When I started drinking good beer, I would go to the local
bottle shop and mix myself a six-pack of random bottles. I sort of fell out of
that habit while I focused on trying the classic beers, the expensive larger
format bottles, imported rarities, obscure styles and the like, but I recently
started “sampling” again.
As I strolled into my favorite neighborhood beer shop I
joyfully snagged an empty six-pack holder and began to fill it with this beer
and that. One of the beers that I had in my sampler was New England Brewing
Company’s 668 – Neighbor of the Beast.
The beer poured a slightly hazy, golden-yellow. The large white head rose above the rim of
the glass and settled into a craggy cap leaving plenty of sticky lacing as it
fell. The aroma reminded me of
Delirium Tremens with sweet hints of tropical fruits, candi sugar and mild
pepper and coriander-like spice notes. Unlike Delirium, however, the hops are
much more aggressive with citrusy, pine-like aromas and flavors and a gentle
earthiness through the finish.
I’m sad to see New England Brewing Company pulling out of
Massachusetts, especially with beers like this in the market. I often have a
hard time picking up beers from out of state on a regular basis. To be
perfectly honest, I’d much rather drink a Mayflower IPA than Stone, and as a
native New Englander, I don’t have a problem calling Connecticut “local.” I
look forward to the return of NEBCO, I just hope it isn’t too long a wait.
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