Harpoon 100 Barrel Series #54 Nordic Saison
Boston, Massachusetts
Saison
ABV: 6.1%
Spiritually akin to beers such as the Dogfish Head/Stone/Victory collaboration Saison du Buff or Epic Brewing’s Utah Sage Saison, this collaboration among itinerant brewer Anders Kissmeyer, Harpoon Brewery’s Jaime Schier, and Cambridge Brewing’s Will Meyers is the latest in Kissmeyer’s ongoing series that includes similar Nordic Saison collabs with Hill Farmstead, Beau’s All Natural, and more.
This edition is the perfect accompaniment to a foraged farm-to-table dinner, with a strong but balanced and food-friendly herbal component (sage, yarrow) atop very light clove notes in the nose and aftertaste. It’s pleasantly dry with a clean bitterness that’s less pronounced than that of classics such as Saison Dupont, but doesn’t overpower the gentle herbal character. All-in-all, a very enjoyable beer. — Jamie Bogner
Newburyport Melt Away Session IPA
Newburyport, Massachusetts
American IPA
ABV: 4.6%
This trend of light body, lower bitterness, citrus-forward session IPAs is arguably one of the best things to happen to craft beer this decade. It’s a beautiful sign that craft beer no longer has to define itself by being more “extreme” than mainstream beer, and Newburyport Brewing Co.’s Melt Away Session IPA is a delicious example of the evolving style. The Citra and Amarillo hops add a prominent dank element to the nose and strong citrus flavors while an initial bitter bite gives way to a clean and minimalist malt body that leaves the spotlight on the hops. This much flavor at 4.6 percent ABV is a beautiful thing. — Jamie Bogner
Anchor Brewing Double Liberty
San Francisco, California
Double IPA
ABV: 8.2%
When we first sampled Anchor’s new and limited Double Liberty, a bigger and badder version of their classic Liberty Ale, the hefty malt bill and prominent yeast notes had us thinking anything but “IPA.” Still, the flavors at play were intriguing—cherry on the nose, then more white cherry in the flavor, a slight honey malt sweetness under a significant level of bitterness. It’s a departure from the Double IPA norm, but if you can think beyond the restrictions of style, Double Liberty offers distinct flavors that we don’t often see in similarly bitter, hoppy beers. — John Bolton
Avery III Dolia
Boulder, Colorado
American Wild Ale
ABV: 8.2%
Like almond madelines dipped in vintage red wine, the hints of vanilla and almond push through a subtle mustiness in the nose that suggests an age beyond its years. On the palate, a quick and bracing hit of lactic sour dissipates quickly into notes of old world luxury with a touch of tart citrusy sangria that’s equal parts rustic and elegant. For those who’ve tasted Avery red wine barrel–aged wild beers before, this will taste familiar yet distinct—an evolutionary beer that surely shares some blending stock roots with previous releases. But just as with those previous Avery releases, I’ll be putting away a few bottles of III Dolia to enjoy over the years to come. — Jamie Bogner