Yankee Brew News Archive

Yankee Brew Review: Atlantic Coast Brewing

Originally Published: 07/94

Beer: Tremont Ale and Tremont Best Bitter (the same beer, the ale served cold from a keg with a standard carbon dioxide tap, the bitter, cellar temperature, cask conditioned, dispensed by natural pressure and gravity only)

Brewer: Atlantic Coast Brewing, Boston, Massachusetts

Appearance: Clear, copper-colored, low carbonation level; creamy, soapy head that lasts, particularly in the bitter.

Aroma: Strong Goldings hop nose with some malt sweetness; slight yeast/sulfur note in bitter.

Taste: Very hoppy, moderately malty in middle, finishes very dry and British-like. The bitter was much more silky and smooth, with a very low, quite authentic real ale carbonation level, yet somehow tasting slightly thinner-bodied than the ale.

Summary: Well-made pale ale with exqusite hop character, reminiscent of Geary's Pale Ale from Maine. The bitter is a rare pleasure to find, particularly outside of a brewpub. Atlantic Coast has done its homework on the national drink of England, with several nice British touches, such as torrified wheat to aid in head retention, and dry hopping (with hop oil) the cask-conditioned bitter. Hats off to them for bringing a bit of London to Boston.

Reviewed by Brett Peruzzi, Yankee Brew News Staff