Welcome to the next installment of Brew Reviews. This time, we'll be taking you coast to coast to coast in order to sample some of this country's craft beers. As with this and all other brew reviews, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
We start up in Portland, Maine at the Allagash Brewing Company for their Allagash White, a Belgian-style wheat beer. First presentation gives a very light yellow color with only a slight amount of haze along with that traditional wheat scent drinkers of this type have come to know and love. Upon first taste, once you get over the heavy carbonation, this brew is certainly clean and unfiltered. There is a claim of a citrus taste, but it must be subtle if it's there, because it really wasn't detected. It's certainly not the worst choice for a summer beer, especially if you happen to be in the area, but better wheat choices have been seen throughout this series.
Taking a trip out west, we head to Boonville, California, home of Anderson Valley Brewing Company and their Coastal Ale. As it is presented with a golden color fitting of the Golden State, the scent brings hops that reminds you of some of the macro-brews widely sold. Upon first sip of this brew, there seems to be a bit of an acidic bite to what would otherwise be an average beer that doesn't taste like much of anything else. This brewery boasts about solar power and "sustainable" brewing; perhaps if the company focused more on the actual brewing, they may have been able to come out with a more exciting product.
Over to the other shore we go to the Bevi Bene Brewing Company in Charleston, South Carolina for their Polotmavý Czech-Style Amber Lager. The presentation is that wonderful reddish-amber color with gold accents when it hits the light. Although an amber is typically done with malts, a slight hint of hops is detected by scent. Upon first sip, although the brew has a bite to the roof of the mouth, there is a calm, relaxing feeling to the bottom that one would normally expect from an amber. It's a bit of a "yin and yang" sensation that complement each other, and if you're a red and amber lover that's looking for some excitement in your beers, this may be the choice for you.
So the next time you Follow Your Internal Compass to another location, try out some of the brews available. You never know what you're going to find.
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