Maine Brew Guide by Activity Maine

fall brews with a twist

know your hops

Maine Brew Guide

GET HOME BREWING TIPS FROM THE PROS Page 14

plus – Greater Bangor Brews Beckon – Regional Brew Trips – 2nd Annual Aroostook County Brewfest – Hidden Cove’s Italian Barrel Aged Beers Page 6

COMPLETE TASTING ROOM

GUIDE HOURS & LOCATIONS Page 16

Fall Annual 2016

welcome to the beginning! Like most successful breweries that started

brewing nano batches to test their recipes, so has the Maine Brew Guide evolved from concept to reality. What began as an imprint in

PUBLISHER

Stanley J. Rintz III

SENIOR EDITOR Jim Harnedy

ART DIRECTOR

Activity Maine and RaceME is now its own publication with a hearty

Larissa Davis

social media fanbase. Maine Brew Guide’s success comes from our

Robin Bean Kristina Roderick Elizabeth Berry MacKenney

hard-working team and the talents of Maine’s trusted industry

GRAPHIC ARTIST

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

contributors. The future is very bright with many expansions on the

Kristina Roderick

way. We hope you enjoy this first issue laiden with useful content

Mike Leonard Dave Patterson Josh Christie Carla Jean Lauter

and informative articles.

Our mission is to serve our craft conscious consumers, brewers

and industry partners alike. Please send your feedback and ideas to: stan@activitymaine.com. We look forward to input from you, our readers and industry partners to help guide our direction from here. We are grateful to live in a state for which our brews are recognized as some of the finest in the nation and in world for that matter!

Cheers! STANLEY J. RINTZ III

9 Susan’s Way, Windham, ME 04062 www.activitymaine.com stan@activitymaine.com (207) 671-7230

fall 2016 | premiere issue

PHOTOGRAPHY

ADVERTISING SALES Jim Harnedy Stanley J. Rintz Sr. Ellie Stengel Ann-Marie Rintz

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Van Allen Shannon Bryan Bobbie Randolf Fran Folsom Michelle Custodio

OPERATIONS ASSISTANT Marissa Gianino

MEMBER

Maine Tourism Association Convention & Visitors Bureau Maine Merchant’s Association Chambers of Commerce

STEPHEN DAVIS PHILLIPS

contents 6

Beer meets Wine: Hidden Cove's Italian barrel aged beers

8 Spotlight on Biddeford: A proud City Rises By Carla Jean Lauter

14 Homebrew Corner: Knowing your hops

HOPS ARE KING

See “Homebrew Corner”

By David Patterson

page 14

16 Rooms with a Brew:

100% LOCAL

See “100% Local” page 36

Complete tasting room guide to hours and locations By Josh Christie

24 Brew News 26 Western Maine Brews By Josh Christie

29 Fall Beers with Twist By Carla Jean Lauter

30 Midcoast Brews By David Patterson

DIRIGO BREWING

See “Biddeford, A Proud City Rises” page 8 COMPANY

36 100% Local: Locally

Sourced Maine Ingredients

By Joel Alex

38 Greater Bangor is

becoming Maine’s next craft beer mecca BOOTHBAY CRAFT BREWERY & WATERSHED TAVERN

See “Midcoast Brews” page 30

fall 2016 | premiere issue

40 Aroostook County October Brewfest

Destination

brewer maine page 39

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southern maine

Beer meetswine Text & Photos Stan Rintz

AT H I D D E N C O V E

You may know the southern Maine coastal town of Wells as a summer vacation destination with resorts, beaches and seafood restaurants aplenty. But for craft beer enthusiasts, Wells is now on the map for HIDDEN COVE BREWING CO.'s forward thinking, high quality brews that range greatly in styles and flavors. Richard Varano, a veteran restauranteur of 40 years is hitting his stride with head brewer Kevin Glessing in this historic town. They are running 8 tap lines of beers that are cutting edge and newly re-designed as they continue to push brewing boundaries. It's like an entire beer sampling adventure in one establishment. I know it sounds cliché, but there is something on tap here for everyone and I think most people, like me, will have a hard time picking their favorite.

