Gritty's Vacationland?($7.49 for a six-pack at Hannaford)
This week provides the first glimpse of summer as the seasonal brews find their way to the shelves of beverage outlets everywhere. My first experience with this seasonal ale was last summer at a barbecue with some neighborhood friends?a terrific context in which to try a beer called "Vacationland."
This pale ale has a golden orange color and begets a small, white head when poured. Not unlike other summer ales, Vacationland gives off a sweet, fruity smell that portends its smooth taste. One of the most unique elements of this ale, as is the case with many of Gritty's elixirs, is the dominating presence of hops which complements the sweetness in the beer's finish. I could easily drink a six-pack of this beer, especially if I were outside or sitting in the summer heat.
The beer's name is intriguing, borrowing Maine's nickname in an effort to remind drinkers that when they enjoy this summer ale, they should be on vacation. I wonder what would happen if a New Hampshire brewing company followed suit with a "Live Free or Die" lager or perhaps a Massachusetts-born "Taxachusetts Stout."
I recommend this ale for the upcoming summer months and on any or all vacations. 4 stars (of 4).
Long Trail Blackberry Wheat?($8.29 for a six-pack at Warming's)
Widely touted as one of the best brews to ever come out of Vermont, this wheat ale delivers an interesting punch. The first quality that I noticed in this beer was the slight aroma of blackberry that escaped from the bottle immediately after the cap was popped. Like many other wheat ales, this brew pours a golden yellow that is just a hint darker than non-flavored ales.
The taste surprised me because I expected an overwhelming sweetness much like Sam Adams' Cherry Wheat Ale or Sea Dog's Blue Paw. But I found that blackberry flavorings are much more subtle. In fact, I found that the wheat flavorings and blackberry tones really didn't complement each other as well as I had hoped, providing a dry, mundane finish.
This is not to say that this beer was disagreeable; rather, the balance between the two flavors was poorly conceived. I think that the Blackberry Wheat has the potential to be a glorious beer, especially if more wheat ale flavoring were infused. Maybe the blackberries in Vermont taste different than those in other states, or maybe this beer just really isn't as good as everyone says it is. I would say it is worth a try, but Long Trail's other brews (Hit the Trail Ale, Double Bag) may be a better bet. 2.5 stars (of 4).