Our tour of the New England coastline continues with Gay Head Lighthouse. Like the Harbor Island IPAs, our brewing team's innovative Permutations were the genesis for these beers. With amplified strength, the Lighthouses will continue to showcase specific hops while paying homage to historic New England landmarks.
Gay Head Lighthouse was first constructed in 1799 but was replaced in 1856 with the 170 foot brick tower that still stands today. Located on the westernmost end of Martha’s Vineyard in Aquinnah, Gay Head Lighthouse rests atop a brilliantly colorful set of clay cliffs. Below the cliffs is Moshup’s Beach, named for a great Wampanoag sachem who is said to have been responsible for the cliff’s coloring. As the cliffs have eroded over time, they have threatened the location of the Lighthouse. In 2015, the 400 ton Lighthouse was reinforced and moved 129 feet back from the cliff's edge all the while maintaining the same consistent light elevation. The current location of the lighthouse will avoid any danger from the eroding cliffs for another 150 years.
Gay Head Lighthouse' eponymous beer is a Double IPA brewed with Mosaic hops and pours with a hazy orange straw coloring. Bursting aromas of fresh and vibrant citrus lead through to a palate ample with flavors of sweet tangerine, lemon granita, candied grapefruit slices, and overripe pineapple. With a medium body and carbonation, Gay Head Lighthouse has a gentle floral bitterness.
