Blue Lobster Brewing experiences?

A $1 3-4oz pour of each was my experience.

 

David is killing it. His Biere de Miel was great.

 

If David made a fruited beliner year round I would get my doctor to write me a perscription for a daily IV-drip. Talk about a great way to improve life.

 

I stopped in at Blue Lobster earlier this month, and I don't want to speak for him, but if I recall correctly David said that ideally he'd like to do just that. I believe the idea was to brew a Berliner year-round (possibly in bottles?) with different fruit from batch to batch. Sounds like a great idea to me. I really had no idea what to expect when I first read about Blue Lobster a year or so ago before they opened, but they are killing it for sure.

 

Grabbed a 2L of Excess on the way up to rafting, had a few tasters including the HamptonWeisse(which is now kicked) and on the way back I had the growler refilled with their Kolsh. Super friendly, very fun, and got a gold claw next door at the pizza spot for lunch. Highly recommend.

 

Made my first visit on Saturday. Unfortunately I think my experience was plagued slightly by my high expectations given comments and ratings on here.

I thought Gold Claw smelled great but fell flat on flavor...almost tasted non-existent. All I tasted was some bitterness and sharp carbonation.

The black IPA lacked a significant hop profile for my tastes in that style.

The Excess DIPA was the all-Columbus version and was an onion bomb. Didn't even finish it. I'd love to try the other "Excess" batch recipes, like the Galaxy edition.

The peat-smoked porter smelled nice but also fell a bit flat on taste. This was a theme for me...a few of the beers seemed to have very sharp carbonation that overshadowed any richness or depth in flavor. (It reminded me of what I don't like about many Harpoon beers.) I really wanted to like the porter, the description was right up my alley.

On the other hand, the Hamptonweisse was really enjoyable (purchased some of that) and it made the perfect accompaniment on the lake this weekend. But the easy standout for me was Stockholm Syndrome - now THAT is a lovely beer. I'll be back to get more growlers of SS, and will still try anything new on tap...and even revisit some of the beers I didn't love the first time. Because one thing I've learned is to never completely write off a beer until you've tried it twice (on two different occasions).

I'll echo the comments regarding the tasting room and staff. Nice space and nice people.

 

Seems I have and opposite opinion on some feedback from this beer but the black IPA is my favorite so far from them. I think it was just hoppy enough and had a lush chocolate flavor I rarely find in black ipas. Usually the flavors end up clashing for me and become astringent when they are too hoppy. This one was really enjoyable for me.

 

I actually don't disagree with you there. I thought the hop profile was just enough to be ok, but that's not what I personally want in the style. And I did get that nice chocolaty malt flavor... I just wished I found that in the porter. The black IPA probably had the most successful malt profile out of everything I tasted.

 

I actually had a pretty similar experience a few weeks ago, but didn't get to try the Hamptonweisse. I echo almost everything you said, includidng going back in a few weeks when I'm up there again on vacation to give them a 2nd try.

 

SS was great when I was there a few months ago...I really with I got a growler of that instead of the double galaxy which was good but not amazing. But I thought Gold Claw was great taste given the %.

 

I went for my first time yesterday and got a flight of samplers, $1 each to include what i remember was an APA, DIPA, Wheat IPA, Black IPA, Kolsch and Porter. I got one of my 750mls rebranded which was awesome and filled the Kolsch. None of the beers blew me away but they were solid. Cool atmosphere and I would definitely go back again.

 

I visited yesterday and I really liked the place. Reminds me of a small eatery without the food. The people were really nice and I left with growlers of Gold Claw, Sweet (Kolsch), & Ragged Neck Porter. They were all great representations of their respective style. I didn't go to the pizza and craft beer restaurant next door; does anyone know if its any good?

 

I went and enjoyed it.

 

Does Blue Lobster fill other brand growlers?

 

yes, as long as it's brown glass. they just put a Blue Lobster sticker on your growler (comes off easily though)

 

How are the lines on Saturdays?

 

Very relaxed. May wait 15 min max.

 

Bring a mule because you are going to want more than 2 of the Prairie Collab beer. It's fantastic.

