Weez
Maine Beer Company
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- American Black Ale
- ABV:
- 7.2%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 3.97 | pDev: 9.82%
- Reviews:
- 160
- Ratings:
- From:
- Maine Beer Company
- Maine, United States
- Avail:
- Retired (no longer brewed)
- Wants
- 28
- Gots
- 214
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
Notes:
Hoppy and roasty American IPA, brewed as the dark-colored counterpart to Another One (both beers incorporate the exact same kettle and dry hopping schedule). Weez presents a blend of hoppy and roasty notes on the nose, followed by hoppy resins on the tongue, and finishes with a deep roast.
Reviews: 160
| Ratings: 1,037
4/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The appearance has a dark brown close to black colored body with a decent two fingered white to off-white close to tan head that lasts for a good minute and a half. One ring of foam does appear but ends up sliding down into the beer. The smell has a nice earthy and smoky and roasted bitterness in the front through the coffee, however, there’s a nice pungent aroma of the citrus hops trying to come through, decent malty background. The taste is mainly bitter through the hops and the coffee reacting and overtaking the malt presence that tried to come through in the smell. It has a somewhat dry and bitter coffee aftertaste and finish. The palate is light - almost but more likely closer to a medium sort of body, comes off as its trying to be sessionable. Carbonation comes across like a good American Black Ale should. Overall, for the most part, I like it, but I think I’d rather look for some other Black Ales before this.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The appearance has a dark brown close to black colored body with a decent two fingered white to off-white close to tan head that lasts for a good minute and a half. One ring of foam does appear but ends up sliding down into the beer. The smell has a nice earthy and smoky and roasted bitterness in the front through the coffee, however, there’s a nice pungent aroma of the citrus hops trying to come through, decent malty background. The taste is mainly bitter through the hops and the coffee reacting and overtaking the malt presence that tried to come through in the smell. It has a somewhat dry and bitter coffee aftertaste and finish. The palate is light - almost but more likely closer to a medium sort of body, comes off as its trying to be sessionable. Carbonation comes across like a good American Black Ale should. Overall, for the most part, I like it, but I think I’d rather look for some other Black Ales before this.
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3.92/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
**
01/06/2017
Bottle to tulip glass. "Hoppy Beers don't age well" be damned. After recently purchasing, I realized the bottling date was 03/10/15, and the label says drink within 90 days. Oh well, but while preparing for disaster, I quickly realized this was still a good beer and maybe better than fresh, at least in my eyes.
LOOK: dark black, small tan head that fades to lacing.
AROMA: Fighting a cold, so maybe just not getting everything. Nice toasty aroma, not strong but nice. Roasted malt with May be a touch of coffee.
TASTE: buttered pumpernickel toast, coffee, hint of lemon zest (maybe leftover from the faded hops). Like an espresso Romano.
FEEL: Medium bodied, just enough carbonation to give it some life.
Very nice. I'd like to try fresh someday, but I think I'd be equally happy with a year old bottle or older.
**
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
**
01/06/2017
Bottle to tulip glass. "Hoppy Beers don't age well" be damned. After recently purchasing, I realized the bottling date was 03/10/15, and the label says drink within 90 days. Oh well, but while preparing for disaster, I quickly realized this was still a good beer and maybe better than fresh, at least in my eyes.
LOOK: dark black, small tan head that fades to lacing.
AROMA: Fighting a cold, so maybe just not getting everything. Nice toasty aroma, not strong but nice. Roasted malt with May be a touch of coffee.
TASTE: buttered pumpernickel toast, coffee, hint of lemon zest (maybe leftover from the faded hops). Like an espresso Romano.
FEEL: Medium bodied, just enough carbonation to give it some life.
Very nice. I'd like to try fresh someday, but I think I'd be equally happy with a year old bottle or older.
**
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3.96/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jet black with a prolific tan froth. Smells of caramel and faint herbal hops. Tastes of slightly toasted malt and more caramel which is quickly covered by a thin layer of herbal hops and finishing with discreet notes dark chocolate. Light in body and dry for the most part. Simple yet good.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jet black with a prolific tan froth. Smells of caramel and faint herbal hops. Tastes of slightly toasted malt and more caramel which is quickly covered by a thin layer of herbal hops and finishing with discreet notes dark chocolate. Light in body and dry for the most part. Simple yet good.
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4.34/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The deep color of Coca Cola syrup, this black ale has a malty chocolate aroma. Each sip is layered with light sweetness, back-of-the-palate bitterness from coffee and cocoa pod flavors, married to roasted hops and charred wood. Medium head and rich lacing. Dry finish, nice overall balance. A drinkable and even black ale, very tasty, but not necessarily a must-try in its appeal.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The deep color of Coca Cola syrup, this black ale has a malty chocolate aroma. Each sip is layered with light sweetness, back-of-the-palate bitterness from coffee and cocoa pod flavors, married to roasted hops and charred wood. Medium head and rich lacing. Dry finish, nice overall balance. A drinkable and even black ale, very tasty, but not necessarily a must-try in its appeal.
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4/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16.9oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Pitch black with a one-finger head
S: Loaded with roasted malt/grains, cocoa/coffee and some generic bitter hop notes
T: Matches the nose. Bold roasted/toasted malts and grain up front, a coffee/cocoa midpalate and a slightly bitter finish
M: Full-bodied but from the toast not alcohol; moderately bitter
O: A well made and enjoyable black IPA
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16.9oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Pitch black with a one-finger head
S: Loaded with roasted malt/grains, cocoa/coffee and some generic bitter hop notes
T: Matches the nose. Bold roasted/toasted malts and grain up front, a coffee/cocoa midpalate and a slightly bitter finish
M: Full-bodied but from the toast not alcohol; moderately bitter
O: A well made and enjoyable black IPA
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4.26/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Basically your textbook black India ale, nice roasty notes, citrusy grapefruit hops, but then it pulls back to the Bullshit
I'd eat these hops. I don't see a problem with not always immediately having a plan
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Basically your textbook black India ale, nice roasty notes, citrusy grapefruit hops, but then it pulls back to the Bullshit
I'd eat these hops. I don't see a problem with not always immediately having a plan
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3.97/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Love the dark look. Very nice roasty and malty character. Of course it's very balanced, clean and smooth. Lot of piney tropical hops to balance the roast though.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Love the dark look. Very nice roasty and malty character. Of course it's very balanced, clean and smooth. Lot of piney tropical hops to balance the roast though.
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4.44/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016-05-14
16.9oz bottle served in a large snifter. 032916 28 is the bottle code. Bought it in Chicago and flew it home.
Pours black with a big brown head. Head fades 3/4 moderately fast and then stalls, leaving a lumpy thick sheet with heavy lacing. Lots of fine carbonation. This is a pretty beer. Smell is roasty, piney, tropical, something clean and fresh (almost minty?) about it.
Taste is heavy roast bitterness, moderate coffee flavor, strong bitter piney finish.
Mouthfeel is dry and resinous. Overall, I really like this beer.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016-05-14
16.9oz bottle served in a large snifter. 032916 28 is the bottle code. Bought it in Chicago and flew it home.
Pours black with a big brown head. Head fades 3/4 moderately fast and then stalls, leaving a lumpy thick sheet with heavy lacing. Lots of fine carbonation. This is a pretty beer. Smell is roasty, piney, tropical, something clean and fresh (almost minty?) about it.
Taste is heavy roast bitterness, moderate coffee flavor, strong bitter piney finish.
Mouthfeel is dry and resinous. Overall, I really like this beer.
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4.19/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle dated 1/19/16. Poured into pint glass- dark black color with one finger head. Chocolate is most evident. Bitter chocolates, coffee and roasted malts on palate. Medium body, creamy - more of an ale feel than an IPA. I would drink this one again.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle dated 1/19/16. Poured into pint glass- dark black color with one finger head. Chocolate is most evident. Bitter chocolates, coffee and roasted malts on palate. Medium body, creamy - more of an ale feel than an IPA. I would drink this one again.
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4.04/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Service: Bottle
Bottled on: Mar-29-2016
A:
Pours an opaque coke brown with two and a half fingers of thick, doughy tan head. Good retention; thin rings of lacing. (4.25)
S:
Hopped maple cream coffee. Mud, coffee grounds, baker's chocolate, herbal green hop background. (4)
T:
Rustic chocolate forest floor. Woody, grassy, muddy, mossy, coffee, chocolate, cream, mineraly water, shimmering herbal hop resin in the background throughout. (4)
M:
Medium body, light-medium carbonation, velvety feel with a slick finish and cocoa aftertaste with a little hoppy astringency. (4.25)
O:
Lush Black Ale.
