company
Maine, United States
mainebeercompany.com
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Our “East Coast” version of a West Coast-style IPA. Intense hop flavors and aromas of tropical and citrus fruits and pine dominate. A subtle malt sweetness brings the beer into balance.
Added by Jason on 05-10-2011
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 762 | Ratings: 5,123
4.31/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours an orange color with a well retained one inch white head that left lacing all the way down the glass. Smells and tasted of citrus ( lemon and grapefruit), cantalopue, pine and a hint of mango. Well carbonated, medium bodied, clean and crisp.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours an orange color with a well retained one inch white head that left lacing all the way down the glass. Smells and tasted of citrus ( lemon and grapefruit), cantalopue, pine and a hint of mango. Well carbonated, medium bodied, clean and crisp.
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4.34/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pint on tap in Boston. White head with nice lace walls. Golden orange color.
Classic IPA and not so much the NE style. Kind of a hybrid. Juicy and tropical but not that haze style. Earthy and with some citrus and floral hops.
Medium bodied. Clean. Straight forward.
This is simply a well executed IPA. Nothing fancy going on here, but that's okay. Drinkability is great.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pint on tap in Boston. White head with nice lace walls. Golden orange color.
Classic IPA and not so much the NE style. Kind of a hybrid. Juicy and tropical but not that haze style. Earthy and with some citrus and floral hops.
Medium bodied. Clean. Straight forward.
This is simply a well executed IPA. Nothing fancy going on here, but that's okay. Drinkability is great.
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3.98/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had it on tap....good, but I feel like I was let down a bit. I'll be curious to have it out of the bottle - bc I'm sure I'll have a better experience....
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had it on tap....good, but I feel like I was let down a bit. I'll be curious to have it out of the bottle - bc I'm sure I'll have a better experience....
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4.35/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle into a tulip. Pours a slightly hazy gold with big head. Very tropical, melony smell. Taste has plenty of mango and cantaloupe. It's strong and yet at the same time balanced, even understated, in a way that seems characteristic of Maine Beer Co. beers. Maybe just shy of amazing, but still a really excellent IPA.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle into a tulip. Pours a slightly hazy gold with big head. Very tropical, melony smell. Taste has plenty of mango and cantaloupe. It's strong and yet at the same time balanced, even understated, in a way that seems characteristic of Maine Beer Co. beers. Maybe just shy of amazing, but still a really excellent IPA.
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4.35/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From the brewery in Portland and again from growler station in Greenville. Hazy yellow color with frothy foam...fruit and citrusy smell. Tastes of melon, citrus and pine with hints of lemon. Mild, hoppy, earthy finish. Light, balanced and very, very good.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From the brewery in Portland and again from growler station in Greenville. Hazy yellow color with frothy foam...fruit and citrusy smell. Tastes of melon, citrus and pine with hints of lemon. Mild, hoppy, earthy finish. Light, balanced and very, very good.
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4.42/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Was able to have this in there tasting room a few months back and forgot to review it I remember distinctly how light it was yet still had some great flavor. The brewery is awesome and they always have great beers in draft and some great bottles for takeout. I recommend this beer and this brewery
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Was able to have this in there tasting room a few months back and forgot to review it I remember distinctly how light it was yet still had some great flavor. The brewery is awesome and they always have great beers in draft and some great bottles for takeout. I recommend this beer and this brewery
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4.76/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
From 16.9oz bottle, bottled 12/06/16 into tulip.
The head on this is beautiful. Super fluffy; a lightly tinted white. Builds up like a little mountain and remains, like a snow covered landscape. Great lacing.
Color is a muted yellow/light orange and hazy. Like an unfiltered fruit juice. Glows an inviting color when held up to light.
Nose is very fragrant and pure. Flowery, light, crisp, hops; citrus and exotic fruit notes. Strong in magnitude, yet perfectly even—not overbearing or cluttered; Just what I want.
Feel is foamy, light, and refreshing. Aside from the micro-bubble, mild sharpness, the feel is airy and smooth. A little insubstantial upon first contact with the mouth, though resolves into a drinkable, measured texture of froth and carbonation. Excellent.