Out of almost 80 breweries, he was one of three that took advantage to tell me what he had aging in barrels at Hidden Cove. The first barreled aged beer I sampled out of the tap was Rosso D'Oro, which means “red gold” and it lived up to the billing. This is a tart/sour Belgian Golden Ale, aged 10 months in Aglianico barrels from Italy and dry hopped with Belma

My trip to Hidden Cove was to try their two Italian barrel aged beers, but here is quick sampling of what's on tap now. However, this list is subject to change with leaf peeping season soon to be upon us.

Patroon: Hidden Cove's flagship IPA Bucko's Hoppy Brown Ale: A roasty American Brown Ale

Summer Ale: Session Session Ale Jali: Beer aged in Tequila barrels with a secondary fermentation of agave nectar, apricots and grilled jalapenos.

Thunder Clap: Is the Double IPA.

fall 2016 | premiere issue

Booty Raspberry Golden Ale: Is a rich Belgian Golden Ale flavored with raspberries. The tasting room has a clean new

and Calypso hops. On the nose you smell the wild Saccharomyces yeast and upon taste you experience a complex, tart and slightly hoppy beer that is layered and just keep going

feel with very comfortable seating

after swallowing it. The tartness on

around a spacious bar inviting you to

the back of your throat leaves your

stay awhile. To the left of the bar is the

mouth watering for more. This is a

barrel room where you can walk in

clean tasting beer that gives you a lot

and see where the beer is aged.

to think about and I can see why this

Now onto the Barreled aged beers... I've been looking forward to this since August when Richard reached out

beer is getting recognized in various beer circuits. The second beer up was the Fragola,

to answer the statewide request for

a strawberry sour beer aged in

breweries in Maine to submit free

Valpolicella barrels. Named after a

“Brew News” in the Maine Brew Guide.

small wild strawberry that grows in

Italy, this 6% beer starts with

Upon taste, it reveals hints of

Cove has a solid take on sour

quality craft beer selections

a pleasant, almost perfumey

strawberry and then leaves

beers and you don't want to

that are edgy and they will

nose toward a tart/sour style.

you with a subtle tart and

miss these, they are limited in

always have something new

berry finish. Some may prefer

quantity.

and exciting available, enjoy!

more sour or more sweet, but I found the balance to be in

Take a trip and see for yourself, Hidden Cove has

complete harmony with my taste buds. A third barreled aged beer, that I didn't try, but is available in corked bottles is, Sangio. It is described as a rich Belgian style red fruit ale, aged in Chianti Classico barrels from Tuscany. Finished with blackberries and black cherries. The trio of barreled aged beers are packaged in beautiful 25 fl oz cork and wire capped bottles. Hidden

The RUN OF THE MILL and THE LIBERAL CUP bring the comfortable, inviting atmosphere of English style pubs to Maine. Housed by a sprawling mill building in Saco, ‘The Mill’ offers ample indoor and (seasonal) outdoor seating with views overlooking the Saco River and the up-and-coming mill district. Smaller and more intimate than its southern counterpart, ‘The Cup’ is located in the heart of Hallowell- a vibrant, historic town. Both feature hand crafted beer and home-style food surrounded by distinctive architecture and old world charm in rustic brick & mortar structures. Our pub style menus feature an array of lighter fare, hearty entrees and creative specials made from fresh, local ingredients. To wash it all down, we use the finest malts and hops to create 25 varieties of craft beer which flow directly from our in-house breweries. The owner of JIMMY THE GREEK’S recently opened the doors to a niche burger restaurant in Biddeford. Cowbell Burger Bar is just what downtown Biddeford needed, a sports-style bar with 25 burgers on their menu, 25 local craft beers on tap, and killer happy hour specials. Who wouldn’t love a craft beer and sliders for $8? The best part about Cowbell is that it’s nestled between the other local brewers, distillers, and pubs in the area. In a short walk, you can hit Banded Horn Brewing Company, Dirigo Brewing Company, Run of the Mill, and Round Turn Distilling (plus, Barreled Souls is just a short drive into Saco). Jimmy The Greek’s boasts one of the largest tap selections in the state, so it’s safe to say they know what works in this industry. The Old Orchard Beach restaurant and bar provides a one-stop shopping experience to try all of the above breweries and many more. Maine BrewGuide

Biddeford a proud city rises

Text Carla Jean Lauter

fall 2016 | premiere issue

It is easy to see why people might focus on Portland when seeking to explore Maine’s craft beer scene. As Maine’s largest city, it is stocked with breweries and it tops other major U.S. cities in breweries-per-capita. While this popularity has encouraged more breweries to open — over a dozen breweries in Maine have opened in 2016 — many potential brewers are focusing on other communities.

