Second Anniversary
Stellwagen Beer Company

Can. A murky spew. Really looks like a smoothie. Bright orange but very opaque and soupy. Aroma screams out of the can. Has a bit of an old Heady Topper vibe back when that beer was made in low volumes. A stunning left cross of fruit juice that makes me want to wipe my upper lip. Fruity hop overload. There’s also a huge element of sweetness, even on the nose. Hops are greener on the palate but they also don’t forget what the nose promised. Tastes like a fruit smoothie you’d pay $13 for in a gentrified neighborhood. Loads of sugary sweetness. Too much, I’d say. It’s a fault that is easily remedied but the monstrous hop flavors that accompany it. The body is well cut. It doesn’t feel too creamy. Not like many beer-peers that are akin to drinking half n’ half. Even though the carbonation is on the lower end, the beer finishes relatively light. Alcohol is hidden well and the intense flavor doesn’t punish the palate for long. This beer is flawed but it plays on its strengths very well. I usually don’t get excited by this increasingly bland take on beer. This one raised my eyebrows, though. Happy Anniversary.