Lunch - Maine Beer Company

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

We pour a brew of golden amber coloring. It holds a two finger head of tannish foam. This retains nicely, leaving massive bubbles in its wake, and thick patterned lacing down the sides of the glasses. There is a cidery haze throughout, with no real sediment noted. Carbonation bubbles at a medium. The aroma is all about the hops. These are beautifully sweet and nectary, but have a definite background of soap, pine, and biting citric bitterness. The malts are pale, but meet the hops in sweetness, with lightly cooked caramel sugars. Otherwise, the aromatic density is filled by metallics, like yeastiness, musk, sweaty saltiness, floral earthiness, and strawberry freshness. Our first impression is that the flavoring is not as sweet as expected, as it comes with a bittering earthiness on the back that screams “West Coast”. As we sip, puckering grapefruit hoppiness, green plant freshness, muddy pale malts, raw brown sugar sweetness, and fresh herbal qualities mix to start us off. The peak comes with brassy metallics, robust soap, bittered pine sap, and simple yeastiness. The finish washes with herbal mint leafiness, spicy alcohol, floral and herbal bitterness, soaps, pine, light lemon juiciness and pale malt freshness. The aftertaste breathes of big soapy bitterness, citric juiciness, wet chalkiness, yeast, light chemical phenols, peppery booze, and grassy bitterness. The body is medium, and the carbonation is high and hiccup-inducing. There is nice slurp, sip, cream, froth, pop, and glug to each sip, with a freshly cleansing coating to the mouth. This cools, but eventually dries the palate with a soft pucker. The abv is appropriate, and the beer drinks easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this beer was the versatility to the hops in both the nose and flavoring. At each aspect of the sip, or with a slightly warmer temperature, the hops seem to take on a different persona. Soap, pine, citrus, and herbals all show up at some point through the tasting. This helps to keep the beer refreshing and seemingly new to the end. Everything else about this beer embodies the inherent “clean and simple” attitude of this brewery, and when coupled with the basic complexity of the hops, makes for a delicious beverage. Dare we say, our first thought at the first sip was ”Pliny”?!

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 02:50:25 | More by TheBrewo

ackbarleywine

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Maine Beer Company's Lunch is by far the finest IPA I've ever enjoyed. In reality, its comparables aren't IPAs but DIPAs like Heady Topper and Stone's Enjoy By series. Lunch manages a similar level of hop flavor and malt backbone with only 7% ABV. This blows the competition out of the water. The only drawbacks are that Lunch isn't sold in 6-packs and isn't always available, making it more like specialty DIPAs than other IPAs. Regardless, if you see a bottle for sale in your local craft beer shop: buy it!

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 19:00:43 | More by ackbarleywine

HattedClassic

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance:
The beer has a slightly cloudy copper-orange color. The head is pure white with very good retention. The beer leaves a lot of lacing on the glass.

Smell:
The smell is fairly different from the standard American IPA. First, the hop smell mainly consists of a citrus note with hints of orange peel or some sort of citrus fruit such as a lemon or orange. The hops are balanced by a fairly sweet malt smell and some hints of the yeast.

Taste:
Citrus hops with undertones of citrusy fruit such lemon. The orange flavor is there but very light. The malts seem to disappear underneath the hops unlike the smell.

Mouthfeel:
Very light carbonation. The beer is medium bodied but lighter than most other medium-bodied IPA.

Overall:
A superb IPA and definitely worth purchasing if you can find it. This IPA is certainly unique and a nice variation on a popular style.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 02:44:29 | More by HattedClassic

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out a copper color with white head, small bubbles, 1" head approximately, good retention, decent lacing. Aroma was amarilloish and cascade, good and juicy, yet restrained and not super powerful.

Taste was very nice, clean, hoppy, juicy (again). Mild citrusy bread notes. As you drink it, it seems to evolve through a little bit of tropical and grapefruit. Subtle malt bill, stays out of the way, but keeps the beer from leaning into just simple copper penny bitterness mode. Its really just a lightly toasted thing that keeps the beer light on its feet. Alcohol is easily conquerable in this one, doesn't sting.