Due to the looks, and my often consumed style of beer, I subconsciously expected a IIPA taste. However, I was initially surprised, but reassuringly gladdened by the balanced, and very drinkable flavor provided by this beer. There is a citrus presence, resolving into uplifting and floral, not dark and sticky hops, finishing with a brush of malty sticky sweetness. This is a hop dominated beer, but without bitterness, and a good distribution of flavors which let the hops step forward and shine out, without becoming overly dominating. I think this may be the best IPA I have ever consumed; good enough to take this title until a back-to-back match with some close contenders. Another great one from Maine Beer Company.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
From 16.9oz bottle, bottled 12/06/16 into tulip.
The head on this is beautiful. Super fluffy; a lightly tinted white. Builds up like a little mountain and remains, like a snow covered landscape. Great lacing.
Color is a muted yellow/light orange and hazy. Like an unfiltered fruit juice. Glows an inviting color when held up to light.
Nose is very fragrant and pure. Flowery, light, crisp, hops; citrus and exotic fruit notes. Strong in magnitude, yet perfectly even—not overbearing or cluttered; Just what I want.
Feel is foamy, light, and refreshing. Aside from the micro-bubble, mild sharpness, the feel is airy and smooth. A little insubstantial upon first contact with the mouth, though resolves into a drinkable, measured texture of froth and carbonation. Excellent.
Due to the looks, and my often consumed style of beer, I subconsciously expected a IIPA taste. However, I was initially surprised, but reassuringly gladdened by the balanced, and very drinkable flavor provided by this beer. There is a citrus presence, resolving into uplifting and floral, not dark and sticky hops, finishing with a brush of malty sticky sweetness. This is a hop dominated beer, but without bitterness, and a good distribution of flavors which let the hops step forward and shine out, without becoming overly dominating. I think this may be the best IPA I have ever consumed; good enough to take this title until a back-to-back match with some close contenders. Another great one from Maine Beer Company.
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4/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
First had 1/3/17 at home from Johnny G. It is my firm belief that IPA's are the best thing to happen to the northeast since the pilgrims. This showcases it perfectly. Intensely bitter hops, with tropical notes and pine. Needs more body and a better feel to compare to the big boys though.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
First had 1/3/17 at home from Johnny G. It is my firm belief that IPA's are the best thing to happen to the northeast since the pilgrims. This showcases it perfectly. Intensely bitter hops, with tropical notes and pine. Needs more body and a better feel to compare to the big boys though.
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4.91/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours a dull, deep golden caramel color. The head is dense, off white, but dissipates quickly. The nose is heavy of hops (as it should be). The taste carries the hops well. There is a little bitterness to go along with the heavy hop flavor, but I like that. After taste hits and is gone fairly quickly. If you find this beer, buy it!
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look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours a dull, deep golden caramel color. The head is dense, off white, but dissipates quickly. The nose is heavy of hops (as it should be). The taste carries the hops well. There is a little bitterness to go along with the heavy hop flavor, but I like that. After taste hits and is gone fairly quickly. If you find this beer, buy it!
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4.24/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This is a nice juicy fruity IPA in flavor with a moderate resiny grapefruit rind after bite. Little pale malt backbone...This beer is all about the hops. Light bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Overall a very drinkable awesome IPA. Ontap at vintage
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This is a nice juicy fruity IPA in flavor with a moderate resiny grapefruit rind after bite. Little pale malt backbone...This beer is all about the hops. Light bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Overall a very drinkable awesome IPA. Ontap at vintage
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4.5/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
bottled 10/25, had within 60 days of bottling
pours a copper orange slightly hazy
smell - tropical fruit and citrus and booze on the back end
taste - lemon/citrus upfront with some bitterness then tropical fruit with some bread at the end. maybe the thing i love most is the carbonation, tiny bubbles for a nice medium mouthfeel, nice lacing til the end of the drink.
really enjoyed this. a damn pleasant IPA - perfectly balanced and crisp. wish it was easier to get a hold of.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
bottled 10/25, had within 60 days of bottling
pours a copper orange slightly hazy
smell - tropical fruit and citrus and booze on the back end
taste - lemon/citrus upfront with some bitterness then tropical fruit with some bread at the end. maybe the thing i love most is the carbonation, tiny bubbles for a nice medium mouthfeel, nice lacing til the end of the drink.
really enjoyed this. a damn pleasant IPA - perfectly balanced and crisp. wish it was easier to get a hold of.
