Casco Bay Brewing Company Pilsner
Sadly, today's mass-produced pilsners offer simply a bland interpretation of the delightful balance of fine malts and hops that you'll find in classic German Pilseners. We are happy to report that this is not the case with Casco Bay. The brewery's pils is brewed with a combination of two-row pale, caramunich, and carapils malts. They hop it up nicely with only German Tettnang hops so as to create a classic interpretation of the style. Look for a pale maltiness and hop spiciness in this light amber-colored, medium bodied lager's nose. Our panel found it crisp, full-flavored, and possessing a slight bitter finish. Overall, we think that the brewery's done an exceptional job of delicately balancing the malt-hops profile to produce a truly great lager. Try pairing it with a spicy dish.






Casco Bay Brewing Company Katahdin Red Ale
Brewed with a combination of two-row pale, special-B, munich, chocolate, and caramunich malts, Katahdin Red Ale is a complex red ale. The darker malts used are all imported from Belgium and are responsible for giving this ale its rich, malty flavor and distinctive deep red color. The brewery conditions this ale like a lager (longer than usual) and ends up with an ale that is very crisp, clean, and complex. Casco hops it well with cluster, crystal, and cascade hops. Note a huge malty nose with a hop spiciness also evident in this full-bodied Red Ale. We found it packed with flavor, very complex and balanced wonderfully. Look for a lingering malty sweet finish. Overall, one of the best U.S. produced red ales available today. Try pairing it with beef, spicy foods, and inclement weather!






Great Divide Brewing Company Denver Pale Ale
The Great Divide Denver Pale Ale is the best selling and most award-winning beer in their line, taking 3 medals at the Great American Beer festival over the years. It was also the winner of the Gold Medal at the World Beer Cup in the English-Style Pale Ale category last year! It's a classic English-style Pale Ale and our panel found it very well balanced, offering a moderate-to-full bitterness and a definite emphasis on hop flavor and aroma. Immediately note a big floral hop nose, a result of dry hopping. You'll find this light copper-colored; medium-bodied filtered ale has great head retention. The flavor offers a pleasant pale maltiness up front and a big floral/spicy hop flavor in the body. Overall, it's a classic representation of a style with a broad interpretation.






Great Divide Brewing Company St. Brigid's Porter
Two words. Great Porter. We really liked this porter! The beer itself is named after the Irish saint who is credited with a somewhat unorthodox miracle: In order to help slake the thirst of lepers in her care, she turned her bath water into beer. A neat trick to be sure. Historians did not record the lepers' reaction, but it was probably something like... "Cool!". It took the Gold Medal at the World Beer Cup in 1996 and the Silver Medal at the World Beer Championships in the same year, and was named best porter by Westward Magazine in both 1995 and 1996. Note a definite roasted malt nose with little hops evident in this deep, ruby-colored, full-bodied ale. A "robust porter" by style, St. Brigid's doesn't let you down. You'll find the body full and offering notes of chocolate and a lingering roasted finish.

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