Its a good beer, but this is almost twice as much as Pliny? Oh well, its definitely better than average, but the price seems way higher than average too. Eh, if you feel like being a balla, hit it up. The only thing disappointing about this beer is the price.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 04:51:28 | More by Beerandraiderfan

drinker36

Connecticut

4.55/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Quick points since this has been reviewed by wiser and more articulate beer connoisseurs:

This beer is great on tap. If you can find it on tap consider yourself lucky. That said if you can get yourself a bottle, you won't be disappointed.

It has a higher price point compared to it's highly rated IPA competitors. I usually pay about $7 for a bottle and $8 or $9 for a pint.

This is a sneaky beer since its light, crisp, and refreshing.

Final Judgement - I'd drink this for breakfast, LUNCH, or dinner. Although it's higher priced, I still highly recommend you buy some and enjoy.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2013 17:42:15 | More by drinker36

bum732

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

S: Very bright citrus with some pine, crisp smelling.

L: Murky orangish-yellow, big, fluffy creamy white head with great retention and lacing.

T: A very dry, pine hop flavored malt. Medium high, resiny bitterness leading to some resiny hop flavor with lingering pine. Fairly clean, dry malt. Finishes dry, with a bitter resin taste.

M: Medium full body, medium carbonation.

Solid IPA, much dryer than i expected. Might be coming from some yeast that came off the bottom of the bottle (bottle conditioned)

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 15:52:04 | More by bum732

WSB

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a hazy red orange, with a thick, luscious slightly off white head that remains throughout the drink, leaving lots of beautiful lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell is Amazing- at first, sweet, with hints of tropical fruit. A second sniff reveals the treasure trove of citrusy hops underneath. Notes of orange and grapefruit begin to permeate the nose.

Mouthfeel is similarly amazing- soft and luxurious. Velvety smooth on the tongue, embracing the palette as it washes over.

Taste is hoppy greatest, but not over stated like you might expect. Grapefruit bitterness envelopes and plays on the tongue, but just to tease before it transitions into more a juicy, red grapefruit like sweetness and wipes out the introductory hop bitterness. Finish is dry and a touch spicy.

This is quite possibly the most perfectly balanced IPA that I've ever had.

A superb IPA. Superior smell, mouthfeel and drinkability make this a "must buy" brew. Taste is excellent, although I'd personally like a bit more hop bitter kick. A more drinkable IPA I've not had in my life.

Highly recommended. A must buy if you can find it. Distribution is limited to NE currently, as I understand it.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 15:50:23 | More by WSB

enoisone

Virginia

2.65/5  rDev -39.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

I poured it out into a proper glass.
A- Nice looking color and head.
S- Really great aroma, herbal,pine,resin and citrus.
T- Very disappointing taste considering how good the aroma. Did'nt get the aromas in the taste at all. Decent lawnmower brew at best. With this high rating,i was expecting a great IPA,but instead paid far too much for a very pedestrian ale.
M- Hardly anything at all,very thin. No remaining flavor on the palate.
O- Overall, mediocre and pedestrian.
I want my money back.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 15:44:57 | More by enoisone

philbe311

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Needed a break from all the holiday brews and stouts that I've been enjoying... Hoping this one does the trick...

Dated 111812

A - Three full fingers worth densely packed lush creamy slightly yellow tinged froth... Excellent retention... While the head doesn't really fade, it does become rockier as it lingers... The color is a muted and pale medium gold... There is a slight chill haze... A slight bit of moderate to rapid paced carbonation rises randomly throughout... A good bit of lacing clings to the glass...

S - Delectable hop forward nose... I would swear there were whole hop flowers in the bottle if i didn't know better... A wonderful blend of citrus, floral, and piney hops... They dominate the aroma in a most wonderful way... Just hops, hops and more hops... Truly there is nothing else needed... I almost wish I could make an air freshener out of this...

T - Lemon zest... Lemon... Muted orange... Lots of floral notes... A bit piney... A subtle spice character... Not much of a malt base to speak of...

M - Medium to full bodied... Dense... Starts a bit lush and finishes very dry... Lightly yet briskly carbonated...

D - The aroma is the star of the show... This is one of the best smelling (if not the best) American IPAs in all of beerdom... The rest of the beer is solidly above average... This one falls somewhere between sessionable and a sipper... I recommend and would gladly purchase again when I cross its path...

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 02:07:18 | More by philbe311

kristiekatk

Massachusetts

4.93/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Lunch pours a hazy golden orange with a creamy and billowing white head that lasts throughout the entirety of the beer. The aroma will hit you right away. It’s like squeezing a fresh grapefruit. You get more of that grapefruit in your first sip as well as other tropical fruits and an herbal hoppiness. Then you think, “OK IPA, time to overpower me with hops, so much so that I have to rinse my mouth when I’m done .” But it never happens. The grainy malts come in to help tame the bitterness, and the hops don’t even come close to taking over this beer. Instead, they provide an integrating piney/citrusy freshness. The toasted malts are amazing, adding great balance and a smooth finish.

Any brewery can make a hop bomb, but it takes true craft to make a balanced and simply fantastic IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 19:05:42 | More by kristiekatk

Shumania

Virginia

4.3/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle dated 11/18/12 poured into a DFH Signature Glass

A: Orange/amber color with a fairly large head and really nice lacing

S: Punches you in the face with huge tropical hops!

T: Topical, citrus taste with a lot of orange rind. Good bittering balanced with a small malt backbone

M: Very easy drinking and would be happy to have multiple in one sitting if I was lucky enough.

A fantastic IPA that highlights tropical and citrus flavors. Great east coast IPA!

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 02:13:06 | More by Shumania

crewfan16

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

received this bottle in a trade just the other day. been excited to crack it open and enjoy it. dating on it (i think) says 10-24-12. I really like the label on it as well as the simplicity is appreciated. here goes nothing.

a- poured straight down into a sam adams perfect pint. hazy golden straw in color. huge frothy white head looks like ice cream almost at the top of the glass. a very nice looking ipa

s- definitely hoppy tropical fruits and citrus. bitter pine a bit as well

t- a nice bitter pine on the front fades into those tropical fruit flavors. definitely some lemon like sweetness as well. west coat type ipa from maine...pretty awesome in my opinion. absolutely delicious

m- nice clean mouthfeel. just a tad bit of oiliness. a beautiful lingering finish with the flavors just hanging out on my tongue for a long time. extremely drinkable

overall, what a great ipa. im happy i got to try it and its a good thing its not on the shelves here, or i would dump alot of money into filling my fridge with this stuff. if anyone wants to trade for some minnesota beer for this stuff, bm me.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 00:46:32 | More by crewfan16

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Lots of delicious juicy orange citrus flavour, from Warrior, Centennial, Simcoe and Amarillo. Orange coloured body, with some retained head. Orange aroma. Similar to a DIPA without any palate erasure. Masterful IPA. . Very good hop aroma. Had again a half year later, also a month after brewing, from Capone's Superior, smooth mouthfeel IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 06:14:33 | More by northyorksammy

sevenarts

New York

4.35/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Murky golden orange with a good-sized white head and very strong, sticky lacing.

S: Pure citrusy, piney hops. Very nice.

T/M: Hoppy greatness. Juicy citrus dominates up front, followed by some pine and grassy flavors, and a dry, bitter, slightly spicy character at the end of each sip that lingers in the aftertaste. Really delicious and layered.

O: A fantastic, flavorful IPA, made on the east coast but very much in the style of the best west coast IPAs, with loads of hops and a rich, complex profile.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 01:06:19 | More by sevenarts

argock

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 16.9 oz grey-brown bottle into a Duvel tulip. Bottled on 111812 stamped on side of label. Purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA) for $6.99.

A: Slightly hazy peach with nearly white 1-2 finger head with big bubbles and good retention with numerous dots of lace.

S: Fantastic aroma with pineapple, melon, grapefruit, and pine resin with some floral aromas. The malt stays out of the way. Exceptional-superior hop aroma profile that jumps out of the glass.

T: The flavor doesn't just quite match the aroma for quality. It has a slightly tannic, grassy, melon character with pine, grapefruit pith, and pineapple accents. There is a bit of astringency in the flavor as well - may be a product of freshness. The malts are light with crackery elements. The bitterness is pretty hefty -- not quite harsh but more than it needs to be.

M: It is a fairly dry beer with surprisingly light body, in fact I wish it was a little more chewy, sticky, with more body. Carbonation is pretty high but not a problem.

O: Frankly, Maine Lunch is a bit of a disappointment. I don't dislike the beer at all, but the flavor is more blandly bitter without more complex hops flavor. I'm glad I tried it, but I won't be going back, especially at the pretty outrageous price.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 04:34:34 | More by argock

zeledonia

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 14 October 2012, I believe (says 101412 on the bottle). Another great BIF beer from cavedave.

Pours very clear pale orange with a touch of pink; sediment left in the bottom of the bottle. Three fingers of very white head, fluffy and thick like a sponge cake. Relaxes slowly, leaving chunky islands of lacing on the inside of the glass and a finger-high hill rising up like Wizard Island in Crater Lake. Spectacular.

Smell is stellar. Juicy pine and citrus, billowing up out of the glass. About even balance of the two, with resiny pine coming in the first wave, followed by grapefruit. Really well put together, smooth edges, with the malts just laying right there underneath the hops.

Taste is good, but not amazing. Has that crispy thin bitterness that many IPAs have, where the soft bitter floats above the gentle malt base. Finishes quick, the bitterness evaporating and drying out.

Medium-light body, moderate carbonation a bit on the low side. Finish is quick and super dry, taking all the flavor with it, leaving only a faint remnant. Reminds me of Zombie Dust in the way it dries out.

Very impressive IPA. The appearance and the smell are the highlights, but the rest of it holds up just fine. Pleasantly thin on body and taste. Happy I got the chance to try this - it's right in the sweet spot of top-notch IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 05:09:58 | More by zeledonia

Cavanaghty

Maine

4.65/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Hazy yellowish-orange color with a thick foamy white head of four fingers and heavy lacing on the glass.

Smell: Smell of sweet citrus and hops.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Medium bodied and smooth. Taste has a sharp bitter sweet taste to it that leaves a good pine and hops after taste.

Overall: Maine Beer Company you have "Wowed" me again!

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 19:00:07 | More by Cavanaghty

kscaldef

Oregon

4/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11/18/12 bottling

A: Golden-orange with a 2-finger head of mixed dense foam and loose bubbles. Receded to a healthy 1/4" cap.

S: Intense hit of piney resins, followed by tropical and citrus notes

T: Almost oily hop presence, but balanced out by a strong bready malt backbone.

M: Well carbonated. Medium body. Significant bitterness, but not harsh.

O: Good, balanced american IPA

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 05:27:21 | More by kscaldef

Pinknuggets

Vermont

3.93/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle to worthy sniffer

A: golden in color but light. A heavy white head that is like 2in. Totally translucent

S: a floral hop aroma that is not over powering there are also lots of earthy aroma also wood like

T:matches the smells floral hops with a light bitterness that goes to the finish a little malty but not too much to overpower the taste. Some of that earthy grassy taste is in there too but it's a subtle flavor

M:smooth and oily with carbonation that balances well Very drinkable but the bitterness is kinda harsh

O: real soild ipa a but malty and butter for my taste but fairly well balenced good and fresh but didnt love it still worth a try

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 15:19:47 | More by Pinknuggets

PsilohsaiBiN

New York

3.48/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Amber with a moderate amount of carbonation.

Smell: It's an IPA, fresh fruity hops

Taste: Hoppy upfront. A brief malt respite fades into a bitter, grapefruit finish.

Mouthfeel: Not too thick with some carbonation.

Overall: Not bad, just nothing profound or overwhelming. They say this is an East Coast made IPA dedicated to West coast IPAs and I can see that. It leans more towards hops than malts and is definitely drinkable. Not my favorite, but this company donates 1% of its yield to environmental non-profits. Cool.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 04:49:34 | More by PsilohsaiBiN

Dools9

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Super fresh, bottled 11/18/12, poured into a Founders snifter. Yea kid.

A: Pours a hazy, golden orange color, nice three finger creamy head leaves nice lace and retains with a thin, tight cap.

S: Big, juicy orange and grapefruit, lots of citrusy hops, very tropical, a bit of pine and a nice malty, cracker, sweetness.

T: Getting mostly bitter grapefruit rind, tangerines, oranges. Also some resinous pine and a slight sour hop tang on the finish. Solid, malty backbone sweetness, very dry hoppy finish, really delicious stuff.

M: Light to medium, smooth medium carbonation, very, easily drinkable and goes down nicely.

O: Been searching for this one for a while and finally got my hands on some and damn, this is good stuff. Top 2 or 3 IPA for me. Now having completed the entire MBC brew lineup, I think its safe to say that these guys up in Portland mean business.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 23:38:53 | More by Dools9

MaineBrewing

Maine

3.38/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Picked up at RSVP in Portland on sale for $5 and some change for a 16.9 oz bottle. Per the label this was bottled two days ago :)

A - I poured lightly but it produced an immense head, beer was light almost amber in color, cloudy and unfiltered, head was three finger and frothy. After a few minutes it was reduced to one fingered light and airy with great lacing. Lace lasted thoughout the whole experience with a steady layer of head making the beer look lively and not ever flat. In fact the beer appears lively until the last drop, probably the best looking bottle conditioned IPA I've had.

S - great hop smell citrusy mostly grapefruit, sweet, piney, slight malt in background. Very fragrant, overall amazing nose. Making my mouth water.

T - All I can say is water has replaced the malt character that this beer sorely needs, maybe it's just me but it's certainly missing a lot of body. The taste is good but is lacking in comparison to the smell and appearance aspects. I get a good hop bitterness but the aroma hops I smell really don't come through as I would expect, they are there but take on a more grassy flavor over the beautiful nuances I was expecting from the nose. The taste generally lacks complexity.

M - Watery and slightly over carbonated. Does a great job at hiding the alcohol. This beer is 7% and from the taste and mouthfeel I would say this beer is sessionable, if only it came in 6/12 packs... It is certainly enjoyable and refreshing.

Overall I was let down from the taste, mainly from my own expectations and what I have heard of this beer, I was generally excited picking this up and seeing it was bottled 2 days ago.

But for what it is worth, it is a really good local IPA, which I could really dig if I wanted something of low complexity to enjoy with some casual fair and light conversation, or sitting by the pool in the summer, maybe a cigar with a connecticut shade wrapper to add to (or even escape) the flavor experience. For the price and format though I cannot see myself buying this again as there are many more examples in the segment that have a more fulfilling taste and a better price point.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 05:04:54 | More by MaineBrewing

hooliganlife

Missouri

4.15/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

thanks to trevdawg

pours a slightly cloudy golden yellow. loads of thick white head and crazy lacing. a lot going on here

juicy on the nose, fresh ripe tropical fruit. very potent

more bitter in the flavor but still very tropical as well. complex hoppiness and faint malt body allow this to shine.

not thin and not thick, just right. mild to moderate bite. stickiness and oil feel.

pretty impressed with this, i want more. like now.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 02:05:16 | More by hooliganlife

Bowdoinbeerboy

Maine

4.58/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle dated 10/14/12.

This beer poured with a solid finer or two of head that dissipated fairly rapidly but leaving good lacing. Beer is clear with light to medium amber hues and fairly apparent carbonation.

The nose on this beer is nothing if not subtle. I get serious bready notes that are balanced with a distinct sour note with solid hints of pine.

This beer has some serious malt body! This quickly dissipates to a piney-grapefruit like flavor. I know that sounds like a really odd combination, but I LOVE IT. This is probably the most delicious IPA I have ever had.

This beer has serious presence and really fills the entire palate.

I will definitely be buying this beer again, like I said, perhaps the best IPA that I have ever had

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 01:52:46 | More by Bowdoinbeerboy

RuckusDu

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev -11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An awesome extra from an awesome BA. Thanks! It may not be lunch time, but I poured this beautiful IPA into a Duvel tulip. Dated 081012. Larger than 2 finger off-white/yellow/straw colored head that sticks around for a while. As it falls it leaves minimal lace. Aroma is of simple sweet citra hops. Floral and lemony. Flavor is a bit more harsh and bitter. Still very floral with a little bit of pez sweetness. Body is great, full body and good carbonation.

Overall a quite nice beer. Nothing spectacular, but I feel it is a little different from anything else I have had, so I'm glad I got to try it. Would be nice to get a sip direct from the tap to see how that compares.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 02:55:18 | More by RuckusDu