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3.75/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Beautiful bottle conditioned carbonation. The smell is hoppy - mostly herbal (I would guess there is Mosaic in this) with sweet pine and light fruits. The taste follows with a nice malty background and soft bitter finish. Definitely a nice beer but not one I would seek out. nb
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Beautiful bottle conditioned carbonation. The smell is hoppy - mostly herbal (I would guess there is Mosaic in this) with sweet pine and light fruits. The taste follows with a nice malty background and soft bitter finish. Definitely a nice beer but not one I would seek out. nb
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4.44/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
First had at Robert's Maine Grill, Kittery, Maine, on draft into tulip. Spicy, fruity and hoppy, Maine Lunch is a fantastic IPA in a category of its own. Also goes well with oysters.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
First had at Robert's Maine Grill, Kittery, Maine, on draft into tulip. Spicy, fruity and hoppy, Maine Lunch is a fantastic IPA in a category of its own. Also goes well with oysters.
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4.51/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Service: Bottle
Bottled: Nov-8-2016
A:
Pours a relatively clear brass color that is almost orangeish at the edges with two fingers of white head. Settles nicely and sticks around good, some lacing. (4.25)
S:
Light citrus and some earthiness. Grapefruit, orange Dum-Dums, pine needles, lime, faint fresh bread. (4.5)
T:
Dank limegreen hop cones, verging on resinous, grapefruit rind, some bready support. Dry, bitter, delicious. (4.5)
M:
Wow!! Feels incredible, rich creamy texture that explodes in fine carbonation and rushes through your mouth leaving a layer of hop lacquer in its wake. (4.75)
O:
Bright and clean IPA with ample bitterness.
This is a damn fine beer. There is a lot of orange and other citrus, it is a little earthy and there is a little malt, but the aroma is mainly a clean, almost tart citrus pungency. Taste-wise it is less sweet and dryer than what the aroma lets on, which is nice. Resinous hoppy bitterness with some aromatic sweetness and a really tasty finish. And then, the feel is just about as good as it gets.
Would/will have again. An extremely tasty beer. (4.5)
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Service: Bottle
Bottled: Nov-8-2016
A:
Pours a relatively clear brass color that is almost orangeish at the edges with two fingers of white head. Settles nicely and sticks around good, some lacing. (4.25)
S:
Light citrus and some earthiness. Grapefruit, orange Dum-Dums, pine needles, lime, faint fresh bread. (4.5)
T:
Dank limegreen hop cones, verging on resinous, grapefruit rind, some bready support. Dry, bitter, delicious. (4.5)
M:
Wow!! Feels incredible, rich creamy texture that explodes in fine carbonation and rushes through your mouth leaving a layer of hop lacquer in its wake. (4.75)
O:
Bright and clean IPA with ample bitterness.
This is a damn fine beer. There is a lot of orange and other citrus, it is a little earthy and there is a little malt, but the aroma is mainly a clean, almost tart citrus pungency. Taste-wise it is less sweet and dryer than what the aroma lets on, which is nice. Resinous hoppy bitterness with some aromatic sweetness and a really tasty finish. And then, the feel is just about as good as it gets.
Would/will have again. An extremely tasty beer. (4.5)
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3.98/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Description: Cloudy appearance and light golden in color. Maybe like some watered down orange juice. No head but some white lacing. Smell is light fruit with floral notes and not much pine or bitterness. All in all kind of subtle. The taste lacks the floral, fruity smell and is predominantly hop bitterness. Not pine necessarily, just hoppy bitterness. Feel is creamy and velvety for an IPA with not much carbonation.
