Maine State of Mind
Norway Brewing Company

Courtesy of Norway Brewing.

Disclaimer: I often receive free samples for work, to decide whether or not to bring a beer into the shop's inventory. While these free beers are welcome and appreciated, they do not in any way, shape, or form affect my overall opinions or reviews, which will always be delivered in a fair and unbiased manner.

Maine State Of Mind - Maine grown pilsner. 4.5% alc/vol. Malts and hops sourced from Maine Malthouse, and Maine's - The Hop Yard.

Pint can - dated 11/24/2019 - poured into a poll at 44F.

Pours an unfiltered clear straw golden, slightly darker than a typical AAL, topped two short fingers of webby white head with moderate retention. Some sparse lacing is left behind. Plentiful visible effervescence, though I'd like to see a bit more.

Nose: Definitely a new age, hoppy pils. The malt comes across a bit strong, much more like a pale malt with a little bit of wheat. Overall aroma is much closer to an Anerican Pale or a session IPA, rather than a pilsener.

Palate: Much like the aroma, the flavour follows suit with a fairly hoppy delivery. Same with the malt base. It seems a bit malty for a pilsener, though I do get some of that pilsener graininess underneath. A gentle malted grain sweetness kicks it off, and then thr hops become apparent. It isn't so hoppy that it becomes bitter or resinous up front, but there's a ton of grassy, floral, and spicy hop flavours that set the overall tone. There's some light citrus in the mix, as well as a green, leafy hop thing going on. Spicy and grassy. The finish is dry, clean, just a touch resinous, with dry, earthy, grassy, and spicy hop essence lingering on.

Mouthfeel/Body: The beer is ultimately light bodied, as a pilsener should be. It isn't water or weak by any stretch, as the malt they used definitely prevents that from happening. The hops add some oils, which coat the palate and add an addition layer of texture. Effervescence is lively and uplifting, and is just about where I'd want it to be for the style.

Overall: While this certainly strays from the traditional pilsener template, I certainly cant deny that it's enjoyable to drink. In fact, as a person who isn't the world's biggest lager/pils fan, but loves their IPAs, I would recommend this to any hophead whos looking to test the waters of pilsener territory. Sure, it's a little unorthodox, but for a hoppy new-age pils, i cannot deny this is quite enjoyable.

A- Tall can pours into a pint glass with a slightly chalky, super pale yellow body. A one finger white head forms atop the brew with a bubbly frothy consistency and decent retention. A thin layer remains atop the beer leaving spotty lace.

S- Strong German hops alongside clean and potent pale grains and a hint of lager yeast. The hops are spicy and herbal with slight earthiness and grassy hints. Pils grain brings crackery cereal notes and there is a hint of pale fruits throughout. Not quite as pungent as some Pils.

T- Again the beer is hop driven with plenty of support from the grains and a mostly clean and dry ferment. Spicy, herbal, earthy, floral and grassy hops open up for crackery, slighty sweet, bready and Pils barley mash grain notes. Yeast provides slight fruity and bready hints but really clean overall.

MF- Light bodied with a crisp and dry feeling on the taste buds. Texture is somewhat frothy and bubbly with a high level of carbonation. Ends with a medium herbal bitterness. A bit lacking as far as creaminess goes.

A really solid Pilsner that has a very clean and stable base fermentation for spicy hops and Pils grains to shine on. Just a bit thin and lacks aromatic strength but the balance of flavors is very nice.