This is a beauty of a beer that walks a fine line of subtlety and balances its hops and malts very well. Pours lovely with a earthy mocha aroma. The flavor is earthy with a lot of lush, dirty, green, and chocolate flavors melding together. The malts definitely are the main push here (as far as variety), but it is a pretty close call, the hops do a nice job of being the backbone and giving a dry finish.
Drinkable and enjoyable. Would have again. (4)
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Service: Bottle
Bottled on: Mar-29-2016
A:
Pours an opaque coke brown with two and a half fingers of thick, doughy tan head. Good retention; thin rings of lacing. (4.25)
S:
Hopped maple cream coffee. Mud, coffee grounds, baker's chocolate, herbal green hop background. (4)
T:
Rustic chocolate forest floor. Woody, grassy, muddy, mossy, coffee, chocolate, cream, mineraly water, shimmering herbal hop resin in the background throughout. (4)
M:
Medium body, light-medium carbonation, velvety feel with a slick finish and cocoa aftertaste with a little hoppy astringency. (4.25)
O:
Lush Black Ale.
This is a beauty of a beer that walks a fine line of subtlety and balances its hops and malts very well. Pours lovely with a earthy mocha aroma. The flavor is earthy with a lot of lush, dirty, green, and chocolate flavors melding together. The malts definitely are the main push here (as far as variety), but it is a pretty close call, the hops do a nice job of being the backbone and giving a dry finish.
Drinkable and enjoyable. Would have again. (4)
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4.4/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours out a very dark brown that looks almost completely black in the glass, with a huge, fluffy light brown head.
The nose is a pleasant mixture of roasty, dank, and slightly fruity. You get dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and burnt toast, complimented by black licorice, plum, raisin, pine needles, and grapefruit peel.
The taste is nicely balanced. You get red grapefruit and orange peel that brightens bitter cocoa and burnt toast. On the finish you get more lingering bitter dark chocolate and black coffee, and then a lingering aftertaste of pine sap and grapefruit pith.
The texture is smooth, lightly carbonated, medium-plus, creamy up front. Turns watery on the finish, but dries out nicely.
A very nicely done black IPA that highlights the roasted malts. A good beer worth buying.
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look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours out a very dark brown that looks almost completely black in the glass, with a huge, fluffy light brown head.
The nose is a pleasant mixture of roasty, dank, and slightly fruity. You get dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and burnt toast, complimented by black licorice, plum, raisin, pine needles, and grapefruit peel.
The taste is nicely balanced. You get red grapefruit and orange peel that brightens bitter cocoa and burnt toast. On the finish you get more lingering bitter dark chocolate and black coffee, and then a lingering aftertaste of pine sap and grapefruit pith.
The texture is smooth, lightly carbonated, medium-plus, creamy up front. Turns watery on the finish, but dries out nicely.
A very nicely done black IPA that highlights the roasted malts. A good beer worth buying.
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4.35/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: [4.75] Looks jet black in the glass. Forms a full 2 fingers of dense khaki head. The head looks impenetrable. It recedes really slowly and leaves sticky arcs of lacing all over the glass. The bottle lists the ABV at (7.2%) and there is a born on date (03/01/16).
S: [4.00] Peppery, grass, smoke, slight char, bitter chocolate. Nice all around smell.
T: [4.50] Immediate chocolate. Bittersweet chocolate across the palate. This leads into the hops. They present as mild grassy notes, pepper, and smokey bitterness. This is a fantastic combination of awesome.
M: [4.00] Carbonation is lower and the body is slick and slightly sticky. The finish is dry from the bittering of the hops.
O: [4.50] I love this beer. I am a fan of Black IPAs but this is the most impressed I have been with one since Southern Tier Iniquity ceased production. The chocolate flavor right out of the gate is amazing. Then it is followed by an array of hoppy flavors that all work in concert. I am really impressed by this beer.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: [4.75] Looks jet black in the glass. Forms a full 2 fingers of dense khaki head. The head looks impenetrable. It recedes really slowly and leaves sticky arcs of lacing all over the glass. The bottle lists the ABV at (7.2%) and there is a born on date (03/01/16).