BIDDEFORD/SACO

photo: benjamin moore

Left: The View of the falls From Dirigo Brewing Company.

The Biddeford/Saco

thinking of investing in

area, located a quick

rehabilitating the area.

twenty-minutes south of

four beer-producers, each

of becoming a hub for

who have found ways to

beer lovers — and offers

grow their city’s love for

something for lovers of

beer without compromising

traditional beer styles

the area’s rich history.

the newest and most experimental styles. The cities of Saco and Biddeford have a long history — mill buildings

Brews overlooking the Saco River on the Run of the Mill deck.

Today, the area is home to

Portland, is in the process

as well as those seeking

RUN OF THE MILL

Run of the Mill Public House & Brewery 100 MAIN STREET, SACO

and former industry line

In an industry where it is

the bank of the broad,

easy to be trendy, RUN OF

curving Saco river. Once

THE MILL brewpub stands

empires of lumber and

out for being true to its

industry, the massive brick

roots. It was the area’s

occupies — the feeling that

and semi-private spaces

mill buildings and stacks

first brewery, and opened

it’s always been here just

to make it feel cozier, but

stand as a reminder of

after its successful “sister”

as it is. The exposed beams

to accommodate anyone

an economy that’s been

brewery, THE LIBERAL CUP,

and warmly enveloping

who wants to partake in

transformed many times

did so well in the town of

walls and floors hold

a hearty meal, down a

since the city’s founding.

Hallowell.

character and stories that,

few beers and talk about whatever’s on their mind.

The once-bustling mills laid

Though Run of The Mill

in a way, encourage us to go

unused for decades — and

has only been open since

there and tell our own. The

the latest recession wasn’t

2008, it has the atmosphere

space is both huge and tiny,

turns out a variety of

encouraging for those

and feeling of the old

purposefully designed to

classic ales and lagers and

mill on Saco Island that it

have many different nooks

regularly keeps at least

The 14-barrel brewhouse

Maine BrewGuide

BRANDED HORN BREWING

seven on tap, changing them

Dirigo Brewing Company

32 MAIN STREET, BIDDEFORD

28 PEARL STREET, BIDDEFORD

Just across the river, the

Despite being the newest

Pepperell Mill campus is

brewery in the area, DIRIGO

photo: carla jean lauter

Banded Horn Brewing Company 13-W

home to BANDED HORN

BREWING COMPANY opened in

BREWING COMPANY, who began

2016 with a lot of previous

their plans to renovate the

brewing experience. Lead

space in 2013, launching a

brewer Tom Bull has

Kickstarter to involve the

worked at several other

community in their brewing

Maine brewing institutions

endeavor. Since then, Banded

(Gritty’s, Casco Bay Brewing,

Horn has transformed

Bull Jagger) before setting

their high-ceilinged space

out to open Dirigo Brewing

into a brewery production

in 2016. The space that

facility that has a 20-barrel

Dirigo occupies features six

brewhouse and 200 barrels of

windows overlooking the

fermentation capacity.

