Maine Beer Company / Lawson's Finest Liquids Collaboration Time I - Maine Beer Company

stakem

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml bottle into a lawsons snifter. The brew appears black in color with more than 2 fingers worth of fluffy khaki head. As the cap fades, it leaves some webby lacing effect sticking to the glass. Rising bubbles maintain about a half finger around the perimeter. When held to the light, some lighter brown and ruby coloration is seen.

The aroma is very roasted and grainy like chocolate and coffee with a bit of earthen and ash aspects. There are fruity to herbal tinges of hops with a citrus element also blending into a bit of vegetative aspect. Some sniffs bring out almost a layering of licorice.

The taste is dry and roasted like bitter chocolate and coffee. Some earthen aspects mildly reminiscent of tobacco fade into the hop quality that is vegetative, herbal, fruity, floral and somewhat citrus-like. Some sips have a bit of a rasin-like or molasses character included along with hints of anise.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It is quite roasty and dry with a bit of an oily hop feel that isn't outlandish. I am not the biggest fan of black ipas but this one was pretty solid for the style. If I had to drink a black ipa, I would reach for this one again.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 01:28:52 | More by stakem

nootch23

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

06-10-2013 15:02:38 | More by nootch23

Seakyden

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -4.1%

04-03-2013 01:35:20 | More by Seakyden

alienlifeforcecube

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -22.1%

03-16-2013 06:36:54 | More by alienlifeforcecube

dcguitar

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

03-09-2013 02:17:56 | More by dcguitar

dheacck11

Connecticut

4.24/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Deep opaque dark brown with slight ruby color in the light. Massive khaki head, 4+ fingers.

Nose is coffee, brown sugar, molasses, and some smokiness.

Very earthy and dry, with flavors of espresso, dark chocolate, molasses, but all subtle. None overbearing. Rich, complex hop finish. Strong bitter bite, just a hint of dark fruit.

Very full mouth feel, but quite dry on the whole

A really nice black ale. Probably better fresher (9/15/12), but still quite good, and more suited to the winter months.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 00:41:48 | More by dheacck11

Blanco

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.1%

02-19-2013 04:47:48 | More by Blanco

jderosia603

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

02-01-2013 11:33:55 | More by jderosia603

AngusOg

Maryland

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%

01-28-2013 21:03:27 | More by AngusOg

portia99

Massachusetts

3.86/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

500ml bottle (09/15/12) poured into a Dogfish Head signature glass.

A - Pours a pitch black color capped with three big fingers of frothy coffee ice cream colored foam. Head shows good staying power and after several minutes drops towards the surface leaving behind tons of lacing on the glass.

S - Grassy and citrusy hops up front, roasty malts, a touch of root beer, hints of bitter coffee.

T - Lots of coffee...burnt/dark roasted malt, some earthiness, fresh/green grassy hops, low fruity esters.

M - Medium body with a somewhat assertive carbonation - lots of tingle, a bit of foaminess. Lots of burnt, acrid flavors that linger far past the swallow. The intensity of the charcoal effect detracts a bit here.

O - Overall a good black ale. Hops start out strong and give way to the burnt malt aspects on the finish. Fairly drinkable although the burnt nature of the beer is a bit overpowering. Hops show well here too. There is a bit of an off/weird fruity flavor somewhere in the middle that is the biggest detractor...somehow doesn't integrate well for me and is an awkward transition from the grassy hops up front to the burnt malt at the finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 23:56:47 | More by portia99

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

01-10-2013 21:44:34 | More by Rochefort10nh

chippo33

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

01-10-2013 07:54:59 | More by chippo33

BeerCosmonaut

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

01-05-2013 20:54:36 | More by BeerCosmonaut

doughanson78

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

01-05-2013 03:39:52 | More by doughanson78

iKasey

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.1%

01-03-2013 05:46:55 | More by iKasey

mbonugli

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

12-07-2012 02:05:29 | More by mbonugli

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

11-28-2012 14:20:22 | More by InspectorBob

PoolFishGolf

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

11-23-2012 18:37:21 | More by PoolFishGolf

gpawned

Ohio

4/5  rDev -4.1%

11-23-2012 05:31:58 | More by gpawned

rondufresne

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

11-22-2012 23:13:24 | More by rondufresne

milesbrew

Rhode Island

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

11-12-2012 23:43:03 | More by milesbrew

dunix

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

10-29-2012 14:06:08 | More by dunix

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bottle poured into taster - thanks alex

Pours an opaque black color with a crop of toasted head. Fades into some spotty, patchy lacing on the glass while drinking.

Nice punchy pine and citrus hops in the nose, tempered by some roasted dark malts. Hints of chocolate and cocoa with a dash of vanilla bean. Light sweetness and warmth.

Bitter and piny up front with a few hints of citrus peel. Nice hoppy profile, smoothed out by a slightly thicker malt backbone. Dark, roasty and hoppy all at the same time with some cocoa and vanilla sweetness. Finishes bitter and dry.

Medium body, decent carbonation, sticky and dry on the tongue. A nice hopped-up black ale, something I'd definitely try again.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 02:28:33 | More by xnicknj

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

500 mL bottle poured into a snifter. Best by 9/15/2012. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - Dark brown. Nice creamy head and nice retention.

Smell - Strong grassy hops. A little citrus. Hefty roast behind it. Very nice blend of components.

Taste - Great grassy hop flavor. Bitter and grassy. Coffee roasted malts come second, but it isn't anywhere near as well blended as the aroma suggested.

Mouthfeel - Not heavy, medium bitterness. Good carbonation.

Overall - Maybe not well blended enough to say it's good. Grassy and tasty, but a little harsh.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 19:18:38 | More by Alieniloquium

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Prohibition Pig, Waterbury, VT

A neat collaboration, but still a pretty average beer in the world of CDAs/ABAs. Dark brown-black pour with maroon hues around the edges; half inch or so of fizzy tannish head that receded to a ringlet, dabs of soapy lacing here and there. Pine and citrus hops in the aroma, some stone fruit, backed by bitter dark chocolate. More of the same in the taste, roasty malts, dark chocolate, ash, coffee grounds, light fruits, somewhat bland piney hops, kind of astringent. About medium in body, decent overall, but not something I'd get again, even if I could.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2012 20:31:54 | More by Rifugium