S: [4.00] Peppery, grass, smoke, slight char, bitter chocolate. Nice all around smell.
T: [4.50] Immediate chocolate. Bittersweet chocolate across the palate. This leads into the hops. They present as mild grassy notes, pepper, and smokey bitterness. This is a fantastic combination of awesome.
M: [4.00] Carbonation is lower and the body is slick and slightly sticky. The finish is dry from the bittering of the hops.
O: [4.50] I love this beer. I am a fan of Black IPAs but this is the most impressed I have been with one since Southern Tier Iniquity ceased production. The chocolate flavor right out of the gate is amazing. Then it is followed by an array of hoppy flavors that all work in concert. I am really impressed by this beer.
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4.13/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark brown, nearly black, with a slight red/mahogany tinge. Big foamy coffee color head that gives way to a creamy and sticky lace. Looks like a porter or stout.
What first struck me about the aroma was the hops; earthy, slightly pungent, and IPA like dankness. Later, the roasted malts made their presence known, providing a coffee and chocolate like essence. It was a nice balance between the two. I loved sniffing on this one.
It was smooth and creamy on the mouth. The body fulling but easy to drink. A great balance between roasted malt and hops. Some sweetness on the tongue and slight bitterness in the finish. Hints of grapefruit.
This was an interesting brew that felt like a cross between IPA and stout. I really liked it.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark brown, nearly black, with a slight red/mahogany tinge. Big foamy coffee color head that gives way to a creamy and sticky lace. Looks like a porter or stout.
What first struck me about the aroma was the hops; earthy, slightly pungent, and IPA like dankness. Later, the roasted malts made their presence known, providing a coffee and chocolate like essence. It was a nice balance between the two. I loved sniffing on this one.
It was smooth and creamy on the mouth. The body fulling but easy to drink. A great balance between roasted malt and hops. Some sweetness on the tongue and slight bitterness in the finish. Hints of grapefruit.
This was an interesting brew that felt like a cross between IPA and stout. I really liked it.
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4.34/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Finally got around to having this beer after having it in my basement for the last few months. Date of 1/19 on it, which wasn't too long before I picked it up in New York City. All of Maine's other offerings have been great and this might have been the best of the bunch that I've been lucky enough to have so far. Full-flavored, full-bodied, and smooth, this was a Black Ale that felt like a black IPA from start to finish, while hiding the alcohol quite well!
Of course, the pour was dark to this but not quite black,as the dark brown hue of this was cloudy as a bit of light streamed in around the edges. Nice tan head to this and great lacing that covered more than half of the pint glass as I made my way through this. Lots of chocolate, cocoa, and raisin in the nose with even more in the taste. Tons of bread in the malt with a grainy mouthfeel and dark fruits underneath really gave this a great flavor profile while making this feel a bit like a Belgian beer. Not a strong roasted tone to this as the chocolate and fruits stood out more without coming across as terribly boozy. Piney hops and some resin could be found underneath everything as the coating left behind gave this the feel of a subtle, but mildly potent IPA.
The alcohol was perfect here as I could feel a slight warming throughout my enjoyment of this but never felt like I could taste or feel alcohol on my breath. Not as roasted as a Porter, this was properly categorized and quite possibly the best example of this style that I've ever had. Props to Maine for brewing tasty brews that sneak up on you from behind and quickly grow to be some of your favorites. The dry-hopping was so evident here as the bitterness took a while to be felt but never did this feel dry or strong on the tongue. Wonderfully balanced and probably the first beer I'd reach for again if I were to find all of their offerings on the shelf here!
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Finally got around to having this beer after having it in my basement for the last few months. Date of 1/19 on it, which wasn't too long before I picked it up in New York City. All of Maine's other offerings have been great and this might have been the best of the bunch that I've been lucky enough to have so far. Full-flavored, full-bodied, and smooth, this was a Black Ale that felt like a black IPA from start to finish, while hiding the alcohol quite well!
