Local Harvest Ale - Sebago Brewing Company

Cavanaghty

Maine

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap in a pint glass.

Appearance: Medium brown in color with a beige head of about one finger. Heavy lacing on the glass.

Smell: Rich hop smell, but not overwhelming.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Medium Bodied, not smooth but not too rough. Taste of fresh hops, pine, citrus and nutty notes are subtle.

Overall: Great local brew. Will have this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2012 16:10:37 | More by Cavanaghty

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a hazy dark copper color. Head is mostly white with a tan undertone. Head is small and creamy. It slowly dies off to a thin plate of froth. The head leaves consistent lacing sheets.

S-Smell is not very intense and mostly balanced. It an attractive nose. Caramel malt and solid-enough notes of grassy and floral hops. The hop presence is solid enough to hold my interest.

T-The flavor is better. Hops outmuscle the malt (only slightly). Hoppy, lingering flavors of grass, flower petals and pine with lighter citrus and even some soapy notes are all detectable. The malt is sweet and doughy. Maybe a hint of toffee? The flavors match up well.

M-Medium bodied with buzzing carbonation. Feels a bit creamy. Bitterness is medium-high and lasts for a while.

O/D-My favorite Sebago offering. I enjoyed the balance and the surprising hoppiness that arrives during first sip. A pretty tasty Harvest Pale. Also, although I had it on-tap, I love the bottle art too.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2012 22:35:24 | More by VelvetExtract

Boppar

New Hampshire

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Sebago.

Served in an over-sized wine glass

A: Reddish brown with 1.5 fingers of foamy white head with good retention and solid lacing.

S: Earthy hops, moss, pine needles, sweet malts.

T: It opens with pine needles and sweet malts, with a mid-palate transition to a more balanced, leathery dryness and a bitter finish.

M: Heavy, slick, sticky.

O: This is a little meatier and better-rounded than most APAs. It is a great style example and well worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2011 23:11:45 | More by Boppar

rfgetz

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice golden amber with dense cap of white froth, good lacing. Scent is balanced between the fresh cereal grain and light caramel malt backbone and light citrus, pine and floral hops... overall quite earthy. Taste follows suit, very earthy and grainy malt profile and the hops balance those out without really staring in the brew. Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, dry and grainy on the palate. A decent, fresh tasting pale that could have used a little more umph.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2011 13:56:56 | More by rfgetz

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at Mikro in Hamden, Conn.

A: Medium-dark, copper amber body with a two-finger head of creamy tan foam which left some decent lacing and showed good retention.

S: Floral, herbal and pungent hop aroma mixed with toasted grain and caramel.

T: Sweet and medium-roasted caramel and toffee malt flavors up front with a growing, grassy, herbal bitterness towards the middle. Finishes dry, peppery and bitter with a bit of skunky flavor.

M: Medium-full bodied and pretty smooth and creamy, albeit with a slight grainy touch in the finish.

D: I suppose I was spoiled when I had this brew on cask at the 2010 Brass City Brew Fest and was a little disappointed with this more homogenized offering. Not a bad, slightly higher ABV APA, but I'd tread richer waters if given the option.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2010 01:10:49 | More by Gambrinus1184

DurtyUI

Maine

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My first experience with this ale was at the Gardiner Swine & Stein fest on tap.

A seriously delicious fall brew, full of cascade hops and sultry fall notes that tingle the tongue and linger.

Pours a fabulous autumnal cloudy amber with a sweet head. This was a great session beer that left me wanton for more!

A serious hop-heads bite with a crisp bite. If you aren't prepared you might not like this APA but I have to say kudo's for Sebago for this local harvest of local cascade hops!! BRAVO!

Serving type: on-tap
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 29 Elm St, Gorham

10-03-2010 02:42:28 | More by DurtyUI

berley31

New Brunswick (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Had on-tap at the brewpub in Portland. Poured with a creamy, white, average-sized head that stuck around for a while. Body is a dark amber color with a slight haziness to it; very good lacing left behind.

S: Aroma is actually a little weak; hoppy, with some citrus, but not as much of a blast as I was expecting.

