Any time there’s something free around here, we get very interested. And whenever beer is involved, it just takes our enthusiasm to another level.
So it’s probably not hard to figure out why we’re all fired up about the Moat Mountain Brewing Co. free beer-tasting event at Local Baskit this Thursday.
Local Baskit has been serving healthy and locally sourced meal kits out of its 10 Ferry St. storefront for a few months now, and it’s quickly becoming a destination for the discerning beer drinker. There are all kinds of craft brews available at Local Baskit, many made right here in the Granite State. That’s great news for those who want to try something new, but what if you’ve never had – or even heard of – some of these beers and you’re nervous you won’t like it?
Well, that’s what these tasting events are all about.
Starting at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, folks from Moat Mountain Smokehouse & Brewing Co., headquartered in North Conway, will be at Local Baskit to pour some samples of their craft beer.
Since we haven’t figured out the time machine yet, we went into Local Baskit last week to see if we could try one of the Moat beers ahead of the tasting event – you know, for science.
Luckily, there were a few to choose from. Enticed by the name on the can more than anything else, we went with the Hell Yes!, a helles lager.
This Insider had never tried – or really even heard of – a helles lager before, but apparently it’s a German malty beer, light in flavor and color that was originally meant to compete with Czech pilsners, according to the internet. Always having been a fan of German-style beers, I figured it’d be a “hell” of an idea to try one.
The Hell Yes! was incredibly light and drinkable. For a second I wasn’t sure I was actually swallowing anything, but that was just my imagination playing tricks on me.
This isn’t to say it’s a watery, flavorless beer – far from it. After a few sips, I started noticing the subtle nuances that give the beer its taste. Think of something like a Blue Moon, Hoegaarden or UFO, only even crisper.
At 4.7 percent alcohol by volume, this is an easy one to “session,” or pound multiple servings in one sitting. It’s also light enough that it won’t fill you up, even in a 16-ounce can (you’ll be drinking out of little glasses at the tasting, but you get the idea).
There will be at least three other Moat beers to try, including Kearsarge Kolsch, another light German-style beer for sale at Local Baskit. Local Baskit has weekly tasting events through June, including a visit from Down East Cider on June 15. Check out Local Baskit’s Facebook page or website (localbaskit.com) to stay up to date on all the events.
