Lunch is an American IPA brewed by Maine Beer Company. For the purposes of this craft beer review, the ale was served in an IPA glass from a 500 ml bottle.
Packaging art for the Lunch by Maine Beer Company
What You Need to Know
Lunch, at one time or another, is considered one of the craft brewing “whales”. And not just because it’s one of the most sought after beers in America. But more on that below. Lunch is a West Coast style IPA that’s tremendously hoppy without being too bitter. So how was it? Let’s get to the review.
Appearance
Lunch pours a hazy, deep golden hue and is topped by a towering stack of bone white foam that shows fine retention. The head’s reduction leaves behind gobs of sticky lace along the sides of the glass.
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Aroma
Lunch has a straightforward scent of orange citrus with just a hint of pine.
Flavor
A light cracker malt leads the palate and immediately shifts to hoppy grapefruit, lemon, and to a lesser extent, orange. There’s also subtle flavors of piney and herbal hops. Sweet tropical fruit and caramel malt flavors round out the tasting. Bitter notes of lemon, grapefruit, and herbal hops linger on the back of the tongue.
Label art for the Lunch by Maine Beer Company
Mouthfeel
Lunch has a medium body and moderate carbonation. Its finish is somewhat dry with a slight acidity. The hops lend to a less-than-moderate astringency.
A Whale of a Beer
No, the IPA’s name “Lunch” isn’t a suggestion to replace your midday meal with a beer. Instead, the beer was named after a determined and persistent whale who has been spotted off the Maine coast since 1982 and has what looks like a bite taken out of her fin.
Overall
Lunch presents nicely in the glass and though its aroma might be simplistic, it does show remarkable persistence. The flavor and feel of Lunch is a testament to days gone by. When the expectation of an IPA was that it bursting with hop bitterness. And a beer such as this could be appreciated with having a little restraint. Of course now that the New England style IPAs are more representative of today’s palate, this West Coast style IPA might seem a little dated.
Regardless, Lunch is still very much an enjoyable IPA. And one can certainly appreciate why it was so sought after for many years. Of course, today, there are many so outstanding IPAs but even after you’ve gotten your fill of those, there’s still some room for Lunch.
