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NERAX is organized by CASC, the Cask-Conditioned Ale Support Campaign. CASC is dedicated to boosting awareness of and demand for Real Ale in New England. The New England Real Ale Exhibition is held each spring at the George Dilboy Post, Davis Square, Somerville, MA. NERAX 2008 will be our 12th Festival. As in 2007, we will offer about 80 firkins of Real Ale. Half will be U.K. beers from England, Scotland, and Wales; and half will be American beers from New England. All the beers are cask-conditioned, served by gravity or hand-pump. |
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AMERICAN BEERS AND CIDERS
The following is (probably) the final list of the American casks to be served at this year's NERAX. All but a couple of the beers are now in the hall getting ready for your enjoyment, and these last couple should be arriving soon. Note that all casks will not be available at every session. To enhance your enjoyment, a beer will only be served when it has the correct clarity and carbonation level. Beers will drop bright at different rates due to a wide range of factors. Venting times to adjust the carbonation levels also vary. Thus some cask ales will be ready to serve before others and thus some casks as listed as being on the stillage will not served in some sessions. Though if a beer is listed as being on the stillage, and has been served earlier in the festival, it has a good chance of being served at the next session. As the festival goes on, we will try to indicate which beers will be available each session. However note that this information will usually be available just before the start of the session, as that is when the cellaring team decides whether a beer is in proper condition to be served. Note that all of the following beer descriptions are based on information supplied by the breweries. Last Updated: May 4, 2008, 12:27 am Allagash Brewing (Portland, ME) - Black
Allagash Black, their new Belgian style stout, is brewed with German 2 row barley, Torrified wheat and oats, balanced by a large addition of Belgian dark candi to give the Black a full and silky mouthfeel. Roasted malts give this stout its classic chocolate, toast and malty taste, and contribute to chocolate notes and a hint of roasted coffee in the aroma. The Black is fermented with a Belgian yeast strain. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Thursday Allagash Brewing (Portland, ME) - Dubbel
Allagash Dubbel boasts a dark mahogany color with ruby hues and a complex malty taste. The finish is dry with subtle hints of chocolate and nuts. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Friday Amherst Brewing (Amherst, MA) - Graduation Ale — Never arrived
An American style golden ale, brewed with English and German Pale malts, crystal malt, and American hops. Balanced with a soft floral finish. Cask on: — Cask kicked: Andrews Brewing (Lincolnville, ME) - Andrews English Pale Ale
Has a moderate hop aroma with a medium malt aroma, often with a low to moderately strong caramel component and earthy tones. Medium-low to medium-high fruity esters. Deep copper in color with good to brilliant clarity and a low to moderate white to off-white head. Has a medium bitterness with supporting malt flavors evident. This ale has a medium-full body and finishes dry to medium-dry. Cask on: Thursday — Cask kicked: Saturday Berkshire Brewing (Deerfield, MA) - Lost Sailor IPA — Still pouring at end
A medium bodied India Pale Ale that has been dry hopped to provide a very pleasing flora citrus aroma. The IPA has a well balanced malty sweetness and hop bitterness. A very thirst quenching IPA. Cask on: Saturday — Cask kicked: Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) (Boston, MA) - Cider — Still pouring at end
A blend of bittersweet and culinary apples this traditional cider has been aged in wood for 3 months. It has a wonderful complexity with apple and farmhouse character, as well as a clean crisp finish. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) (Boston, MA) - Holiday Porter — Still pouring at end
With its rich malt complexity, this beer become a favorite among Samuel Adams winter seasonal brews. In total, five varieties of malted barley are used in the brewing process including a variety of German malt called Carafa. The Carafa gives their Holiday Porter its smooth, roasted malt character. Add generous portions of imported hops to the mix and one has a brew that is both robust and high in drinkability. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Bray's Brewing (Naples, ME) - Orien Oatmeal Pale — Will not be served
A light amber colored beer with a creamy mouthfeel, and a biscuty flavor. Cask on: — Cask kicked: Butternuts Beer & Ale (Garrattsville, NY) - Porkslap
A Special Bitter, dry hopped with Kent Goldings. Amber in color, mild spicy notes. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Thursday Cambridge Brewing (Cambridge, MA) - Charles River Porter
