It had now been a week since my epic trip from Canton, Georgia brought me back to my birthplace of New England. A drive of 1075 miles over two days got me to Rhode Island, where I spent three days with my brother before heading north to Andover, Massachusetts. There, I worked for three days, and at the end of the last I drove another 90 miles north to Portland, Maine. Portland was my favorite destination when I lived in Rhode Island, and being this close I could not pass up the chance to visit again.
First stop in Portland: The D. L. Geary Brewing Company, located in an industrial park on Evergreen Drive. Geary’s was one of my first microbrewery loves, and definitely my first from Maine. There’s an interesting story surrounding my first Geary’s Pale Ale back in 1987, and I encourage you to click the link and read it. Still and all, as much as I love Geary’s beer, I’d never been to the brewery. Until now.
Geary’s has a tap room where you can sample beer and buy it to go, too. It was here that I got my first taste of Geary’s Autumn Ale in a sampler. I’d never tried this one before, and I enjoyed it along with old favorite Hampshire Ale and two other new beers for me, Geary’s Hudson Red Ale and Geary’s IPA. I bought a case of my beloved Geary’s Pale Ale in cans to take back to Canton.
Geary’s says this of their Autumn Ale on their website:
Geary's Autumn Ale is a faithful interpretation of the classic brown ales of Great Britain. With a deep auburn color and a subtle nut-like flavor, Geary's Autumn Ale is the perfect choice as the seasons change.
Ingredients from the website:
Two row English malts (pale, crystal and chocolate); Cascade, Golding and Fuggle hops.
Geary’s Autumn Ale has an alcohol content of 5.8% by volume, and was running $14 a 12-pack at the brewery. Not bad, that.
I watched as the server poured my glass of Geary’s Autumn Ale to a medium reddish brown color with a light head of foam. A whiff revealed classic Ringwood buttery notes and earthy/herbal hops. Taking a sip, the beer was alive with chocolate and cookie-malty notes with a hint of toasted nuts, mushroomy-buttery Ringwood yeast goodness and a dry, herbal grassy hop finish. Bitterness is balancing, and the higher than normal alcohol content for an English brown fortifies against the approaching cold weather. Still, this beer accents malt and yeast with balancing grassy hops as the style demands.
I really enjoyed this beer, and for someone as Ringwood-starved as I am it was like a breath of fresh air. I could easily imagine passing cool fall nights away here in Georgia with this beer, and now I wish I’d brought some of this home, as well. Geary’s sells its beers all around me, in both Carolinas and Florida, so perhaps we’ll see it in Georgia soon? One can only hope.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft