Brew Free or Die – NH Nano-Breweries are Springing Up All Over The State

By Eric Cioffi

My recent trip to Hampton and the Blue Lobster Brewing Co. was my first time at a Nano-brewery. What is a nano-brewery? Good question. I had do some research to find out. What I found was, thanks to a newly enacted beer friendly piece of legislation, small scale brewing operations are now allowed to brew and sell up to 2,000 barrels a year. These new nano-breweries are springing up all over New Hampshire.



These breweries are an increasingly popular segment of the craft brewing world and they’ve been growing in New Hampshire. Many of these breweries don’t brew more than one batch at a time. Nano-breweries are considered by many to be the natural evolution of the home brewer’s art. These small-batch entrepreneurs are all about producing and drinking craft beer locally - and they’re a vibrant addition to the “Granite State’s” regional economy. Under the old laws small brewers were limited to selling only one case of beer per person. While this amount may seem more than adequate, often customers traveled significant distances, especially during their vacations, and wanted to bring back local beer to share with friends and families. A case of quality beer does not last long, so many people wanted to take home several cases.

Fresh Delicious Beer!

New Hampshire is the only state in the nation to recognize and codify nano-breweries as separate from large-scale beverage manufacturers. In doing so, the state lowered certain Prohibition-era liquor limitations that make it hard for the little guys to get a license, open a tap room and get brewing. Under the new nano-brewery law, brewers cannot sell beer to wholesale distributors, and so must self-distribute or sell only on-premise. However, the one case limit no longer exists. For those seeking a tasty craft brew, the options are increasing. Other states in the Northeast, like Maine and Vermont, have laws that grant some exemptions to smaller breweries. These state laws do nothing to ease the federal licensing process—a requirement for all commercial brewers—but as demand for craft brews continues to grow, hopefully more small breweries will emerge and states will take further action to support their development.

A year and a half after the nano-brewery law went into effect, New Hampshire has seven nano-breweries, and a few more on the way. If you love good beer you have to be excited about this. Truly local artisans producing quality beer in small batches with the ability to experiment and try out new styles…wow I have some “research” to do.

Fat Jack Double Pumpkin

Sam Adams Fat Jack

By Jeff Purcell

Sam Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin is part of the brewery's Small Batch Series. The Small Batch brews are big, bold and flavorful. These beers are meant to be savored and enjoyed slowly. True inspiration for the Small Batch Beers is bred from a respect for the craft and gives Sam Adam's brewers the chance to try new things and experiment with ingredients. The results can be amazing.

This rich and luscious brew indulges in flavor with over 28 lbs. of pumpkin per barrel, for a full bodied sweetness and deep russet color.  Classic pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice ignite a warmth and spark that’s deepened by an undercurrent of roasty smoked malts.  The result is a delectable brew full of enveloping layers of flavor and spice.

 

This is definitely one of the best Pumpkin Ales I've ever had. It poured nice and dark with a serious aroma of pumpkin, nutmeg and cinnamon.

Unlike many pumpkin ales it didn't overwhelm. While the hint of spice is there, the beer is still just that, a beer. It is sweet initially, then the caramel and pumpkin pie spice really takes over for a nice finish. It is full-bodied but not heavy. The spices augment the beer and make this a true positive drinking experience.

This is really good stuff!

 

Jeff Purcell Angler and Beer Aficionado

Blue Lobster Brewing

Blue Lobster Brewing in Seacoast New Hampshire
By Eric Cioffi

It was a gloomy drizzly Saturday with nothing much going on.  I managed to cut the lawn before the rain started and got a few things done around the house.  Played with Jackson for a while then decided to head over the boarder to the New Hampshire Seacoast to check out Blue Lobster brewing in Hampton.  Located in a nice little strip mall on Lafayette Road the tasting room is set up with a number of high top tables and a nice blue stone bar.  Four beers were available for tasting at the unbelievable price of $1.00 a glass.  The samples were poured into 5 ounce snifters with the Blue Lobster logo on them.  A very generous sample for a dollar!  The owner was behind the bar and we chatted for a bit.  He spent some time in Oregon where he was influenced by the west coast style of beer.  Blue Lobster’s beers are definitely hop forward!

 

I started with their flagship beer the Gold Claw American Pale Ale.  This is a fantastic brew!  The beer was a clear pale yellow in color with a nice white head.  Aromas were of citrus and slightly sweet tropical notes.  Very carbonated and crisp; the ale is medium bodied and hoppy.  You get some resinous hop up front, which is followed quickly by citrus and pine.  The hops are balanced nicely by toasty biscuity malt.  The finish is bitter but not overwhelmingly so.  I picked up a growler for the Patriot’s game tomorrow.

 

The Black Claw Stout was very good.  Plenty of roasted malt and chocolate with some hop bitterness.  A dry stout with plenty of carbonation and flavor.  Smooth and balanced.  One of the better stouts I have had that is not Guinness.

Next up was the Ragged Neck Porter.  My past experience with porters has not been good and I generally stay away.  Usually sticky sweet and heavy, they reminded me of cough syrup.  I was in for a very pleasant surprise with the Ragged Neck.  It was crisp and dry with a medium body.  The brew master uses peat in the brewing process, which imparts a wonderful smoky flavor that stays in the background adding depth without being obnoxious.  Dark but not bitter it was a great beer.  I picked up a half growler.

The final beer on tap was A Life Of Sundays, a wee heavy scotch ale weighing in at 10% ABV.  I never tried a wee heavy before.  It was very good, sweet but not overly so.  It was balanced by a measured hop bitterness.  Lightly carbonated and very smooth.  Flavors of honey, rich caramel, and roasted malt with a subtle bitterness at the end. ABV is very well disguised. The finish is mellow and smooth with a lingering sweetness. A great winter beer.

I also picked up a bottle of Little Lobster on the Prairie, a Farmhouse Saison that is lightly hopped with Galaxy hops and fermented with Brettanomyces Bruxellensis.  I will be cracking that for the Sox game.  I was very impressed with these beers and will definitely be back to try more!

Go Sox!