Suggested food pairing: Burger
If you like this beer you should also try: Everybody Wants Some
Overall: 4 (This beer is good and I may or may not drink it again) Had high hopes for this one but felt pretty disappointed by it. I even wondered if I'd been given the correct beer. It was average to good but not exceptional. Flavor was one note and perhaps too subtle/delicate. I'd like to try this again to confirm (or correct) the first unimpressive experience.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Description: Cloudy appearance and light golden in color. Maybe like some watered down orange juice. No head but some white lacing. Smell is light fruit with floral notes and not much pine or bitterness. All in all kind of subtle. The taste lacks the floral, fruity smell and is predominantly hop bitterness. Not pine necessarily, just hoppy bitterness. Feel is creamy and velvety for an IPA with not much carbonation.
Suggested food pairing: Burger
If you like this beer you should also try: Everybody Wants Some
Overall: 4 (This beer is good and I may or may not drink it again) Had high hopes for this one but felt pretty disappointed by it. I even wondered if I'd been given the correct beer. It was average to good but not exceptional. Flavor was one note and perhaps too subtle/delicate. I'd like to try this again to confirm (or correct) the first unimpressive experience.
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3.45/5 rDev -20.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Love Maine Beer Co. in spite of their prices and had to pick this up when I saw it on shelves in NYC. Brewed 09/06/16 (putting this at right around 60 days old - well within the "drink within 90 days of stamped born on date" advice on the label). Batch 189.
BOTTLE: Brown glass. Iconic white and black label design. Branded silver colour pry-off crown cap. 1 pint .9 fl oz format.
"India pale ale" per the label. 7.00% ABV.
HEAD: Frothy and soft, with a creamy even consistency and a nice overall complexion. Robust and coating. Lasts a good 8-10 minutes, leaving no lacing as it recedes.
BODY: Murky orange of poor vibrance. Nontransparent. Translucent. I don't see any yeast or sediment within, but its haziness points clearly towards a lack of filtration.
Appears well-carbonated. It's not much to look at, but it fits within the conventions of an unfiltered IPA.
AROMA: Grapefruit rind, melon, dried mango, tangerine, and even guava notes are present, giving this IPA an obvious tropical bend indicative perhaps of the new world hops that are all the rage with the kids these days. I get some bubblegum phenol, pine resin, and faint sherbert as well. The bubblegum has me concerned, but the rest of the aroma is generally appealing - if not quite up my personal alley in terms of hop selection.
Nevertheless, any hop bitterness seems well balanced by the pale malt sweetness present in the aroma, and it definitely comes off fresh and inviting.
Aromatic intensity is average.
TASTE & TEXTURE: Uncommon notes of fruit sherbert and tangerine creamsicle set off this off-the-beaten-path IPA, with more standard hop notes like pine resin, mango, and guava supporting them. It's got an obvious tropical bend, but there are clean floral notes in there as well to complement the fruit. Drinks fresh and lively, with its lack of filtration bolstering its yeasty intangibles. Pale malt sweetness is present as a balancing force, but never emerges as noticeable otherwise; there is neither naked hop bitterness nor naked malt sweetness here. Well-built in that regard, though I do have to note that for my personal tastes the hop profile isn't ideal.
Mouthfeel is aptly medium-bodied, smooth, wet, coating, and refreshing. Could be softer and lighter to good effect, but the texture complements the taste nicely enough as-is. Not oily, gushed, hot, boozy, astringent, harsh, or rough. No specific notes from the flavour profile are accentuated by the mouthfeel, but it gets the job done. Flavours are delivered, though depth of flavour is average. Flavour duration is above average, with some lingering fruitiness popping in the aftertaste. Flavour intensity is average for the style.
ABV is well-disguised. There are no off-flavours.