Of course, the pour was dark to this but not quite black,as the dark brown hue of this was cloudy as a bit of light streamed in around the edges. Nice tan head to this and great lacing that covered more than half of the pint glass as I made my way through this. Lots of chocolate, cocoa, and raisin in the nose with even more in the taste. Tons of bread in the malt with a grainy mouthfeel and dark fruits underneath really gave this a great flavor profile while making this feel a bit like a Belgian beer. Not a strong roasted tone to this as the chocolate and fruits stood out more without coming across as terribly boozy. Piney hops and some resin could be found underneath everything as the coating left behind gave this the feel of a subtle, but mildly potent IPA.
The alcohol was perfect here as I could feel a slight warming throughout my enjoyment of this but never felt like I could taste or feel alcohol on my breath. Not as roasted as a Porter, this was properly categorized and quite possibly the best example of this style that I've ever had. Props to Maine for brewing tasty brews that sneak up on you from behind and quickly grow to be some of your favorites. The dry-hopping was so evident here as the bitterness took a while to be felt but never did this feel dry or strong on the tongue. Wonderfully balanced and probably the first beer I'd reach for again if I were to find all of their offerings on the shelf here!
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4.37/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
very good black ale but the awesome hops make it more hop forward and I feel the slightly imbalanced from the malts stand point. nonetheless, a very flavorful and delicious brew.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
very good black ale but the awesome hops make it more hop forward and I feel the slightly imbalanced from the malts stand point. nonetheless, a very flavorful and delicious brew.
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4.25/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 1/19/16
Passed up for years because I couldn't find one less than 3 months old.
Pitch black with nice head.
Smells of toasted malt and faint hops.
Tastes roasty upfront and then the hops come through in the end.
Very good black IPA.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 1/19/16
Passed up for years because I couldn't find one less than 3 months old.
Pitch black with nice head.
Smells of toasted malt and faint hops.
Tastes roasty upfront and then the hops come through in the end.
Very good black IPA.
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4.08/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle dated January 18, 2016 poured into Belgian ale glass. Always nice to get a fresh Maine Beer Company offering down here.
L: Very dark brown with big 3+ finger foamy head with strong retention, leaving lacing and a cap.
S: Dark roasted coffee and malt.
T: Largely follows nose, with an added sticky hoppy character. Roasty finish. Little alcohol taste.
F: Pretty well-balanced. Light to medium body and carbonation. Long finish.
O: Quite tasty. Not my favorite style, but it's good.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle dated January 18, 2016 poured into Belgian ale glass. Always nice to get a fresh Maine Beer Company offering down here.
L: Very dark brown with big 3+ finger foamy head with strong retention, leaving lacing and a cap.
S: Dark roasted coffee and malt.
T: Largely follows nose, with an added sticky hoppy character. Roasty finish. Little alcohol taste.
F: Pretty well-balanced. Light to medium body and carbonation. Long finish.
O: Quite tasty. Not my favorite style, but it's good.
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4.55/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Bottled on 01/19/16
Pours black with a fluffy creamy tan head. Smells like papaya and bright tropical fruit with some pine, dark caramel, and a big balanced coffee roast. Taste is dark and roasty up front, with the tropical fruits and pine coming through at the same time as the bitter dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Feels medium bodied, thick and creamy with low carbonation. Overall a really good black IPA.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Bottled on 01/19/16
Pours black with a fluffy creamy tan head. Smells like papaya and bright tropical fruit with some pine, dark caramel, and a big balanced coffee roast. Taste is dark and roasty up front, with the tropical fruits and pine coming through at the same time as the bitter dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Feels medium bodied, thick and creamy with low carbonation. Overall a really good black IPA.
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4.15/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From a pint-plus bottle, dated 011916, served in a tulip.
L: Pours deep black with barely a caramel highlight and a big billowing mocha head. Excellent retention and thick, sticky lacing.
S: Smells of yeast and rum, raisins, tropical fruits, tobacco and flowery spices.
T: Toasted malts, bitter coffee, and smoky dried fruit, tobacco and spruce, funky, earthy, with a long lingering bitter finish.
F: Moderate-to-light bodied and carbonated, resinous and mouth-coating.
Overall, a mighty tasty, well balanced beverage.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From a pint-plus bottle, dated 011916, served in a tulip.
