Mac & Margie
Northwoods Brewing Company

 

Forgot this one in the back of my fridge... canned on 07JUL21... a 16oz gift from my "Bro" Artie.

Color is a slightly hazy yet rich, vibrant orange. Has sparse, scattered carbo slowly rising within. The head is a frothy, off-white layer of creamy suds. It lasts quite well, with top-shelf lacing. Smells quite fruity and juicy, with lots of citrus. Has tangerine, apricot and some piney, resiny action. Body is an easy medium, with a fairly smooth feel going down.

Taste is semi-sweet though somewhat one-dimensional. Has a mild mix of tangerine, orange and apricot, with a slightly herbal twist to it. Doesn't go much beyond that, though. Not one I'd likely seek out again... Prosit!!

3.87/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

2386

Bought this during a trip to NH, and had never heard of this brewery before. Poured from a 16oz can into pint glass in September 2022. There was a date of 07/13/2022 on the bottom of the can. I drank this less than 1 week after purchase.

Appearance: Dark yellow color with a little orange. Had a huge 3-finger pure-white head. It has a slightly hazy complexion, but can still see through it. The head is very thick, and it lasts a few minutes, leaving a 1-finger covering. There is a large amount of lacing on the glass.

Smell: Large aroma of citrus, pineapple, and pine aromas, as well as some hops. The aromas were noticed as soon as the can was opened. Also, some fruity aromas like orange and peach. The citrus, pineapple, and pine aromas are more prominent than the other aromas.

Taste: Some bitter taste from the hops that is not overpowering, along with a moderate fruit sweetness like pineapple. Also, some orange flavors. The sweetness and bitter edge are well-balanced. Has a very nice after-taste that lasts a moderate amount of time. Overall a nice balance and very drinkable.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, a little thinner than I expected from an Imperial IPA. Above average alcohol, which matches the 7.8% listed on the can.

This is an enjoyable IPA. It has a nice mix of citrus, fruit, hops, and other flavors, which provides an interesting mix. It doesn't have the complexity or balance of my favorite IPAs from Tired Hands, Adroit Theory, or Tree House, but it is a good IPA, and would buy this again.

 

 

 

 

 

A- The beer pours from the tallboy into a chalice with a deep golden approaching pale amber body. The head is white with a thick and creamy consistency looking really soft and luscious and ascending to about one finger high. Good head retention with lacing that coats most of the glass with drizzled webs.

S- Fresh and bright hops with a mix of both citrus and tropical fruits as well as stone fruits. Melon, nectarine, tangerine, grapefruit, bubble gum, guava and mango off the top with hints of light-medium sweetness, bread, mint, dank weed and apricot. Overall it ends up summing to a sweet stone fruit nectar.

T- Hmm, things definitely change a bit here as the flavor comes off as more floral, perfumy and herbal on the palate with the fruits kind of in the backdrop and aftertaste. Starts with bitter herbal hops and ends with notes of tangerine, grapefruit, mango, melon and onion. Lime and lemon come to mind and even a light hint of tarts. Doesn't take on the soft fruits the aroma suggested as much as I would expect after smelling it.

MF- Medium bodied with a foamy and creamy texture. Carbonation is moderately high and this beer approaches chewy with agitation on the palate. Ends with a fairly abrasive perfumy bitterness.

Aroma is soft and nectary tropical/stone/citrus fruits and the palate is more of citrus, floral and bitter herbal hops. Never bad but some of that balance and softness goes away to a strong bitterness on the taste buds.

Picked-up a four-pack of cans at Bradford's in Plymouth for about sixteen dollars. Have never heard of or seen this brewery before. This beer is absolute piss, stay away.

 

Pint can: 10/15/19
Reviewed in 10/26/19
**Update review** ∆
Pint Can: 2/9/22
** 5/4/22

This one looks like the classic throw back DIPA's, pre NEDIPA's. Amber and copper color, slight haze with a towering white foam topper. Seafoam consistency. Sticky lacing.**∆ This one is pretty much clear gold.

There are some sweet fruity aromas from the hops, also some very peppery...maybe soapy/soured hints popping off the hop side as well. Rye bread maltiness and black pepper over grapefruit and pine tree sap later on.**∆ Citrus and apricot fruitiness, heavy earthy tones with added grains, smooth oats.

A spicy, peppery maltiness hits first in the flavor, pulpy fruits of citrus come to mind from the affect of the hops quickly after that. A watery, full and rather lame malty texture and feel is what I notice next. Lies a bit flat on the palate I'm afraid. Sharp tanginess and earthy pepper is the remainder of the hop experience. The malt is bready with a kick of rye and wheat mixed in that goes a bit sour in the long run.**∆ seems as though the recipe has changed from 2019? But, this has some very nice, dry hopped earthiness, mild fruity currents of citrus, apricot and dry stone fruit. Smooth texture from the oats and malted grains. Nice balance. The local Maine sourced yeast adds a sweet and sour mild funk that I like deep down within.

This is a rather odd duck in the DIPA world. The watery body makes it seem impossible that it enters 7.8 %abv. Sour and tangy finish has me puzzled. I knew it was a bit of a long shot considering it comes from the North Woods of New Hampshire. As a native and current resident of the "Live Free or Die" state, I can say with confidence that our brews tend to be hit or miss historically. Mac & Margie is proof of the "miss" .**∆ might eat some crow here with this update on my original review. I really like the golden vibe, very dry hop earthiness and unique dry fruity hop flavors. Yeast is unique and there is a certain X-Factor to the whole package. Not super complex, as the vibe outweighs the sun of its parts. Also, the New Hampshire beer experience has multiplied gratly since my 2019 review, as just in Keene, NH alone has Modest Man and Branch & Blade, Swanzey has West LA brewing, all three have played a major role in bringing NH up to par.

From a 16 oz. can dated 09/09/19. Sampled on October 5, 2019.

The appearance is golden-bronze with a moderate cream-colored head that fades some but not entirely. A little haze to it.

Lots of fruity goodness on the nose including pomegranate, orange, tangerine, and guava with a cereal breadiness in there too.

The mouthfeel is medium.

The taste is sweet but most definitely fruity with even a spice bite around the edges. Fruity finish.