OVERALL: A pleasant drinkable IPA with an atypical hop profile that may please those drinkers fatigued by tried-and-true "C hop" expressions of the style, Lunch is a worthwhile brew that would pair well with its titular meal - regardless of what the content thereof happens to be. I don't count it amongst Maine Beer Company's strongest work, but it's more than competent in its execution and I can't see any experienced open-minded reviewer actively disliking a bottle served in good condition. It doesn't appeal to my particular tastes in terms of hop selection, but I have to concede it's well executed for the hops they chose and I'll enjoy finishing the bottle I bought. There's room for improvement in terms of the usual factors...it could be more intricate, could boast more subtlety, and could have still more vivid more expressive flavours that come together into a more cohesive and interesting gestalt harmonious whole of a beer, but nitpicks aside it's well worth trying once.
B- (3.45) / WORTHY
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Love Maine Beer Co. in spite of their prices and had to pick this up when I saw it on shelves in NYC. Brewed 09/06/16 (putting this at right around 60 days old - well within the "drink within 90 days of stamped born on date" advice on the label). Batch 189.
BOTTLE: Brown glass. Iconic white and black label design. Branded silver colour pry-off crown cap. 1 pint .9 fl oz format.
"India pale ale" per the label. 7.00% ABV.
HEAD: Frothy and soft, with a creamy even consistency and a nice overall complexion. Robust and coating. Lasts a good 8-10 minutes, leaving no lacing as it recedes.
BODY: Murky orange of poor vibrance. Nontransparent. Translucent. I don't see any yeast or sediment within, but its haziness points clearly towards a lack of filtration.
Appears well-carbonated. It's not much to look at, but it fits within the conventions of an unfiltered IPA.
AROMA: Grapefruit rind, melon, dried mango, tangerine, and even guava notes are present, giving this IPA an obvious tropical bend indicative perhaps of the new world hops that are all the rage with the kids these days. I get some bubblegum phenol, pine resin, and faint sherbert as well. The bubblegum has me concerned, but the rest of the aroma is generally appealing - if not quite up my personal alley in terms of hop selection.
Nevertheless, any hop bitterness seems well balanced by the pale malt sweetness present in the aroma, and it definitely comes off fresh and inviting.
Aromatic intensity is average.
TASTE & TEXTURE: Uncommon notes of fruit sherbert and tangerine creamsicle set off this off-the-beaten-path IPA, with more standard hop notes like pine resin, mango, and guava supporting them. It's got an obvious tropical bend, but there are clean floral notes in there as well to complement the fruit. Drinks fresh and lively, with its lack of filtration bolstering its yeasty intangibles. Pale malt sweetness is present as a balancing force, but never emerges as noticeable otherwise; there is neither naked hop bitterness nor naked malt sweetness here. Well-built in that regard, though I do have to note that for my personal tastes the hop profile isn't ideal.
Mouthfeel is aptly medium-bodied, smooth, wet, coating, and refreshing. Could be softer and lighter to good effect, but the texture complements the taste nicely enough as-is. Not oily, gushed, hot, boozy, astringent, harsh, or rough. No specific notes from the flavour profile are accentuated by the mouthfeel, but it gets the job done. Flavours are delivered, though depth of flavour is average. Flavour duration is above average, with some lingering fruitiness popping in the aftertaste. Flavour intensity is average for the style.
ABV is well-disguised. There are no off-flavours.
OVERALL: A pleasant drinkable IPA with an atypical hop profile that may please those drinkers fatigued by tried-and-true "C hop" expressions of the style, Lunch is a worthwhile brew that would pair well with its titular meal - regardless of what the content thereof happens to be. I don't count it amongst Maine Beer Company's strongest work, but it's more than competent in its execution and I can't see any experienced open-minded reviewer actively disliking a bottle served in good condition. It doesn't appeal to my particular tastes in terms of hop selection, but I have to concede it's well executed for the hops they chose and I'll enjoy finishing the bottle I bought. There's room for improvement in terms of the usual factors...it could be more intricate, could boast more subtlety, and could have still more vivid more expressive flavours that come together into a more cohesive and interesting gestalt harmonious whole of a beer, but nitpicks aside it's well worth trying once.
