Maine Beer Zoe

Brewed by Maine Beer Company
Style: Amber Ale
Portland, Maine USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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Pours a dark amber, nearly burgundy color with a decent head into my glass. Grassy hops with a hint of citrus greet the nose. Sweet malt follows underneath. Mild grassy hop flavors mingle with sweet, spicy malt to create an amber that worthy of sipping than anything else.

I bought this beer on a whim at Molly’s Pub Bottle shop in Lancaster, PA. I am embarrassed how much I paid for a single bottle ($11) but it intrigued me and I was thirsty. I normally carry my rate beer ap on my iphone to check beer ratings, but I left my iphone in the car and just decided to go for it. I figured it was going to be either really good or really bad. Pours a dark caramel brown with a tan creamy head. Not really fond of amber ales this dark. Things turned around when I took a whiff from the bottle. Wow! a pronounced fresh hop smell at the forefront. This beer deserves its high ratings - very hoppy but also well balanced, and very creamy. It is rare to find an amber ale that balances the roasty malt flavors with pronounced hops. The hops are more on the floral grassy side, with no bitterness whatsoever. An excellent job by a brewery I had never heard of.

Bottle. ~3 weeks old. This is a superb beer. A good initial head and lacing on this burnt orange in color and in aroma beer. Strong hoppy notes of pine, spice, and some grapefruit. Matly sweet, slightly tart, and significantly bitter tastes rest on a creamy, full lively mouthfeel that dries just a little.

Bottle to oversized snifter. Looks pretty good; very dark for an amber. Nice carbonation and lacing. Smells great; the hops are pleasant, as is the malt. Tastes great too; I’d put it ahead of Nugget Nectar. Great balance between the hops and the malt. Mouthfeel is good. Overall, a great beer that I’m glad to have had the opportunity to try.

I really like this beer. My favorite beer store carries it but it sells out fast. I normally don't like hoppy beers but this is smooth. The dark unfiltered color and full body puts it in the big beer category even though the alcohol content is mid range. I love Zoe! ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Nice balanced unfiltered ale. Nice hops presence but not an ipa. I like the fact that they environmentally involved and donate a percentage of the cost to environmental non-profits. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Tap at Mead Hall in Boston. Came as a highly recommended amber ale by the bartender. My expectations were low but holy crap this is a GREAT beer. Dark amber color with a thick off white head that laces moderately well. Fresh cut grass mixed with grapefruit rind in the nose. The taste is very floral and bright hops. Elderflower liequeur mixed with grapefruit juice all balanced out well by adequate malt. Truly delicious. Medium in the mouth and a balanced but hoppy flavor lingers in your mouth.

A - Pours an opaque brown-red color with a finger of frothy khaki sitting atop. The head fades down slowly leaving behind some good lace in the process. S - The aroma is full of citrus hops with lots of grapefruit, orange, and peach coming through. There is a nice balance of sweet roasted caramel malts with a bit of chocolate and coffee as well. T - The beer starts off with some growing grapefruit and orange hop flavor and some mild bitterness alongside a bit of lightly roasted malt and a touch of brown sugar. Through the middle, some pine hop flavor comes through with more roasted flavors and a bit of coffee and chocolate. The finish is a mix of roasted malts and a some cocoa with some light bitterness and citrus hop. M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet and roasty finish. D - Very drinkable. Really nice amber ale that has a lot more to it than most beers in the style. Really great nose and hop presence.

A moderate beige foam forms atop the copper pour from which an attractive hop aroma emanates. The complex hop profile goes from coniferous needles to straight resin passing through orange blossom and red grapefruit along the way. Underneath, the darkish malt profile brings about caramelized notions to be sure, but intermingling with earthy chocolate undertones. Actually pretty attractive there as well. I’m not sure this hop profile has enough light time under the massive hop strain, quickly being eaten up by the bitterness that dominates the slight roast and amps up the acidity. Nevertheless, this has quality and freshness written all over it and I can see many people falling in love with that one. Myself, I just prefer it a bit more straightforward like their Peeper.

draft/growler. Deep amber brown color, . Dough and bread in the taste, scent is mildly sweet and rich. Really flavorful,slightly hoppy. Unbelievably balanced. Extremely drinkable. Love it