Lunch has been a crowd favorite at Maine Beer Company since 2011, named after a real finback whale spotted off the coast of Maine since 1982 (identifiable by what looks like a bite taken out of her fin). It has become one of the brewery’s flagship year-round beers.
At a Glance
| Style | American IPA |
| ABV | 7.0% |
| Calories | ~220 per 12 fl oz |
| Hops | Amarillo, Centennial, Simcoe |
| Malt | American 2-Row, Caramel 40L, Red Wheat, Munich 10L, Carapils |
| Origin | Maine Beer Company, Freeport, Maine (launched 2011) |
| Typical price | Around $14 to $18 for a four-pack in the US. Check the button for live pricing |
How it tastes, by the numbers
Lunch pours a hazy golden-orange with a soft white head. The nose is intensely hop-forward, tropical fruit, citrus and pine, with a caramel note underneath, aromas of grapefruit, papaya, orange and floral notes with hints of onion and garlic from the hop blend.
The full review
Maine Beer Company describes Lunch as their East Coast version of a classic West Coast IPA, and that shows on the palate, intense hop flavors and aromas of tropical and citrus fruits and pine dominate, with a subtle malt sweetness that brings the beer into balance rather than fighting the hops for attention. It sits at the more assertive end of the style compared to the hazier, juicier New England IPAs covered in our best beers guides.
At 7.0% ABV it drinks stronger than a session IPA but stays smooth enough that the alcohol rarely shows through, thanks to a light-bodied mouthfeel that keeps the hop flavors front and center without getting syrupy.
Maine Beer Company has built a reputation on consistency and freshness-focused distribution, and Lunch is the beer most responsible for that reputation, it regularly ranks among the top-rated American IPAs on independent beer-rating sites.
“Our East Coast version of the classic West Coast IPA, intense hop flavors and aromas of tropical and citrus fruits and pine dominate.”, Maine Beer Company
- Intensely aromatic, well-balanced hop character
- Smooth for a 7% IPA
- Consistent, well-regarded flagship beer
- Good malt backbone keeps it from tasting thin
- 7.0% ABV is stronger than many session IPAs
- Regional distribution can make it harder to find outside the Northeast
- Onion/garlic hop notes can be polarizing for some drinkers
Who it is for
Hop-forward IPA drinkers who want a well-balanced, aromatic beer rather than a bitterness bomb. If you want something hazier and juicier, browse our best IPA coverage for New England-style alternatives.
How to serve Lunch
Serve fresh and cold in a tulip or IPA glass to concentrate the hop aroma, this is a beer where freshness genuinely matters, since hop aromatics fade quickly. Avoid warming it too much; the aromatics are best just above fridge temperature.
FAQs
What does Lunch IPA taste like?
Lunch is intensely hop-forward with tropical fruit, citrus and pine aromas, balanced by a subtle malt sweetness, brewed by Maine Beer Company at 7.0% ABV.
Why is it called Lunch?
Lunch is named after a real finback whale that has been spotted off the coast of Maine since 1982, identifiable by a bite-shaped mark on her dorsal fin.
Is Lunch a New England IPA?
It is usually classified as an American IPA rather than a hazy New England IPA, it is clearer and more traditionally hop-forward than the juice-bomb style most associated with New England IPAs.