T: The flavor, however, is not weak at all. Nice burst of hops and citrus in the taste, and even though the finish has quite a long duration and a good amount of bitterness, the beer is actually kind of refreshing.

M: Light-bodied with a fairly creamy texture, and average carbonation.

D: I enjoyed this beer... it had a lot of hop power but was still quite drinkable. One of the more enjoyable Sebago brews I've had.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

02-06-2010 16:46:01 | More by berley31

bishopdc0

Maine

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this first on draft at the Brewery in Gorham, ME. The beer is brewed with hops grown in Maine, hence the name. This to me is more of an IPA with a nice golden to amber color. It has a nice white head and good lacing. The aroma is very pleasantly hop filled, slight citrus and pine, it starts malty with a slight caramel but finishes with a bitterness that lingers. This beer is excellent for those who like an East Coast IPA. I went on the tour with 15 people mostly home brewers and at least 5 of them stated this was their new favorite beer.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 29 Elm St, Gorham

01-24-2010 19:49:47 | More by bishopdc0

Durge

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A dark tea color with orange highlights. It has a modest white cover with solid lacing served cold in a tulip glass at the South Portland brewpub. I pick up cherry malt biscuit at first sniff, politely sweet and almost soda-like but intriguing with a vague hint of piney hop. The flavor comes on with nothing like the aroma, but it's good. Malty grass hops, a bit tart, bright and clean. In time the hops show some complexity, maybe herbal or pine hints. The malt is steady with some brown bread sweetness, hickory honey, but the hops ultimately shine above all else. A pleasant surprise. It's finely carbonated for a mid-body lively feel and is reasonably drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 29 Elm St, Gorham

12-11-2009 06:31:18 | More by Durge

argock

Virginia

3.65/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at Bukowski's Tavern (Boston, MA) for $6.50 for 12oz. tulip.

A: Pleasant orange-amber with thin cap of off-white head and a few incomplete lace rings.

S: Hoppy with orange and grapefruit tones being strongest but also some light grassy and pine notes. The malts are pale/crystal without much depth.

T: Orange, grapefruit, and pine come on strongest with and a light spiciness. The malt sweetness is dull and one-dimensional frankly.

M: Because the malting is inadequate the feel is similarly light and underwhelming. The aftertaste is pleasantly hoppy with little bitterness but a lot of citrus and spice.

D: I'm glad I tried it but it was one and done for me because of the lack of body and depth.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

11-07-2009 19:24:14 | More by argock

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A unique turn of events coming from Maine since all the hops that were used in the beer were grown in Maine. I'm very interested in seeing how the hop growing industry turns out here, I read that they're trying to find a farmer who will grow an acre so they can make bigger batches with locally grown hops.

Had last night at the Portland location while watching the Sox take the first game of the ALCS.

Pours an amber color, good sized head that sticks around for a while and also sticks a good deal to the glass.

Smell is, you guessed it, hoppy. Pretty strong aroma of hops, can't tell that they were grown in Maine, but they do smell quite nice. Even my girlfriend who doesn't like anything about beer thought it smelled nice and pretty like a flower.

Taste is not overwhelmingly hoppy or bitter but has some nice balance with caramel malt, does leave a nice bitter aftertaste though, slight citrus aspect.

Overall, a really good beer coming from Sebago that utilizes locally grown hops, I really hope to see more of this happening in Maine.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

10-11-2008 17:29:31 | More by deltatauhobbit

IPARyan

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a nice rust color with a proper one inch head when poured properly. The head is quick to go away but not completely. Nice lacing but that goes away as you work down.

S - The aroma is welcoming for any IPA drinker because it has a pleasant hop smell.

M - It feels a bit thin but it is very drinkable...which is great upside when you want have more than just one.

T - The hops are prominent on first taste but there's not much lingering aftertaste.

Overall, definitely worth it. A must try for Sebago drinkers. I'll definitely be having a few more. Tis the season!

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

10-11-2012 03:51:47 | More by IPARyan

kangarooAdam59

Maine

4.18/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brought this to Michigan to share with the relatives (it made a good travel as it impressed them).

