Magic Hole IPA

Available: ME

My usual beef — too dark for an IPA. The beer has a burnished copper color and a nutty and fruity (raisins and sultanas) aroma with rich, slightly toasted grain. Vine fruits and sweet malt dominate the palate with spicy and peppery East Kent Goldings hops providing a balance. The finish starts bittersweet then becomes dry with good hop notes and continuing rich fruit. But — sorry — too malty and sweet for the style.
- Roger Protz

Now this grand eloquent head spins its story of the Maine woodlands. And what aromatics do we have? Mighty aromatics from our English forbearers. A not-so-pale amber color proclaims the grand, nay, magnificent hop offering here. “Liberally hopped” indeed! This is way past that point. A true offering for hop-heads across the planet (of which I am one and feel well blessed for that). Maybe it is over the top. I don’t care. I love this beer.
- Fred Eckhardt

Aromas of ripe peach, tangerine and caramel. Similar follow-through on the palate, with a firm, bitter, citrus rind finish. Named after a part of the Kennebec River that makes rafts disappear. I certainly could swallow up one or two of these.
- John Hansell

Roger Protz
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

Fred Eckhardt
Fred Eckhardt lives, writes about and drinks beer in Portland, OR. He is the author of The Essentials of Beer Style.

John Hansell
John Hansell is an equal-opportunity drinker. He writes about beer, wine and spirits. He is the creator, publisher & editor of Malt Advocate, a magazine for the whisky enthusiast.

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