Region: Boston, Massachusetts

Price: $5.99/22-oz bottle at Total Wine

Sight: russet, reddish-brown

Smell: earthy, evergreen, mint

Taste: earthy, piney, toffee, white grapefruit, bitter hop

Overall: This red IPA basically reminds me of a good amber ale with slightly more hop presence.  First of all, it pours beautifully.  On the nose, there is a familiar copper-amber-red-ale-earthiness with a slight wintery pine accent.  On the palate, more of that pungent, earthy, herbal flavor arises, but it’s softened and supplemented by a toffee-malt undertone and bitter white grapefruit.  The hops rule the finish, and they linger for what seems like a DECADE after the beer is gone.  Actually, the grizzled old man pictured on the label may have been inspired by the longevity of the flavor.  This beer happens to be exceptionally food friendly; since the finish lingers so long, you get a thorough mélange of flavors between what you’re eating and what you’re drinking.  The beer doesn’t get buried under the food.  I tried it with Provolone cheese (which is slightly bitter), but I’m thinking this is potentially an excellent pairing for fried chicken, or anything that could take some mayonnaise.

Price: $6.99/22-oz at Total Wine

Region: Boston, Massachusetts

Style: Sahti

ABV: 7%

Sight: copper, russet

Smell: caramel, bready, herbal

Taste: malty, herbal, bready, evergreen, berry finish

Overall:  Sahti is an ancient style of beer from Finland that uses juniper instead of hops.  I didn’t get an overwhelming juniper note off of this, but there is something faintly herbal about it.  It’s a beautifully rich copper hue with steady carbonation and little head retention.  It’s worth pointing out that the nose, in this case, is an exceptionally reliable indicator of the flavor.  I smell and taste caramelly malt, a foresty herbal note, and a good bit of breadiness; but the finish is the unpredictable bit—it tastes like an incense I smelled once, and Christmas (think pine tree + cranberries).  I can’t say I know what a legit Finnish Sahti tastes like, but I think this was a successful tribute to history; despite the smoothness of the mouthfeel, there’s a rustic quality to this combination of flavors that makes me think of an undisturbed forest.  This has been released right before summer, but I’d drink this well into the fall.  Tasty.