Maine Attractions: English-style
I was kept away from posting last week by a business trip to Maine. While there, I had occasion to try some of the local brews. I was surprised and impressed by the number of local breweries in the area.
The first and most available beer I had was Shipyard’s (pronounced ship-yaaaad) Export Ale. I was immediately reminded of a post Stan at Appellation Beer put up a couple of weeks ago on East coast vs. West coast pale ales.
The Export was definitely in the East Coast/English Ale camp. The beer was a little more malt forward than some of West Coast styles with nice caramelly notes. The most distinguishing character was the hop flavor and arome which bore the woodsy, resiny trademarks of English varieties (like Fuggles). Finally, the beer even had a hint of “Burtonized” water, giving it just the slightest bit of what I describe as a baking soda taste. This also has the effect of accentuating the hop bitterness in a palate cleansing, sharp, short bite kind of way.
I found the same trend with many of the beers I tasted in ME: they followed an English-style. I appreciated the change of pace from the most West Coast style beers often found here in MN.
Since we are in the mid-west, can’t we have it both ways!?
