Allagash Brewing Company, Portland

Hoppy Table Beer

4.8% ABV

The orchestra of bright flavors packed into a bottle of Hoppy Table Beer refreshes the senses like a cool summer evening. It pours a sun-colored hue with a frothy head of tiny bubbles. The aroma is an interplay of ripe mango and pine needles from the Comet and Azacca hops used in dry hopping, along with subtle notes of lemon grass from Allagash’s signature use of coriander. Each sip releases grapefruit and fresh cut grass flavors over the palate. It finishes on the back of the tongue with crisp notes of citrus fruit, subtle pine flavor, and fruity esters from the Belgian yeast. Hoppy Table Beer is the perfect compliment to whatever summer brings your way.

-Dave Patterson

Bear Bones Beer

Johnny Rye Ale

4.3% ABV

Bear Bones, though small in size, is big on flavor. Amber-mahogany in appearance, Johnny Rye Ale has pleasant aromatic notes of caramel. Featuring local malt from Blue Ox and Maine Malt House, this beer’s clean mouthfeel, crisp body, and 4.3% ABV make it perfect for summer splendor. Mild in hop character, the ale’s sweetness balances well with the rye’s inherent spice, which gives you a distinct zing at finish. Whether you’re strutting through Lewiston or vacationing in Bridgton, this is a solid beer for any occasion.

-John Breerwood

Gneiss

Tectonic Tomahawk, White IPA

6.7% ABV | 75 IBU

Since opening in 2013, Limerick’s Gneiss Brewing Company has been crafting unique beers that pay homage to German brewing tradition, without necessarily being slavish to style. Tectonic Tomahawk is a testament to the brewers’ creativity, marrying a traditional German hefeweizen (fruity, spicy, and hazy) with an India Pale Ale. Tectonic is hopped exclusively with Tomahawk hops, in layers in the boil, and again in the secondary. The resulting hybrid of the ascendant American IPA and traditional Weissbier is a surprising treat; citrusy, herbal hops paired beautifully with the estery fruit and clove of a hefe.

-Josh Christie

Goodfire Brewing Co.

Tiny Wrist Circles Saison/Farmhouse Ale

4.4% ABV

If you are warming up to Saisons again, this beer is a game changer in the session category. As summertime sits on the horizon with warmer temperatures and outdoor recreation on the rise, this is a beer to have on hand to enjoy it all. It pours a hazy, deep amber color with a tall white head that fades quickly. It has an earthy and slight citrus aroma with a smooth and soft mouth feel.  This saison has a nice clean palette with a crisp and refreshing finish, that leaves you wanting the next sip. Tiny Wrist Circles takes six weeks to brew, so it has limited releases throughout the summer in cans but can be found on draft pretty consistently. Don’t miss this one!

– Stanley J. Rintz