 

They were selling 4 per on Sunday, and now the berlinerweisser bottle is being released. I read that as it will be there this weekend, anyone else reading that? At this rate I willbe able to drive there in my sleep. Hopefully we can get a status on prairie by Friday. If anyone around me needs it and it is still available I might be able to help someone grab that.

 

Confirming the 4 per person on Prairie Collab. Berliner is 6 bottles per person, 375ml.

 

Correct Trevdawg.
Blueberry/Plum berliner will be released this week. Limit 6 per. $8/375ml capped/~950 bottles total
Little Lobster On The Praire still has like 700 bottles left. Limit 4 per. $12/750ml corked/~1000 bottles total

 

I am ecstatic to announce Berts Better Beers in hooksett has a limited supply of blueberry/plum berliner and prairie collab on the shelves now! For those of you closer to hooksett than hampton.

 

I stopped by Berts this morning and picked up a bottle of Little Lobster On The Prairie for $16.50 (*ghasp*). I'm really looking forward to it. I'm also hoping to culture the brett dregs to build a starter for a 100% brett beer I have planned.

 

You know it's the White Labs Brett Trois strain, right? So if it doesn't work out, well, you can buy a vial.

 

Bingo.

 

That's fantastic - I couldn't make it to the coast last weekend. Will swing by Bert's to pick one up for sure.

Have you guys had any interactions with the folks at The Drinkery in Londonderry - also great folks there and also great for beer (they are the ones who started the drive to get Breakfast Stout in stores in NH / state label issues.)
I'm sure they'd love to have you guys as well for the occasional one-offs.

Thanks!

 

Good to know! It would cost me about $15 to buy that strain either shipped or from my LHBS...

 

Am I crazy mean or is that a large mark up? I know that in MA local beer stores manage to sell Night shift/Idle Hands / mystic at basically the same as the brewery not 33% more. same with finding Smuttynose Straw-barb short weisse same in stores as at the brewery.

 

Bert's has a great selection but their markup is always much more than my local stores on the coast.

 

What LHBS is that so that I know never to shop there? That price is outrageous!!!

 

Speaking of the Drinkery, I'd love to see Blue Lobster on-tap at some of the better bars outside the Seacoast, like Cask & Vine, which is owned by the same folks who own the Drinkery. It's a pipe dream I know until/unless Blue Lobster expands production, since I believe they're brewing at capacity for the accounts they have and growler fills as it is. Not to push the idea of expansion--slow and steady is probably the right strategy. I'm in the Manchester area more often than the Seacoast as it is, and it would be great to see more of the Seacoast breweries represented around that area as well.

 

Production update:
-4% Table American Amber comes on draft Saturday at the latest
-Thanksgiving Biere De Miel will see at least some bottles, brewed with roasted yams, honey, and spices. Currently still fermenting.
-More Gold Claw is coming down the pipeline as well in a couple weeks.

Plenty of Blueberry/Plum Berliner and Prairie Collab bottles remain.

Hope all is well!
David

 

I drank my golden claw I grabbed this weekend over the course of 2 days, was happy to see it held up over 2 days of being opened.

Havent touched the bottles I got yet though...was upset I missed stockhom syndrom but was still grad I stopped in on my way home from VT.

 

The table amber is pretty bombed out but with more common varietals (cascade/centennial/nugget). Just fyi. Another DIPA and another batch of Stalkholm are next on the docket I believe.

 

Stopping in Friday evening. Hoping the Table Amber is on tap. I would love to bring it to a tasting on Saturday. If it isn't on tap yet I am sure there will be another tasty option.

 

Prairie Collab is hands down their best beer to date, so balanced and refreshing its scary. Picking up a couple more bottles tomorrow. If you haven't grabbed it yet, DO IT.

 

I agree. I'm not the biggest Brett fan, but this one is so well balanced. I was struggling to find a way to describe it to myself and realized that it was reminding me of Sweet Tarts.

I'd drive out to Hampton for growlers of this or something really close to it.

 

Ask and something something - I just saw that Cask and Vine has received some BL kegs!

 

I stopped by TopShelf to grab a few bottles of Little Lobster for some out-of-state friends that I'm seeing tomorrow but they aren't carrying it? Hope you're able to get some there in the future, very convenient when you guys aren't open. Love that beer!