Mike's Beer of the Week

Beer Information

Brewery: Maine Beer Company 

Beer Name: Zoe

Beer Style: American Amber Ale

Abv.: 7.2%

Serving Glassware: Pint, Stein

Serving Temp.: 45-50 deg. F. (BeerAdvocate.com)

Local Availability: Table and Vine

Pairings: Meat (Beef, Chicken, Fish), Cheese (Sharp, Bleu, Cheddar)

www.flickr.com/photos/brostad

Mike's Ratings (1-5)

Overall Grade/Rate: A/4.45

Appearance: 4.5

Aroma: 4.5

Taste: 4.5

Mouthfeel: 4

Drinkability: 4.5

BeerAdvocate Avg. Rate: A-/4.23

Mike's Description

Appearance - Unique looking bottle with interesting label. A couple inches of tannish smooth head with fantastic retention and lacing deposits. the beer itself is a beautiful dark amber color that is completely transclucent...sort of like a ruby.

Aroma - Wonderful hoppy bouquet with floral wisps. Although the hops are very strong, there is a strong malt background with an earthy/woody feature.

Taste - Exactly what you want for this style, lots of hops with a strong malty backbone. Very crisp and easy to drink. The alcohol is noticeable, but it is well hidden.

Mouthfeel - Great hoppy feel and aftertaste; the syrupy malt is nice and smooth. Medium-bodied brew that is a perfect balance and representation for this style.

Drinkability - Very drinkable beer...despite its size and alcohol content I could see myself drinking about 4 of these.  Fantastic beer overall; world class for this style in my opinion. It's a little pricy, but completely worth it especially if it's fresh...I'll be getting more of this and I hope it is a year-round beer.