Sebago Local Harvest Ale

Brewed by Sebago Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Gorham, Maine USA

22oz. Aroma is like they say on the bottle (citrus, pine, lemon). Close to an ESB in flavor/aroma profile, low level of fruitness and not quite enough malt to call at an ESB. Not quite enough malt to balance the fairly low level of hops, either. I appreciate the subtle layers of hop flavor/aroma, most noticable when smelling and sipping at the same time. Neither step (smelling or tasting) gives full satisfaction alone. That said, it’s pleasurable to drink and I’m looking forward to the rest of the bottle. Yay beer!

pours a deep amber with medium head. aroma is heavy with toasted malts and floral hops with a bit of citrus. drinks more like a strong pale as the malt really takes control of this. lots of caramel toasted malts throughout with piney, floral hops trying to push through. the malt is too big in this one. good beer, but disappointing as a harvest.

On tap at the GLB. Pours a golden yellow with a frothy head. Looks like an IPA in the glass, has the same lacing as most IPAs. Aroma is piney, citrusy, and clean. Flavors are nice, smooth hoppy and refreshing. Not exceedingly amazing, but the malt backbone adds a nice sweetness and a little contrast to the hoppiness. Love the fresh hop taste :)

Pours a dark coppery ruby/amber color with dark golden amber hues when held to a light source and a 1.5 finger frothy off-white head with good retention, slowly fading into a lasting cap that leaves chunks of soapy lacing. Aroma is a lot maltier than I expected with some toasty caramel, biscuit and chocolate malts. Slight earthy citrus hops with hints of pine. Kind of weak for a Harvest Ale. The malt profile is just too strong and completely kills the hop aroma. Earthy dry piny hops with some subtle notes but the pleasantness of this flavor is instantly killed by way too strong of a malt backbone. Hell, it’s not even a backbone at this point because it is the dominant flavor. Roasted chocolate and caramel malt with hints of biscuit, hazelnut and toffee. The hops that are present aren’t very floral and don’t taste very fresh at all. Not a good representation of the style.

(22 oz. bottle from Global Beverage) Pours hazy caramel-amber with two fingers of light yellowy-biscuit head. Big aroma of grapefruit, citrus and light pine over caramel and vanilla. Mouthfeel fairly smooth, a touch prickly with some hop huskiness. Staunch, sticky sheets of lacing cling to inside of shaker. Flavor of lightly biting grapefruit and citrus over sugary, almost grainy caramel along with vanilla. Light pine and fruit. Medium-heavy bitter bite from fore through finish with a lingering bitter aftertaste. Nice, fresh hoppy presence with a good malt backbone.