L: Pours deep black with barely a caramel highlight and a big billowing mocha head. Excellent retention and thick, sticky lacing.
S: Smells of yeast and rum, raisins, tropical fruits, tobacco and flowery spices.
T: Toasted malts, bitter coffee, and smoky dried fruit, tobacco and spruce, funky, earthy, with a long lingering bitter finish.
F: Moderate-to-light bodied and carbonated, resinous and mouth-coating.
Overall, a mighty tasty, well balanced beverage.
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4.18/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured into tulip glass. It pours jet black with a two-finger, frothy khaki-colored head and extensive lacing that did not dissipate . It's a very attractive pour. It smells of dark roasted malt, burnt coffee, and hoppy pine. The taste is a really nice blend of roasted, earthy malt , peat, burnt coffee grounds, bitter hops, and a hint of citrus. This ale is medium in body, moderate in carbonation, and 7.2% is the perfect ABV of a beer of this style. It's much more substantial than a session ale but it's light enough to have a couple of glasses. This ale would pare well with a hamburger or roasted meat but it's fine for casual drinking, as well. A very well crafted Black Ale from an excellent brewer!
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured into tulip glass. It pours jet black with a two-finger, frothy khaki-colored head and extensive lacing that did not dissipate . It's a very attractive pour. It smells of dark roasted malt, burnt coffee, and hoppy pine. The taste is a really nice blend of roasted, earthy malt , peat, burnt coffee grounds, bitter hops, and a hint of citrus. This ale is medium in body, moderate in carbonation, and 7.2% is the perfect ABV of a beer of this style. It's much more substantial than a session ale but it's light enough to have a couple of glasses. This ale would pare well with a hamburger or roasted meat but it's fine for casual drinking, as well. A very well crafted Black Ale from an excellent brewer!
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4.03/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The roasted counterpart to Another One, which happens to be my very favorite Maine beer. In that regard this one had a lot to live up to. I'm not generally a fan of black IPAs but this is damn good for the style.
Big roasted malt aroma. Very light coffee hit as well. There's something earthy here as well. Not like a Brett funk or anything, more like straight up earth or mushrooms or something. Can't pin it down. Like when you open a package of portabellas and they still have some soil on the caps. This is a beer that makes me hungry for some savory food.
Bitter more in the finish than up front. But still plenty easy to drink. In fact the slight hit of bitterness on each sip makes me want to take another to quench it. Hallmark of a well constructed beer, in my estimation.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The roasted counterpart to Another One, which happens to be my very favorite Maine beer. In that regard this one had a lot to live up to. I'm not generally a fan of black IPAs but this is damn good for the style.
Big roasted malt aroma. Very light coffee hit as well. There's something earthy here as well. Not like a Brett funk or anything, more like straight up earth or mushrooms or something. Can't pin it down. Like when you open a package of portabellas and they still have some soil on the caps. This is a beer that makes me hungry for some savory food.
Bitter more in the finish than up front. But still plenty easy to drink. In fact the slight hit of bitterness on each sip makes me want to take another to quench it. Hallmark of a well constructed beer, in my estimation.
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3.56/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Ok dark beer. I'm not a huge dark beer fan, but it's ok. It's an ale with the malt flavor. I would drink again if it's there, but wouldn't go out of my way.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Ok dark beer. I'm not a huge dark beer fan, but it's ok. It's an ale with the malt flavor. I would drink again if it's there, but wouldn't go out of my way.
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3.71/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: Pitch black/opaque with light brown head that lasted half the pour
S: Roasty notes predominate with hint of the hop bite
T: Toasted malts all up front but really satisfying hop bite on the back end. Integrated.
F: What I expected--looks like motor oil and goes down like a light porter.
O: Impressed--hoppy porter/"black IPA" not my thing but really loved this one. Better than Lag Nighttime which was my favorite of that style before.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: Pitch black/opaque with light brown head that lasted half the pour
S: Roasty notes predominate with hint of the hop bite
T: Toasted malts all up front but really satisfying hop bite on the back end. Integrated.
F: What I expected--looks like motor oil and goes down like a light porter.
O: Impressed--hoppy porter/"black IPA" not my thing but really loved this one. Better than Lag Nighttime which was my favorite of that style before.
