Bar Harbor's Thunder Hole Ale

Alright. So if you've been to Acadia National Park, then you probably already know that Thunder Hole is a natural rock formation on the southeast coast of Mount Desert Isle andat booms like thunder when the waves come in at about half-tide.  What you may not know, however, is that there is also a ivery fine brown ale from the Bar Harbor Brewing Company by that same name.

I brought some home with me, of course, and this is it. 

This beer won the Gold Medal at the World Beer Championships in Chicago recently, and there's a reason why. It is perhaps the smoothest, easiest-drinking beer I've had all year. I prefer it with a slice of lemon, but once you've got that in there, Thunder Hole Ale is an absolutely great sittin' and sippin' experience. 

Worth mentioning, too, is the fact that Thunder Hole is a brown ale. Today's craft beer scene is dominated by super-hopped IPAs. That's definitely not what this is. Thunder Hole is more your traditional English-style brown, with a slightly lighter mouth-feel than some other browns I can think of, along with an almost buttery smoothness going down. Man, drinking Thunder Hole Ale is a beautiful experience. 

If you like craft beer, but you need a break from the double-hopped, super-stout, over-macho scene, I can't recommend this ale strongly enough. Enjoy!