Coaster Critique: Lobster Ale

Belfast Bay Lobster Ale in a LiveME camp mug

Name: Lobster Ale

Brewed by: Belfast Bay Brewing Co.

Style: Red Ale

ABV: 5%

Purchased: Burby and Bates

Lobster Ale pours a nice deep red color with some copper highlights when held up to the light. Pour raised a short white head that fell quickly.

Smells very malty, some notes of biscuits and caramel, smell pretty sweet. I’m also picking up some fruity aromas, I’m not quite sure if this is from the hops or maybe the yeast.

First of all, this beer has no actual lobster in it, so there is no lobster flavor, no drawn butter, nothing like that. This beer does however have a rich malty flavor, picking up some caramel and toasted grains; it’s a bit sweet for my taste. The hops in this beer are light, just a hint of bitterness and some citrus on the tail end of the sip. This beer finishes with a slightly sour bite, I’ve had Lobster Ale before and I don’t remember that so I think something’s up with this bottle.

Overall a very drinkable red ale, I prefer a beer with a little more hop bite but if you like a maltier beer I’d recommend this one. I mentioned that I picked up a sour finish in the flavor, after looking a little closer at the bottle I found the “Best By” date, it was December 2012, only a couple months past but it may have played a part in the off flavors I detected, mistake on my part, with any beer you buy take a peek at the best by date before you buy it. Belfast Bay Lobster ale is definitely worth a try.

Cheers,

Chaddah

Chad Lothian

About Chad Lothian

Chad Lothian lives in Old Town, Maine. He is a craft beer enthusiast and homebrewer. Chad has travelled to brewpubs, breweries and brewfests all over New England.