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4.29/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From a 16.9 oz. bottle dated 11/3/15, so just a week old. Pours a stout-like black, with a dense 2-finger head that leaves thick lacing. Head never completely dissipates. The smell is an incredibly fresh blast of pine and grapefruit, with just a hint of subtle roasty notes poking through. Smells great. The taste is similar, with citrus and pine, then a progression into the rather subtle roasted/coffee notes that linger into the finish, which also brings back some bitter hop flavor that is slightly drying. Finish lingers nicely.
The feel is great for an IPA, medium-bodied and not at all watery, but any beer with roasted stout flavors is going to seem thin with this body, at least to me. This is honestly one of the reasons I've never really taken to this style of black IPAs--they always seem like they can't decide if they're an IPA or a stout, and the flavors are battling it out. This is the first example that completely avoids this, with a wonderfully harmonious combination of the IPA with the subtle dark aspects, along with a perfectly logical progression of flavors.
A wonderful beer that I'm thoroughly enjoying. Great to have it so fresh as well.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From a 16.9 oz. bottle dated 11/3/15, so just a week old. Pours a stout-like black, with a dense 2-finger head that leaves thick lacing. Head never completely dissipates. The smell is an incredibly fresh blast of pine and grapefruit, with just a hint of subtle roasty notes poking through. Smells great. The taste is similar, with citrus and pine, then a progression into the rather subtle roasted/coffee notes that linger into the finish, which also brings back some bitter hop flavor that is slightly drying. Finish lingers nicely.
The feel is great for an IPA, medium-bodied and not at all watery, but any beer with roasted stout flavors is going to seem thin with this body, at least to me. This is honestly one of the reasons I've never really taken to this style of black IPAs--they always seem like they can't decide if they're an IPA or a stout, and the flavors are battling it out. This is the first example that completely avoids this, with a wonderfully harmonious combination of the IPA with the subtle dark aspects, along with a perfectly logical progression of flavors.
A wonderful beer that I'm thoroughly enjoying. Great to have it so fresh as well.
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3.91/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
32oz growler into a Sam Adams perfect pint.
A: Pours a delightfully-opaque black with deep-brown lurking around the farthest edges of my glass. 1 1/2" khaki head that recedes at a moderate pace. Lacing & retention are stellar. This is a really, really ridiculously good-looking brew :-)
S: Roasty malt notes tempered by pretty noticeable bittering hops. Caramel & black coffee. toffee. Very muted pitted fruit notes, plum mostly. Maybe traces of vanilla. There's a lot going on here, but none of it is terribly assertive.
T: Very similar to the nose. Comes on with a pleasant malt roast, again tempered by hops, to give off a black coffee vibe. Mid palate is just off-sweet with traces of dark, pitted fruit & vanilla. On the finish, I detect black cherry before the hop character once again comes into full-swing. Finishes with burnt-toast & hop-bitterness that lingers.
M: Moderate carb married to a shockingly light, thin body. A bit soapy. Not quite beefy enough for all the flavors going on here.
O: I'm pretty doggone impressed. Another great brew from MBC.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
32oz growler into a Sam Adams perfect pint.
A: Pours a delightfully-opaque black with deep-brown lurking around the farthest edges of my glass. 1 1/2" khaki head that recedes at a moderate pace. Lacing & retention are stellar. This is a really, really ridiculously good-looking brew :-)
S: Roasty malt notes tempered by pretty noticeable bittering hops. Caramel & black coffee. toffee. Very muted pitted fruit notes, plum mostly. Maybe traces of vanilla. There's a lot going on here, but none of it is terribly assertive.
T: Very similar to the nose. Comes on with a pleasant malt roast, again tempered by hops, to give off a black coffee vibe. Mid palate is just off-sweet with traces of dark, pitted fruit & vanilla. On the finish, I detect black cherry before the hop character once again comes into full-swing. Finishes with burnt-toast & hop-bitterness that lingers.
M: Moderate carb married to a shockingly light, thin body. A bit soapy. Not quite beefy enough for all the flavors going on here.
O: I'm pretty doggone impressed. Another great brew from MBC.
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Weez from Maine Beer Company
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
1037 ratings
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