Belfast Bay Lobster Ale

Reddish color with dark highlights. Thick soapy head. Aroma of toasted malts, bread and some sweetness. Flavor of toasted malts, toffee, and bread. Very drinkable. Not impressive though.

My Lobster Ale poured crystal clear amber with a burgeoning head of foam lapping at the lips of my glass. Receding with the tides, her head leaves no lace and only scattered traces of foam on top. Wafting along a gentle breeze, her nose reaches me with a tantalizing aroma of toasted malts, toffee, and crunchy bitter nuts. Not overpowering, but faint and delicate, I have to strain to gather just that smidgeon of information. While not encouraging, I refuse to hold her weak nose against her. Instead, I dive into her amber depths to explore what wonders and mysteries she has to offer me there. Faintly sweet with hints of bitter nuts, caramel, and toffee while a thin mouthfeel washes it over my tastebuds almost faster than I can actually taste. Light with a sessionable sweetness which permeates her palate, hints of fresh lemon blossoms linger in her finish, transporting me to a lemon orchard in full bloom. The further along, my Lobster Ale warms and grows in bitterness with nuts and lemons taking top place while toasty malts and warm bread offer support from the background. The caramel and toffee are mere shadows of their original self which wasn’t much to begin with, and I quickly find my glass empty.

She is unfortunately too clean and neat. A very light red ale, Belfast Bay’s Lobster Ale needs a more definition of flavor and character. Like a faint summers ocean breeze whispering of the seasons to come, all the right ingredients where there, but just barely. If you are looking for a light sessionable red ale, then Lobster Ale is waiting for you, but if a bigger game is your intended catch, then look elsewhere.

Red in color. Aroma very faint hop and sweetness but almost undetectable. Taste is very light and easy, boring.

A reddish amber ale with a thin white head. A doughy oxidized aroma, In mouth, run of the mill amber ale, rather light, doughy, a bit buttery. Baaah...On tap at MMM Bello’s, Newark, Dec. 27 2008.

Bottled. I never knew there was a market for a beer that smelled/tasted like....uh..lobster, but I guess there is. I swear to god my bottle tasted exactly like lobster. Oh yeah it was a rather boring ale after that..

Bottle. Pours red amber with an off white head. Aroma has a bit of a butterscotch character, with some light earthy notes. The flavor has sweet toffee, butterscotch, and bread. It seems a bit off, but it’s still drinkable.

Pours a dull clear reddish amber with a super large soda bubbles and a medium soda fizzy beige head. Metallic aroma, some hops, some sweet caramel, smells thin. Tasty beer for being so light and drinkable. Corse mouthful with larger soda bubbles. Flavor has a nice bitterness, lightly bready, touch of bold spices, rich toasted caramel malt. Drinkable thats for sure.

Bottle. Sweet earthy aroma. Reddish amber body, small head. Flavor is light sweet, malt and caramel. Pleasant finish.