Geary Brewing Company - Haze Trip

This hazy IPA from Geary presents a golden copper color with a medium level of haze, capped by a rocky head of off-white foam. Luscious hop aromas make themselves known as soon as we pop this open. Look for prominent citrus fruits to evoke orange and grapefruit, plus herbal tones with a pine element, and soft tropical fruits. Light touches of underlying caramelization lurk below. In the flavor, some mild toast, cracker, and light caramel form a sturdy malt base for the hops to express themselves in full effect. We get lots of zesty, resinous citrus rind, pine, and herbal spice, with big tropical and citrus fruit juiciness cascading across the palate. Perceived hop bitterness perhaps comes through a little firmer than its 40 IBUs, easily keeping this hazy IPA dry from start to finish. For pairing options, we’d steer toward complementary citrus-infused dishes with a bit of spicy heat such as citrus-marinated chicken tacos with finely diced serranos, Szechuan orange peel chicken or beef, or lemongrass-ginger shrimp ramen. Cheers!

In 1983, only thirteen microbreweries existed in all of the United States, with the majority concentrated out West in states like California, Oregon, and Washington. Inspired by the idea of brewing small-batch, high-quality beer for the enjoyment of fellow New Englanders (and themselves, of course!), David and Karen Geary began D. L. Geary Brewing Company in October of that year. But, they did not rush headlong into production; instead, David flew to Britain in 1984 to begin researching English and Scottish brewing, and training in their techniques. Helped by Scottish brewer and nobleman Peter Maxwell Stuart, who arranged for him to work at a number of different commercial breweries in both Scotland and England, David honed his craft among some of the finest breweries in the world, including the famed Traquair House Brewery (producer of some of the greatest ales in all of Great Britain).

Meanwhile, David and Karen set to the task of building the business. They laid out their business plan, identified and purchased the property that would become home to the brewery, raised capital, bought brewing equipment, and designed packaging. It was also during this time that the recipe for what would become Geary’s Pale Ale, their flagship brew, began to take form as David drew from the tradition and technique of Britain’s best brewers. Finally, construction began in 1986 after almost two years of preparation, and in December of that year the first batch of Geary’s Pale Ale was sold. The establishment of Maine’s first microbrewery signaled the dawn of the microbrewing renaissance in New England, which now boasts scores of excellent breweries and brewpubs. In 2017, the brewery was sold to husband and wife Alan & Robin Lapoint, who have positioned the brewery for continued growth through its fourth decade and beyond. For more information on their tasting room and beer garden, call them up at 207-878-2337 or visit www.gearybrewing.com.