We all had it in pint glasses:

A: brown/orange colored body with a one finger white foamy head that takes a good minute before slowly dieing. Some nice speckled spider-web lacing leads gently into the body. Some light carbonation is seen rising.

S: sweet with some light hops entering in with a bit of pine and citrus.

T: sweet, once again, but the hops are fairly strong with a mild citrus taste.

M: light to medium with nothing harsh on the tongue, sessionable.

O: this was one I had years ago when I first moved to Maine. I loved it then, and I still love it. No doubt that I would have this again. This is a Sebago must have. And the Michigan relatives loved it too!

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

09-27-2012 23:47:25 | More by kangarooAdam59

gdrydenc

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a great burnt orange with 1 finger of while head.

S - Smells sweet, with hints of hops character of pine and maybe a bit of citrus.

T - Very sweet. Granted, this beer has been around for a couple months, but the hop character has faded a good amount.

M - Good carbonation, good amount of head on the pour.

Overall, I love the idea of this beer. As a native Mainer, this is an awesome idea. However, this is not a great implementation of the idea. I wish that this beer was remarkable, but unfortunately it is forgettable.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

04-14-2012 02:04:30 | More by gdrydenc

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.4/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle. Pours a dark brown copper color with little head. Fair amount of lacing. Aromas of spicy hops, malts, earth and sweet grains. Taste is spicy and floral hops. Sweet grains and malts as well. Floral finish with some bitterness. Easy to drink and lightly carbonated. Fair amount of floral and spicy hop flavor to this one. Overall, decent and worth a second look....eventually.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

02-03-2012 07:12:41 | More by PicoPapa

bierbrauer

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Purchased at Whole Foods in Portland, ME. 12 oz. bottle ($8.99/4), poured into red wine glass. Didn't see the bottle date. Reviewed from notes taken 11/12/11.

A: Cloudy, light copper color; 3/4" foam that drops slowly, with sparse lacing.

S: Subtle citrus, pine.

T: Fresh, malty and grassy, w/citrus; mild pine bitterness.

M: Light carbonation, medium body, neutral finish; slight warming; dry but fresh finish.

O: A pleasure to try an East Coast harvest. Close to some of this year's fresh-hop IPAs.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

11-16-2011 04:37:16 | More by bierbrauer

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a 12 fl. oz. bottle. Sampled on November 12, 2011. The pour is a medium to darker amber with a long lasting but thin head. Good lacing left on the bottle. The aroma is vibrant with earthy hops and definitive dose of wild raspberries or black raspberries along with light pale malts. The body is about medium and smooth. The hops tend to be more powerful in the taste as the wild berries take a more subtle back seat. I found it to be a rather enjoyable harvest ale.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

11-12-2011 21:04:35 | More by puboflyons

brentk56

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with the kind of head that fresh hops will inspire; splashy lacing drips down the side of the pint glass

Smell: Candied citrus, floral in tone

Taste: Biscuity malt mixed with ruby red grapefruit, up front, and it just stays that way through to the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Awfully close to an IPA, this is an APA just like I like it - refreshing and well-balanced, with nice hoppy tones and not too much malt

Thanks, Bendurgin, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

11-05-2011 01:34:08 | More by brentk56

redleaves

Maine

4.43/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Lacy top not too big. Standard cloudy color, but not standard on the nose. Citrus and butterscotch? Very nice. Much hoppier than I expected, really bitter, an a good bitter. Slightly floral and decent malty back. A little watery which actually makes it easier to drink more than one. Drys up on the palate just in time. Very goodi will drink it again if I see it.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

10-29-2011 23:08:52 | More by redleaves

grahambo

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Deep gold in color with a slightly off white head that certainly sticks around

S: Not much going on here. Nothing offensive either which is why its still average

T: Nice solid malt flavor, very bitter with some grassy flavors that linger

M: Perfect for an APA

O: This is very bitter for a pale ale but also very tasty. It has just enough malt to back up some very interesting hops. This beer has malt and hops all grown in Maine which makes this brew one of a kind.

