Steady the Sea
Bear Island Brewing Company

Crowler from brewery. Dark, dark amber, but clear, spotty beige head. Aroma is toasty malts, faint sweet notes. Taste comes across thin, watery, then sweet elements, light roadt and mild bitterness. Not much different from the brown ale I just rated.

honestly this is fabulous, another cool beer from these folks in an unexpected style, they nailed this, true by any measure, but also their own thing, i love how light and dry it is, but it also somehow channels some of the deepest grains out there and has european flare, is assuredly a lager, and just drinks with high interest on each sip, a full on triumph. this is dark but not overly so, roasty but not bitter, chocolate forward but dry, dusty and classic but also still yeast forward too in the right way, drinkable but savor worthy, rare. i get faint smoke from this, winter spices, bread crusts and yeasts and charry bits, it loved fried artichoke tacos as much as i did, and it stands as another clever and even sensational offering from bear island, who somehow still is under the radar but always slays. textbook in terms of style parameters, but also distinguishable from others, i was super impressed by and stoked on this, and hope it gets the love and attention it deserves. the best locally made example of the style i have had, hands down. boom!

On tap at the source; served in a pint nonic; dark brown/amber with gold showing through on the edges, excellent off-white head with retention and lots of lacing; malty smack of caramel and nuttyness; light smokyness; faint impression of cold coffee and even vanilla; smooth, creamy body accentuates a present but subdued sweetness, with a bit of an herbal hoppy bite to off-set. A good dark lager.