Their robust porter, cask-conditioned with organic fig and date syrup. Complex caramel and fruit character with a rich finish of roasted malt and bitter chocolate. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Saturday Cape Ann Brewing (Gloucester, MA) - Fisherman's Ale — Still pouring at end
A crisp, malty Kšlsch ale with a light hop bite in the finish. A gold medal winner at the 2007 GIBF. It's a well balanced take on a classic style. Cask on: Saturday — Cask kicked: Clipper City Brewing (Baltimore, MD) - Loose Cannon IPA — Never arrived
An American IPA brewed with 3 pounds of hops per barrel and is triple hopped. It has a rich hop aroma and flavor. Cask on: — Cask kicked: Clipper City Brewing (Baltimore, MD) - Red Sky at Night Saison Ale — Never arrived
Brewed in the style of Belgian farmhouse ales, using a unique Belgian yeast and authentic Belgian candi sugar. A spicy ale with deep complexity. Cask on: — Cask kicked: Gardner Ale House (Gardner, MA) - Naked Stout
This crisp, dry, Irish-style stout is full of roasty flavor, yet low in alcohol, with a nice medium bitterness. It pours with a tan to brown head, and is surprisingly full in the mouth for a lower ABV stout. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Friday Geary's (Portland, ME) - Hampshire Special Ale
Hampshire Special Ale has a huge toasted malt flavor balanced by assertive hoppiness. The finish is long and lingering with the malt and hop notes blending with alcohol warmth. Brewed with two row English Malt (pale, crystal and chocolate) and Cascade, Mt Hood and East Kent Golding hops. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Saturday Geary's (Portland, ME) - Pale Ale — Still pouring at end
Their flagship pale is a classic British pale ale with a nod to the legendary beers of Burton-on-Trent. Copper-colored, dry, clean and crisp with lots of late hop taste in an appetizing complex with ale fruitiness from imported Hampshire yeast. Brewed with two row English malt (pale, crystal and chocolate) and Cascade, Mt Hood, Tettnang and Fuggle hops. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Gritty McDuff's (Portland, ME) - Best Bitter
McDuffs legendary Bitter hopped with East Kent Goldings. Smooth and satisfying. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Saturday Harpoon Brewery (Boston, MA) - Harpoon Ale
The first in the Harpoon family of beers, this ale is a light amber in color, medium bodied, and well balanced. The slightly fruity aroma is from Harpoon's special yeast. Liberally dry-hopped with employee grown Cascade hops. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Friday Honest Town Brewery (Southbridge, MA) - S.O.B. - Southbridge Ordinary Bitter — Still pouring at end
A light bodied, deep golden colored ale. Slight maltiness with a dry finish. Dry hopped with Kent Goldings. Cask on: Thursday — Cask kicked: Kennebunk Brewing Company (Kennebunk, ME) - Royal IPA
A full-bodied, copper-colored IPA, with pronounced British hop character, balanced with mild caramel malts. Brewed with Fuggles, Whitbred Golding Variety, and Challenger, with an East Kent Goldings dry-hop. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Friday Martha's Exchange (Nashua, NH) - Velvet Elvis Vanilla Bean Stout
A sweet stout made with pure vanilla extract and vanilla beans. It is smooth and chocolatey with vanilla aromatics that also enhance the richness of flavor. It is a dessert beer that is not too heavy. Cask on: Thursday — Cask kicked: Saturday Mayflower Brewing (Plymouth, MA) - Mayflower Pale Ale
Traditional English pale ales often have mild malt character and aroma off-set by pronounced hop bitterness. Mayflower Pale Ale offers a New World take on this Old World favorite. It combines a slightly sweet and toasted malt quality from caramel malt with floral and citrusy aromas from the English and American grown hops. The result is a well-balanced, highly drinkable ale. Cask on: Thursday — Cask kicked: Friday Milly's Tavern (Manchester, NH) - Tasha's Red Tail Ale — Still pouring at end
Tasha's is a light amber ale loaded with Munich and light crystal malts which lends a biscuity character to the beer. The Willamette hops give a balanced and mild spicy finish. Cask on: Thursday — Cask kicked: Moat Mountain Smokehouse and Brewing (North Conway, NH) - Spruce Tip Brown
An English style Brown Ale with a rich malt body known for it's balance between malt and hops. Prepared specially for the NERAX, this beer has been dry-hopped spruce tips. The aroma of spruce and malt the nose, biscuit and brown malt in the mouth, finishing with a medium bitterness along with spruce aromatics. Gentle, quaffable and satisfying without being overwhelming. Cask on: Thursday — Cask kicked: Saturday Opa Opa Steakhouse and Brewery (Southampton, MA) - Red Rock Ale — Still pouring at end
A blend of German Vienna malt and English crystal malts create this malty and slightly fruity beer. Sweet caramel flavors give way to a surprisingly soft and smooth finish. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Owen O'Leary's (Natick, MA) - Irish Red — Still pouring at end