B- (3.45) / WORTHY
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4.24/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a very lightly hazy pale orange in color with a finger of bone white head. Aroma has a bit of pine, grapefruit, and indistinct tropical fruits. Taste has a bit more of a focus on the still indistinct tropical fruits but I get definite grapefruit and pine in the finish. Medium body and moderate+ carbonation. Overall a tasty beer that I definitely enjoyed.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a very lightly hazy pale orange in color with a finger of bone white head. Aroma has a bit of pine, grapefruit, and indistinct tropical fruits. Taste has a bit more of a focus on the still indistinct tropical fruits but I get definite grapefruit and pine in the finish. Medium body and moderate+ carbonation. Overall a tasty beer that I definitely enjoyed.
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4.11/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle Date: 9/27/16
Palate Contaminants: sweets an hour before
Appearance is a clear gold, shading a little toward the darker end. Nice amount of fine head.
The smell is honey and sweet fruit, mostly candied orange and pineapple. Maybe a little sweet banana, too. Slight maltiness. It's not notably complex, but it is really good.
There's less of the fruit flavors in the taste, mostly the orange hanging on, but it's not as sweet. (A sip of water does bring it all back, though.) Most of the taste is soda bread and nondescript hoppy bitterness. I can see how some folks might get light woods out of it, but they're barely there for me.
The feel is moderate carbonation with a bit of prickliness. Not much more than bitterness in the aftertaste.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle Date: 9/27/16
Palate Contaminants: sweets an hour before
Appearance is a clear gold, shading a little toward the darker end. Nice amount of fine head.
The smell is honey and sweet fruit, mostly candied orange and pineapple. Maybe a little sweet banana, too. Slight maltiness. It's not notably complex, but it is really good.
There's less of the fruit flavors in the taste, mostly the orange hanging on, but it's not as sweet. (A sip of water does bring it all back, though.) Most of the taste is soda bread and nondescript hoppy bitterness. I can see how some folks might get light woods out of it, but they're barely there for me.
The feel is moderate carbonation with a bit of prickliness. Not much more than bitterness in the aftertaste.
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4.85/5 rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Wow.... this one's special. Finally got my hands on it. A little under a month old.
I'm not sure how to describe the body other than... soft. So delicate. So velvety.
The flavor is so powerfully floral. Literally fresh flowers. A little sour streak somewhere in the middle that's not just citrusy, but freshly sqeezed lemon juice.
I must admit that I was so wrapped up in these aspects that the smell, look, and malt character were lost to me. It was literally too much to take in one go. I guess I have to have it again!
Fantastic job Maine Beer Company. The hype is very real. There was a certain delicacy and sophistication I haven't had in another beer before. My eyes and ears will be peeled for anything else from this brewery.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Wow.... this one's special. Finally got my hands on it. A little under a month old.
I'm not sure how to describe the body other than... soft. So delicate. So velvety.
The flavor is so powerfully floral. Literally fresh flowers. A little sour streak somewhere in the middle that's not just citrusy, but freshly sqeezed lemon juice.
I must admit that I was so wrapped up in these aspects that the smell, look, and malt character were lost to me. It was literally too much to take in one go. I guess I have to have it again!
Fantastic job Maine Beer Company. The hype is very real. There was a certain delicacy and sophistication I haven't had in another beer before. My eyes and ears will be peeled for anything else from this brewery.
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4.91/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Poured from a bottle into a snifter. Bottled on 9/27/16.
A: Pours a slightly hazy, golden-orange color with a 1.5 inch, foamy, white head with good retention. Thick billowy white lacing throughout.
S: Strong aromas of orange, tangerine, and grapefruit accompanied by tropical fruit notes of pineapple, mango, melons and passionfruit. Slight notes of piney hops.
T: Huge notes of orange, grapefruit, ripe pineapple, and melons. Sweet and cracker malts. Nice piney and resiny hop bitterness as well.
F: Medium bodied, somewhat juicy, smooth, and crisp with good carbonation. Slightly dry.
O: Overall, a great IPA. Definitely one of my favorites to date. Well renowned for a reason. Juicy and fruity, but well balanced with nice hop bitterness. Would definitely seek this out again.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Poured from a bottle into a snifter. Bottled on 9/27/16.
