Bar Harbor Thunder Hole Ale

Brewed by Bar Harbor Brewing Company (Atlantic Brewing Company)
Style: Brown Ale
Bar Harbor, Maine USA

Very crisp and clean, this was an amazing ale. I probably could have had several but I could only find them in 1pt 6fl oz. bottles, and so needless to say, one is enough for a hearty sampling. Definitely worth a try for anybody, even people that don’t like beer (blasphemers..).

Up to a strong light its browned ruby with a husky glow and dimmly clear in body. Solid dark leathery brown in the shadows. Perfect capping of light sandy brown, firmly set foam grows to just over an inch high and sinks slowly to keep an always plumply present amount. Adequate lacing in gooey-like patches and thick stringy globs stick across the glass. Eventually, a bunch of big spots remain. A very nice looking brown. Aroma is slight and fair with a clean present essense of cocoa dusted graham crackers and a sliding caramel noting. Taste is solid. Fluffy, mild, milk chocolate with a slight undertoned sweet malt of caramel and a snappy firm body at the healm. Tiny little ascents of cherry, apple, and powdered cocoa make for nice plays along the way. The cocoa becomes quite evident as it finishes well with a very nice fluffy-like dryness of powdered sugar mixed with creamed milk. A mild yet steady pace of flavors make this a very pleasing drinker. Feel is also solid. Firm, soft, creamy, subtle, with a slight snap of carbonation in the front half. Medium bodied overall, perhaps a nudge more when colder. As it warms it becomes even, calming, and super damn drinkable. A solid brown. A well done brew in a style that in most cases is a bit boring. This has lasting interest and flavor. Solid and sessionable.

Awesome - way better than the lighthouse ale, and the lighthouse ale is great.

(22 oz bottle) Wow, beautiful creamy biscuit head sits on medium dark honey brown body. Nice lacing. Aroma of caramel, malt, hops. Beautiful mellow toasted caramel flavor right from the start. No bitterness, no bite, just smooth. A bit watery but love the taste! Oooh yeah, another great brown ale from Maine. Really nice!

Brown ales are what got me interested in the world of beer. I had lost interest in them for a while, but upon going to the BHBC brewery tour I re-discovered my lost interest. This is a great, well rounded refreshing brown ale. Fresh and balanced hop and malt with a nicely lingering palate make this a top pick for me. I’ve had thicker brown ales but this one bridges the gap of refreshing and savory.

Dark brown with a quickly fading beige head. Malty nose, a bit of brown sugar, and chocolate. Nice full flavor, malt predominantly, a hint of roast, biscuits, light milk chocolate, and molasses. Medium body.

Clear chestnut. Small but sticky tan foam. Trace carbonation. Fresh aroma of caramel, nuts, dry roasted chocolate and earthy hops. Sharp and brisk on the first sip with a roasted, metallic approach and dry, crisp, clean water aftertaste. Medium light body. Malts are very dry with an earthy hop balance and sharp metallic edge. A hair sticky, even cold, but far from cloying. Yeast pour darkens the body substantially and adds a creaminess to the head. Softens the carbonation and adds a dry cocoa feel. Finishes with a bitter walnut skin nuttiness and retaining metal taste plus a hair more dry chocolate. Good brew, but a medal winner?

This is an easy one to comment. It’s like newcastle brown only a lot better :) Sweet nutty brown with excellent hop and bitterness. This is one of my favorite browns, and I dont really care for browns.