Their flagship Red Ale, which is very smooth and drinkable. They dry hopped this one with East Kent Goldings. This Red Ale took second place in category at the 2007 GIBF. Cask on: Saturday — Cask kicked: Pennichuck Brewing (Milford, NH) - Halligan Rye PA
A golden amber India Pale Ale with a balanced peach, grapefruit and slightly malty sweet aroma. Flavors of noble hops and malted rye with notes of citrus and pine. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Thursday People's Pint (Greenfield, MA) - Pied PIPA
Full bodied IPA with rich roasted malts, spicy hops and a hint of smoke in the aroma and flavor. Bittersweet chocolate and toffee flavors merge with firm Cascade hop presence. Cask on: Friday — Cask kicked: Saturday Portsmouth Brewery (Portsmouth, NH) - American Mild
An American Mild, similar to an American IPA, but without the alcohol and a plethora of hop flavor and aromas. Cask on: Thursday — Cask kicked: Friday Redhook (Portsmouth, NH) - Long Hammer — Still pouring at end
Redhook's IPA, but taken up a notch. It's dry hopped with Amarillo and Centennial. Cask on: Thursday — Cask kicked: Rock Bottom (Braintree, MA) - North Star Ale — Still pouring at end
A well balanced, dry hopped Irish Amber ale with hints of caramel and coffee balanced by subtle citrus hop notes. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Rogue Ales (Newport, OR) - Brutal Bitter — Still pouring at end
A refreshing, hoppy pale bitter with some floral notes and a quick, dry, bitter finish. Placed 1st in the 2005 MOC competition. Cask on: Saturday — Cask kicked: Sebago Brewing (Gorham, ME) - Slick Nick — Still pouring at end
Slick Nick Winter Ale is their most popular seasonal ale. The caramel and black malts used to brew Slick Nick give it the deep amber color. Brewed with American 2-row, caramel 60°L and Black Patent malt with Tettnanger and Northern Brewer hops. Cask on: Thursday — Cask kicked: Sheepscot Valley Brewing (Whitefield, ME) - Sheepscot Bitter Pale Ale — Still pouring at end
Medium bronze color with almost no head and very little carbonation. Aroma of hops and underlying malty sweetness. Flavor of floral hops and slightly sweet. Nicely bitter through to the finish. Cask on: Thursday — Cask kicked: Shipyard Brewing (Portland, ME) - Old Thumper — Still pouring at end
A non-traditional Extra Special Bitter which is well-balanced with sweet toffee from the Crystal malt and a floral nose from the Kent Goldings hops. Cask on: Thursday — Cask kicked: Smuttynose Brewing (Portsmouth, NH) - IPA
An American style IPA that exhibits a strong bitterness which is mellowed with a nice hop flavor. The malt profile complements the hop profile but does not seek to balance it out. Dry hopped with Sorachi Ace. Cask on: Thursday — Cask kicked: Friday Smuttynose Brewing (Portsmouth, NH) - Portsmouth Lager — Still pouring at end
Named in honor of Portsmouth's 375th anniversary, Smuttynose Portsmouth Lager is a full-flavored, medium bodied continental-style beer - deep golden in color, featuring a mouth-pleasing maltiness subtly balanced with spicy imported Saaz hops. One taste of this fine lager tells you this is no ordinary beer: From its mellow, velvety body to its lingering, fresh hop finish, Portsmouth Lager is smooth, complex and satisfying. Dry hopped with Sorachi Ace and Columbus. Cask on: Saturday — Cask kicked: Stone Coast Brewing (Portland, ME) - Redstone — Still pouring at end
An English Bitter, brewed with Maris Otter base malt, Chinook for bitterness, Cascade to finish, and dry hopped with Cascade and East Kent Goldings. Cask on: Saturday — Cask kicked: The TAP (Haverhill, MA) - Hanna Dustin's Bitter — Still pouring at end
This Best Bitter named after one of Haverhill's more colorful colonial legends is made with all English malts and hops. Beware this rich amber colored Best Bitter could slay you. Dry hopped with Fuggles. Cask on: Saturday — Cask kicked: The TAP (Haverhill, MA) - Leatherlips
This beer is for hop-heads only. Ripe with floral and citrus notes, this IPA is so packed with Centennial, Nuggets and Chinook hops it should be green (matching the color of hops). Cask on: Friday — Cask kicked: Wachusett Brewing (Westminster, MA) - Green Monsta Ale — Still pouring at end
Flavorful English style ale with a balance of Belgian specialty malts, Fuggles and East Kent Golding hops. Cask on: Saturday — Cask kicked: Wachusett Brewing (Westminster, MA) - RYDE Beer — Still pouring at end
Why Rye? Exceptional drinkability. An ale with 10% flaked rye for unique flavor and dryness in the finish. Dry hopped with Tettnang hops in the conditioning tank. Cask on: Saturday — Cask kicked: Willimantic Brewing (Willimantic, CT) - Postage Porter
A dark porter brewed with seven malts portraying a chocolate chararacter and spicy finish from Perle hops. Cask on: Wednesday — Cask kicked: Saturday |
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