Geary Brewing Company - Riverside

This unfiltered IPA presents a bright orange-gold color that’s lightly hazed, capped by a robust head that drops some lace as we drink this down. This is a Mosaic-heavy IPA, and as such it’s no surprise we get a complex aroma profile, especially when joined with expressive Bravo and classic Cascade hops. Appealing notes of candied and zesty citrus along with tropical fruits lead the way, with some secondary hints of berry, a sweet floral touch, and a dash of resinous pine. It’s super juicy and fruity in the flavor as well, with the bold hops well-supported by a clean and fairly robust malt center offering just light hints of toast and caramelization. Perceived hop bitterness is firm in this classic IPA and, in concert with a little spicy alcohol, easily balances any residual malt sweetness to finish dry with a lingering note of citrus zest. For pairing options, the hop bitterness allows us to cut through fat easily while also standing up to some heat. A juicy bacon cheeseburger with spicy barbecue sauce sounds good to us, as does some fiery Thai pineapple fried rice. 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.