Beer of the Month Clubs

Two of the selections from the Clubs of America Beer of the Month Club were from Geary’s Brewery in Portland, Maine. One was “Hampshire Special Ale” and the other “London Porter.” Both were delicious! (You can read about the other 2 beer selections in this post.)

Hampshire Special Ale from Geary's Brewery - Portland, Maine

Hampshire Special Ale

The Hampshire Special Ale was described by Clubs of America newsletter as having:

…a huge toasted malt flavor, balanced by assertive hoppiness. The finish is long and lingering.

That description is right on!

You can see in the photo that this beer has a nice rich, golden color. I prefer this type of beer with snacks, like cheese & crackers, rather than a heavy meal.

The newsletter describes ales in general as:

…expressive and complex in flavor, with a pleasing fruitiness not found in lagers… Called the beers of antiquity, ales come in a wide range of styles and flavors. And ale is a great companion to everything from hearty stews and soups, to cheese and cracker snacks, to friends, old and new.

All in all, a very tasty and enjoyable beer.

London Porter

London Porter from Geary's Brewing - Portland, Maine

The second beer selection was the London Porter. It is much darker than the Hampshire Special Ale, as you can see in the photo.When I drink dark beers such as this, I usually prefer to just have one. Any more than that and you just don’t enjoy the bold taste.

This classic English style ale has deep mahogany color and restrained roasted malt flavor. The result is rich and complex, smooth and refreshing.

And a little about the porter style, in general:

…Porter was named for the street-market porters who drank it for its nourishment. Dark and robust, top-fermented porters are excellent with fresh raw oysters, shellfish, Porterhouse steak, and chocolaty, creamy fruit desserts.

To learn more about the Beer of the Month Club from Clubs of America, or to place an online order, visit their website.