Square One Brewery

Square One brews absolutely amazing beers. That is a plain and simple description for beverages that are anything but plain and simple. Other simple words have been bantered about the table are best ever. Lofty words that may or not be a stretch. No doubt there are some amazing beers out there that can lay claim to that title, but honestly, none better come to mind than what Square One offers. Of the brews sampled, all were without exception, full of flavor and smooth, with a clean and perfect finish.

The first taste was of a flavor that usually finishes a meal. The Pumpkin Ale is described by Square One as pumpkin pie in a glass, which is actually a disservice to the ale. That standard Thanksgiving dessert conjures thoughts of a thick, pudding-like consistency that finishes off a glutinous feast you'll take a week to recover from. This Ale, though a fine topper for any meal, is as crisp as can be imagined. Flows like a light beer but with the honest to god flavor of a real beer. This is no b.s. flavor-promise most light beers try to sell you on, but flavors worthy of giving thanks. Pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg come balanced but won't linger, putting this brew in the upper crust of all Pumpkin Ales on the market.

Taking a step back on the color prism but giving no quarter to taste was Square One's Spicy Blond. This Belgian Ale could have been a girl named Ginger, dancing to U2's album, "Zooropa". There is no doubt "she wore lemon," while causing those ginger and lemongrass flavors to blend so beautifully that, "she's going to make you cry."

With senses and emotions engaged, the Square One IPA is an invitation to properly approach the inherent citrus of hops. Like you'd savor a sip of vintage wine, get your nose in the glass and take in the aroma before putting the ale to your lips. Hold the beer for a moment and let the memory of that inhalation engage with your taste buds, revel as a sweet and bitter grapefruit blooms in ways few IPAs are ever able to produce. It is a magical moment.

You know Square One is a enchanted place when you realize it is also a micro-distillery. While a review of their spirits will have to wait for a later post, they did make an appearance in the Scotch Ale. They smoke the malt themselves to make their whiskey and thereby ensuring this is a craft-beer experience not to be missed.

Of course what nobody should ever miss or skip is a beer that would go oh so well with the most important meal of the day, breakfast. Square One's Maple Stout would feel right at home dripping down the sides of any adult's short stack. Yet the beer isn't even remotely sweet. It is a flavor profile that will baffle your taste buds should they be engaged first thing in the morning or at the end of the day as cold Vermont winter winds begin to blow and something is needed to warm the soul.

There are plenty of other varieties of beers that will necessitate many a return visit, as will the selection of house-distilled spirits. Best is a tough label to assign, but Square One is as good as it gets. There are certainly very few breweries that can do it better.