6: Lil One
Beer #6
Lil One, Main Brewing Company, 9.1%
Maine Brewing Company is the shit. For real. The beers are outstanding. But like a lot of the major players of New England, the philosophies behind the craft are their most indelible marks—see Hill Farmstead—Local ingredients to showcase their roots, small production for above-avergae quality control, sustainability practices out the wazoo. It seems as though they are a beer ministry, showcasing the wonders of this particular part of the world, which, you could imagine by geographical proportions, has long been overlooked in the beer world.
The emergence of this terroir is the greatest revelation in beer over the last three years: Vermont and Maine as beer pillars of strength. Maine Brewing Company, however, may be the less sought-after in comparison to the wily vet Allagash, the wunderkinds Hill Farmstead (powerhouse), Lawson’s Finest, and the beacon of efficiency Alchemist.
Maine Brew- is, however, besides Allagash, the most widely distributed of these five behemoths—Lawson’s, Hill Farmstead, and Alchemist are available extremely limitedly either on site or within 50 miles—yet it still doesn’t make the hunter’s game.
One of the brewers, Kevin, created this beer and named it after his kid daughter. Newborn. Come on.
On with it.
A picturesque pour out of the pint bottle. Dark amber colorations under a thick, cream-atop-the-milk-jug head. Really beautiful. I think a pour like this would be hard to miss regardless of how one holds the glass or tips the bottle; it’s conditioned that well.
Lil One smells simply like two very potent, hoppy-beer-friendly aromas: Pine and candied citrus. The layers of pine come and go from sappy to needle-y as the candied fruits alternate from orange to lemon. Simple, potent, fresh. And fresh is the key.
Don’t fret over what style you’re drinking on the first go. It’s big. Let it wash over. Lots of heavy hoppy bitterness from the get-go that warms, then mellows to a coppery malty balance. The booze, too, brightens with the first several sips, but once she warms, she settles too nicely on the tongue for 9.1%. The back end is mildly spicy, though I’m not certain if that’s the hop and malt bills or some added spice for the winter plunge.
The mouthfeel is my favorite aspect. It’s rich and syrupy, dense enough to linger discerningly, which for a sipper, for the cold, dark months is just the ticket.
I’m doin’ this guy with a jelly doughnut—wouldn’t you though? It’s working out pretty well. The super sweet and bright jelly rocks the shit out of the fatty, bitter profile into a push/pull bonanza for a hibernation treat. I’d also, however, go beef/rabbit stew, pot roast with parsnips and carrots, spicy-sausage-topped pizza, Indian, and other super sweet, fruit based desserts, and a shot of whiskey would make this baby shine.
Pat Marino appreciates double burgers, Chris Bosh's dad and Soft Cell.