Brewery Tour Stop #12: Cape Ann Brewing Company

Is there a better way to spend the day off after New Year’s Day than to visit a brewery? Ok, don't answer that. We did anyway. Having friends walking distance from Cape Ann Brewing in Gloucester MA, DBNE had a good excuse to visit the brewery.

Its location alone is worth a visit. Sitting on the edge of the ocean, the brewery runs a simple but inviting brew pub with comforting pub food. The pub is essentially one big room filled with long communal, wood tables along with a small bar. A pleasant-looking outside deck, almost as big as the indoor space, hung over a shoreline brimming with well-worn fishing boats, docks, and lobster traps brought in for the season. It was obviously closed while we were there due to cold weather. But, it looked like a fantastic spot to enjoy fresh beer and sea food as you gaze out over the water pretending to be on the movie set of A Perfect Storm. I half expected Mark Wahlberg to show up, sit down next to me, and ask me how my mother is doing.

Cape Ann Brewing produces those beers you see around branded as “Fisherman’s”. The first beer of theirs that comes to my mind is their Pumpkin Stout. There’s consistent adulation for it among online beer circles. As I love stouts and the flavor of pumpkin, I figured the brew would be a win-win situation. I tried it last year and was unfortunately let down. It was fairly flat, lifeless, and didn’t carry much in the way of pumpkin. However, I’ve learned that sometimes you just get a bad bottle, or your palate isn’t in the right mood. So I vowed to try it again sometime but still haven’t gotten to it.  

The one other Fisherman’s beer I’d previously had was their lager, simply called “Fisherman’s Brew”. It was a deliciously perfect pairing with a pizza from our beloved pizza joint, Flatbread. So I knew Cape Ann was capable of producing tasty brews. (Side Note - If you have not been to a Flatbread, GO. There are a few around New England and they’re stellar. Enjoy unique, organic, delicious, non-guilty pizza with well-chosen craft beer options.)

We sat down at one of the communal tables and immediately ordered beer samplers. You choose six beers from a list of about ten available. As always, I have a hard time choosing. The Pumpkin Stout was there. Heck, even an Imperial Pumpkin Stout was available. This is arguably the best time to try the Pumpkin Stout again. It’s as fresh as possible. But I just wasn’t in the mood. I wanted to try all the other brews I’d never had. But then, why did I order the Fisherman’s Brew? I’d had it before! Perhaps because it was lunchtime and the sun was beating on me through the window, I craved crisper beers, which I knew the lager would be. I promised myself I’d come back to try the two pumpkin stouts on their home turf.

In addition to trying the Fisherman’s Brew again (still delicious), I got a honey pilsner, their IPA, double IPA, schwarzbier, and doppelbock.

The doppelbock had a great caramel malt profile with great yeasty bread notes. Very drinkable. I’d definitely get it again.

The IPA was a bit underwhelming. It didn’t offer that special IPA aroma we Americans expect. It seemed to take inspiration from British IPAs, which is fine. But it was still a bit weak, even watery, and I would have guessed it was a Pale Ale. It needs more hops.

Their schwarzbier, called “Eclipse”, was properly black and pleasantly roasty. Notes of molasses and brown sugar were noticeable and refined. Full of flavor, yet very drinkable, this is a solid schwarzbier that I’d love to have again.

The honey pilsner was ok. That quintessential cracker malt profile was there, but a bit shy. Its notes of honey were also subdued, as expected. This was a serviceable brew, but it finishes a bit smooth. Normally that’s not a bad thing, but I prefer my pilsners to give a little snap in the mouthfeel, which this didn’t provide.

The double IPA, called “Greenhorn Double IPA” was the standout brew. It’s easier to please a beer geek with a double IPA, but this ones’ great. The hops were a mix bag of citrus and fresh cut grass, and there was no shortage of either on the aroma or in the flavor profile. The hops even tasted a bit resiny, chewy, and dank. Caramel malts were noticeable and provided some balance, but never upstaged the hops. I got an extra glass of this after I finished the sampler because it was too good and dangerously drinkable.

A note about the food – I tried fish and chips for the first time in my life. I know, crazy, as I’m from New England. I’m just learning to like white fish, and I figured there was no better place to get fresh fish than harbor-side in Gloucester. It was delicious and served as an agreeable accompaniment to all the beers.

 

While Cape Ann’s brews were a mixed bag, nothing was off-putting, and there were more highs than lows. Combine that with the setting, the enjoyable food, and you have no reason not to visit this convivial spot in a definitive New England fishing town. 

Cape Ann Brewing Company

11 Rogers Street

Gloucester, MA 01930

phone: (978) 282-7399

www.capeannbrewing.com

Winter Pub Hours:

Sun – Thurs: 11AM – 11PM

Fri & Sat: 11AM – 12AM