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Sebago Brewing Co. released its latest single batch series brew, Bourbon Barrel Aged Lake Trout Stout.
This tasty concoction was aged for four months in bourbon barrels and was available in such limited quantities that chances are by the time you read this it might already be too late to try it. But, the distribution was wide enough, available on draft and in 22 oz bottles throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island, that if you really hunt around, you can find it.
The Lake Trout Stout was aged in four freshly-emptied charred oak bourbon barrels for over four months; the stout is then carefully blended with fresh stout to balance the character of the barrel with the boldly familiar flavor of Lake Trout Stout. Unlike the draft LTS, this bottled version is carbonated to enhance the bourbon barrel experience.
Geary’s Brewing is preparing to release the second in its Silver Series, Mullen American Wheat Ale, on April 25. The recipe was still in development at press time, but what we do know is that it will be an American style, filtered wheat ale, with 5% alcohol.
Shipyard Brewing’s big news is the Smashed Blueberry Ale coming in May. This is the latest beer in the popular Pugsley’s Signature Series line, a a big bodied beer (9%) with blueberry notes using pale, crystal, chocolate, roasted barley, light Munich, and torrified wheat malt; summit, tettnang, and cascade hops. Also, be on the look out for new packaging for the Sea Dog line of beers.
Not to be outdone, Gritty McDuff’s highly popular Vacationland Summer Ale arrived on store shelves before April 1 with its own new labels and packaging. Vacationland Summer Ale is the brewer’s third beer to feature a new look — following Gritty’s Original Pub Style and Gritty’s Scottish Ale — since the company began a year-long effort to implement new packaging for its full line of seasonal and year round ales.
“The release of Vacationland means that summer can’t be far away,” said Gritty’s VP and master brewer Ed Stebbins. “And the new labels add a little extra excitement for us this year.”
Vacationland Summer Ale is a full-bodied ale made with generous portions of pale malt and a touch of wheat malt, along with Cascade wheat hops for a delicate and forward hop character. This seasonal ale will be available in 6- and 12-packs of 12 oz bottles, 22-ounce bottles, 5-liter mini kegs and on draft in bars and restaurants throughout New England.
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