A: Pours a slightly hazy, golden-orange color with a 1.5 inch, foamy, white head with good retention. Thick billowy white lacing throughout.
S: Strong aromas of orange, tangerine, and grapefruit accompanied by tropical fruit notes of pineapple, mango, melons and passionfruit. Slight notes of piney hops.
T: Huge notes of orange, grapefruit, ripe pineapple, and melons. Sweet and cracker malts. Nice piney and resiny hop bitterness as well.
F: Medium bodied, somewhat juicy, smooth, and crisp with good carbonation. Slightly dry.
O: Overall, a great IPA. Definitely one of my favorites to date. Well renowned for a reason. Juicy and fruity, but well balanced with nice hop bitterness. Would definitely seek this out again.
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4.73/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I haven't had the opprotunity to try Dinner yet but this is amazing. Gorgeous golden hue, smells of citrus, c-hops, resinous sap. Taste is very tangelo-esque, words don't do it justice. Only found it in Boston thrice this year and each time was an experience. Cheers to MBC!
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look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I haven't had the opprotunity to try Dinner yet but this is amazing. Gorgeous golden hue, smells of citrus, c-hops, resinous sap. Taste is very tangelo-esque, words don't do it justice. Only found it in Boston thrice this year and each time was an experience. Cheers to MBC!
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4.71/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
On tap at backcountry pizza in Boulder, the week following GABF at an epic IPA throw down. Been waiting to try this beer for years, and it met my expectations. Great aroma with a crisp hop kick that isn't overly bitter. Still can't believe this was on tap in CO. Well done backcountry! Well done Maine brewing!
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
On tap at backcountry pizza in Boulder, the week following GABF at an epic IPA throw down. Been waiting to try this beer for years, and it met my expectations. Great aroma with a crisp hop kick that isn't overly bitter. Still can't believe this was on tap in CO. Well done backcountry! Well done Maine brewing!
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5/5 rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
FINALLY got to a restaurant that has it! Found it a bunch of times but was never able to get to it for one reason or another. Worth the wait! Very delicious! Will continue to seek out!
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
FINALLY got to a restaurant that has it! Found it a bunch of times but was never able to get to it for one reason or another. Worth the wait! Very delicious! Will continue to seek out!
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4.69/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Great simple label on the bottle with apt description of the beer and brewery ethos on the back. Nothing flashy, just straight up confidence and no bullshit. Beer pours slightly hazy golden yellow with rocky white head and plenty of lacing. Aromas of lemon, citrus, papaya, cantaloupe and juicy melon. Flavor is plenty of hop character as in the nose. Finishes with firm bitterness. Refreshing and very drinkable. Overall, a very awesome IPA from a brewery I've never had but have heard plenty about. Will be looking for a lot more from these guys.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Great simple label on the bottle with apt description of the beer and brewery ethos on the back. Nothing flashy, just straight up confidence and no bullshit. Beer pours slightly hazy golden yellow with rocky white head and plenty of lacing. Aromas of lemon, citrus, papaya, cantaloupe and juicy melon. Flavor is plenty of hop character as in the nose. Finishes with firm bitterness. Refreshing and very drinkable. Overall, a very awesome IPA from a brewery I've never had but have heard plenty about. Will be looking for a lot more from these guys.
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Lunch from Maine Beer Company
4.33
out of 5
based on 5,123 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
A 16.9 oz bottle (date was unreadable) poured into a tulip.
Appearance- A nice hazy yellow-orange. Very fluffy head, at least two fingers. Lacing down the entire glass.
Smell- Wow. A floral type scent with grapefruit, citrus and tropical fruit notes. A near perfect blend
Taste- This was a little deceptive compared to the smell. A nice citrus base with a great blend of hops. The floral-type smell was much less present in the taste. It was a sweet but not the juice bombs so many NE IPAs have.
Mouthfeel- Medium carbonation with a light wet finish. Very pleasant.
Overall- Definitely not your typical NE IPA or West Coast. Each drink left me wanting more. I was only able to get one of these and would love to get my hands on a few more.
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