The Sebago website says the hops are Maine-grown Cascades and they're certainly different. I would recommend this one for sure.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

10-03-2011 00:20:34 | More by grahambo

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a hazy orange/copper color with a finger and a half worth of head. Sticks around for a bit and leaves some good lacing

S: Nice and hoppy, some citrus, grass, and maybe even light pine. Some malt in the background, but the hops are dominant

T: Same as the smell, the hops really shine. Definitely on the hoppy side for an APA, but I'm not complaining at all. Hops are earthy and grassy, with a bit of citrus and pine. Malt and alcohol round off the hops nicely

M: Medium bodied with light-moderate carbonation. Nice and slick from the hops

O: This is a very nice and refreshing APA, especially for the fall season. I'd say it's very close to an IPA, if not an IPA. I must say that either way, I love a good pale ale that comes out right after harvest (this and Sierra Nevada's are the two best that I can think of off the top of my head). Very good beer from Sebago!

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

09-20-2011 16:44:41 | More by BEERMILER12

andrewinski1

Maine

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into my Maine Beer co Pint glass. The color is hazy caramel with slight amber hues. There is a quarter inch thick looking white head with nice retention.

The aroma is a nice dose of fresh bread followed by a hint of hoppyness, but it isn't much so I'm having a hard time pinpointing what kind.

The taste is nice crisp and dry. The malt flavor is mild and there is a hefty dose of slightly citrusy hops in the finish.

This is light drinking with above average carbonation.

This is tasty when it's nice and fresh, it might not stack up to the better regularly available pale ales out there but I like having it from time to time.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

09-13-2011 04:23:45 | More by andrewinski1

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Part of the sebago collection I recieved from my good friend Matt up north. Decided to do the vertical/horizontal/ whatever it is of all of them. Poured into a pint glass,lol.

Poured a brilliant and hazy cloudy pale amber with a huge billowing white sicky frothy head. Great retention and fantastic side glass lace. This was about the best a pale ale could look in my book. Top notch appearence for sure. Smell was somewhat hoppy with a light floral bouquet that was balanced against an earthy grain and a touch of sugar. The taste was just where its at. A deep rich and sweet orange hop just rolled over the tongue, nothing too btter but nicely melded with a cereal grain like back, giving it a very smooth very easy to drink profile.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

07-18-2011 17:19:26 | More by mikesgroove

Thads324

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle

A: pours a dark gold, amber almost with a shade of red. Head swells after the pour then dissipates quickly to nothing except a ring of froth on the edges.

S : An almost tangy hop smell with a solid backbone of biscuit and a dollop of chocolate malt. Although musty, the hops and malt seem to blend well, as if this beer seems like it will taste just like the smell

T : Much hoppier than the smell. It starts with a bitter hop on the front of the tongue, quickly followed by a sweet honey malt flavor. There is a pause in the flavor before the delicious aftermath of hop takes over again, this time softer and longer. The final hop blends nicely with the finishing hop flavor to round out the beer

M : the mouthfeel is full and smooth, with a lingering hop bite on the tip of the tongue.

D : I can drink this puppy all day. an excellent blend of basic malt flavor and hops, yet still easy to drink (if you like hops)

Overall a great beer, although i think it is a bit hoppy for an american pale. Seems more like a mild ipa, but still worth a try.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

02-21-2011 20:54:37 | More by Thads324

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #34 (Nov 2009):

Hops grown in Maine, used from the mash to the fermenters.

Hazed amber glow with some stellar lacing action going on as rings of lace stick to the glass after every sip. Smells of sangría, passion fruit, tangerines and a hint of taffy. Oily medium body lets the palate know that a heavy hand of hops were used to make this brew. Mild hop coarseness throughout, the bitterness is up there, but the flavor definitely draws the most attention, with lemongrass, cigar tobacco, wildflowers and grapefruit rind. There is a small center of malt base here, and if the taste buds are not completely masked, that base does come forward for a brief moment. Long, hoppy finish.

High marks for bringing hop flavor to new heights, lordy be, this is an amazing beer.

Serving type: bottle
@ Sebago Brewing Company, 211 Fore St, Portland

01-03-2011 15:22:30 | More by BeerAdvocate