Nugget Nectar vs Zoe Ale

It's tough to compare the two because they're both so delicious in their own way. I think Nugget is more like an IPA that they happen to call an Amber ale instead while Zoe really is a rich malty amber ale that happens to hopped out like crazy. Tough call so I'd chose Zoe just because it's easier to get.

 

I love both beers...If I am looking for more of a hoppy kick, I would give the nod to NN. If I am looking for a sweeter, and somewhat more refreshing beer, I would give the nod to Zoe.

I love both beers for what they offer, but have difficulty picking one over the other because they are pretty different...

 

I've had each once. I put Zoe just above the Nugget Nectar. Quite tasty! and year round, no?

 

Yeah - tough to declare a winner on taste because both are great but Nugget Nectar wins easily on value. Maine makes delicious beer but I will only purchase occasionally because of the price. Nugget on the other hand will be in my fridge for as long as it's still available in stores.

Love to support local and small breweries - but Zoe is just too expensive.

 

Cost aside, Zoe and it's not even close. I like Nugget Nectar a lot - it's a very nice beer, but it's really over-hyped IMO. If it was a year-round release I don't think you'd ever hear much about it. It's just everyone gets worked up into a frenzy for it because they haven't had it in 11 months.

Zoe is special. It's neither Amber nor IPA nor anything else you could stick a label on - very unique.

That said, Zoe is about 3x as much as Nugget Nectar, and that has to count for something. I'm really hoping Maine Beer eventually reaches the scale to get Zoe in $10 4-packs, and then I will buy it all the time.

 

Had both, enjoyed both, have to go with the "Nectah".

 

this is exactly what i was going to say. i think for style, Zoe lives up to the "Hoppy Amber" crown, having much more amber traits than NN, and IMO, is a more original, interesting brew.

that being said, the balls out hop head in me prefers Nugget Nectar, and i feel kinda bad about that...

my girlfriend and i were talking about this recently, she prefers Zoe, i prefer NN. Similarly, i think Heady Topper is the tops, while shes a Pliny gal. we're a progressive couple .

 

I've never had nugget nectar but I had a Zoe tonight and it was delicious! Probably gonna have a Lunch next.

 

I'll take Tocobaga Red over both.

 

what's the going $ rate for Zoe?

 

Some places its $5.49, most places its $5.99. I've seen it for as much as $6.99. That's for a 500ml bottle.

 

agree with most, zoe by a landslide, but value per oz...nn

 

I would have to say Zoe is a tastier beer and available all the time around me but a little pricey. NN, on the other hand, is a much better value as others have said but only available for a short time every year. For the price, I go NN all the way; for the taste and availability, I have to hand it to zoe.

 

My wife who knows nothing of BA or the hype of NN but is a huge fan of both prefers the NN to the Zoe. Kind of sucks NN is limited because I have to buy overpriced Zoe the rest of the year.

 

$7 is pretty standard in the Boston area.

 

I will take Nuggect Nectar. I have had Zoe a few times now and was not impressed.

 

I'll take the nugs. I haven't picked up Zoe yet due to price. I had Lunch and thought it was awesome, but it was a one and done for me. They really need to come down on price. 1% to charity isn't enough of a selling point IMO.

 

There are some interesting descriptions of Zoe in here. While I've only had one bottle (which was quite fresh, for what it's worth), but "rich," "malty," and "sweet" definitely didn't come to mind.

In any case, I have to go with NN here. I love the malt flavor (pilsener, vienna, munich), and it's so well hopped.

 

They sell all they make. They don't "really need to come down on price". It's a great beer, if you can't afford it, Im sorry. Price has nothing to do with one being better than the other. If Zoe wasn't any good, then it would not sell and would be over priced. I'm starting to ramble, but price is not one of the 5 areas of a beer review.