I had the pleasure of meeting up once again with John Jepson and Brett Marcy of Martha's Exchange Restaurant and Brewery a week ago yesterday. This time they came to my area, and we enjoyed lunch at Trinity Brewpub followed by a great time at Emerald Isle Brew Works. John and Brett were thoughtful enough to bring samplers of their latest beers (A brewpub that delivers. What's better than that?), and we enjoyed them that night and were provided with samples for later analysis. Somewhere along the line that night, however, I suffered an insect bite that quickly became infected and within a day and a half had me very sick and with a horribly bloated hand. I'm finally recovering, and have a chance to offer my opinions on three great beers from Martha's.

I really enjoyed the Smokin' Rauchbier. Wow! I couldn't believe my nose when I got the first incredibly salty, hickory-like whiffs from my glass that reminded me so much of Schlenkerla. It's no wonder, as 62% of the mash is smoked malt straight from Bamberg, Germany. At 16.7 Plato and 6.5% ABV, this is a formidable beer with a rich smoky palate, good malt body and a clean, smoky finish. Watch out, Brett and John, the Germans will be after you soon for brewing such great examples of their beers. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you happen to be in the vicinity of Nashua, New Hampshire, a stop at Martha's is well worth your time!

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft