Old Dominion Oak Barrel Stout: Phenomenal, a definite favorite. Smooth and creamy with hints of vanilla. First came across this at the Kennett Square Brewfestival in Pennsylvania and fell in love. Shortly after, I was sad to learn that Old Dominion had closed down. Years later, I saw it on the menu at the Fordham Brewpub in Annapolis, MD. Surely it can't be the same, is it old, did the brewery re-open? Chatting with the waitress it seems Fordham purchased the name and recipe from Old Dominion and resurrected this great brew. Tasting it, yes, it's still the same :)
Andrew's Northern Brown Ale: Wow this was bad. Maybe it isn't usually bad, maybe it's a great recipe (we were advised by a Mainer that Andrew's is the best brewery in the state!), but the bottle I drank tasted like something was growing in it that didn't belong there. Their other beers were ok, if unmemorable, but this was outstandingly awful, among the worst I have had. From the smell to the dreadful aftertaste, I have nothing good to say about this beer.
Belfast Bay Lobster Ale: A nice malty rich red ale. I love it!
Tommyknocker Sampler Pack: We saw a sampler 6-pack from Tommyknocker at Stew Leonard's and had to try it. Each bottle in the six-pack was a different bottle, which I've never seen done before. I love the concept, have a little sampling right at home! So that's what George and I did. First I want to start with the packaging, I'm quite impressed with their graphic designer. Check out those labels, how cute are they? We both spent a few minutes examining all of the little details on the bottles, I love the sheep holding the climbers rope. The beers were top notch, all very clean flavors. My favorite by far was the Maple Nut Brown. I could drink that all night. The lineup to the right was the initial order we planned to drink them in, but after taking this photo I swapped the last two and we had the Bock before the Brown. I was glad for that move because we ended on a great note. I wasn't too thrilled with the Bock, but I didn't expect to be. I'm kind of at a stage where I'm weary of Bocks and Belgians and strong flavors like that. The glacier was great. One of those light beers that makes you smack your lips, and say "now THAT is what a light beer should taste like" Light colored sure, but with a nice crisp malty overtone and a lingering hoppy aftertaste, not in your face but not absent entirely. A nice summer beer (despite the glacier on the front!). The Jack Whacker Wheat was also good, easy drinking. Not quite a Hefe, but a nice unique flavor with Lemongrass (ok, they don't follow the reinheitsgebot, but at least it's not artificially flavored!). The Amber and Pale were enjoyable as well. I wish more breweries would make 6-packs like this. There's more labor involved, but I think it's great marketing!
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