Saco falls — a view unseen

What Barreled Souls lacks

by residents for years before

in size it makes up for in

The beers Banded Horn are

DIRIGO BREWING COMPANY

Barreled Souls 743 PORTLAND RD, SACO

up seasonally. The beers range

known for include several

Dirigo’s opening — and offers

creativity and variety – why

from traditional English-style

familiar styles, including

an unparalleled view to

make the same beer every

ales their flagship is their

their flagship Pepperell Pilsner

accompany brewery samples.

week when you could simply

Alewife; a smooth but bitter

(an unfiltered Keller Pils) and

English Pale Ale, to classic

assertively hoppy and piney

old-world styles, Dirigo

of interesting variants? The

lager styles like their Dunkel

Diakaiju double IPA. Where

Brewing Company has already

tasting room in Saco regularly

John’s Band, a roasty and well-

their talents truly stand out

made a name for themselves

features over ten beers in a

balanced Dunkelweizen (dark

in the Maine beer landscape

by refusing to make an

broad range of styles. This

wheat). The beer names touch

is their three beers on the

IPA — instead choosing to

allows beer lovers to not only

on a familiar Maine sense

dark side: Norweald, a slightly

focus on more malt-forward

try a variety in one sitting,

of humor — including names

smoky, intense dark brew; The

ales and lagers. Their debut

but provides an opportunity

such as State Budget Red (a

Mountain, a deep, chocoately,

lineup includes a 13th century

for anyone to find a beer they

hopped bitter red ale), Ex-Wife

and rich Russian Imperial

Polish chocolate wheat beer,

might be particularly fond of.

Extra Bitter (English Bitter), or

Stout; and Jolly Woodsman, a

Schöps, and a “German” Pale

For Richer or Poorter (Porter).

bitter and utterly satisfying

Ale made with a German malt

excellent beers that make it

stout brewed with wood-

and hops bill in place of the

into regular rotation (try Paper

roasted espresso beans from

usual West-Coast Hops. A

Planes, the IPA for a fresh take

Speckled Axe, a local coffee

particularly unique beer is

on the style or Space Gose for

roaster.

Dirigo Lager, brewed in the

a perfectly tart version of a

Helles-style. Showcasing

traditional Gose), Barreled

events and takes advantage

the malts upfront, this

Souls is not afraid to get a

of their large ex-mill space.

clean, golden brew is easily

little experimental. Some

From ping-pong tournaments

consumed but not easily

beers are infused with fruits

to yoga, they are eager to help

forgotten.

or spices, including oranges,

Banded Horn regularly hosts

fall 2016 | premiere issue

make many small batches

While there are some

folks their community find a

strawberries, or anise; while

run reason to hang out, and to

others are aged in barrels

provide space to organizations

once used for other spirits.

and events that they jive with.

Focusing on German and

southern maine

kennebunk

photo: carla jean lauter

birthplace of shipyard brewing

Come in to their tasting room

visited in a single trip. The

with an open mind and you

tasting room staff are friendly,

cannot leave bored.

the beers are pouring and the locals are waiting to hear

Worth the trip

your stories. So what are you waiting for?

Only minutes apart, these breweries can offer a snapshot into Maine’s brewing past and future, and can easily be

Don’t Miss

Proud to offer maine’s favorite

BREWS & VIEWS

Best Waterview deck in the port!

Celebrating 20 Years of brewing world class SHIPYARD ales

HAND-CRAFTED ALES WATERFRONT DECK LOBSTER AND SEAFOOD FREE BREWERY TOURS AND TASTINGS GAME ROOM • POOL TABLES • KID’S MENU LIVE MUSIC • BIRTHPLACE

207-967-4322

The Kennebunkport Brewing Co. Shipyard Store Featuring Shipyard bottled beers Growlers from Kennebunk Brewing Co. Shipyard brew wear and accessories Maine made gifts and souvenirs Authentic ship models, toys and books Internet Access

Located below Federal Jack’s or visit us online at:

OF SHIPYARD ALES Open: 11:00am - 12:30am

FEDERAL JACK’S & KBC STORE Often referred to as the most picturesque pub on the waterfront, Federal Jack's Restaurant and Brew Pub is well-known for its spectacular views, creative pub fare, and award-winning hand-crafted ales. One of Maine's first brew pubs, this popular restaurant is the birthplace of Shipyard Brewing Company. Not only does Federal Jack’s offer a brew with a view overlooking the Kennebunk River, they also offer free brewery tours. All the beers available at Federal Jack's are handcrafted at KBC, the seven-barrel brewery located below the restaurant. The system gives head brewer, Mike Haley, as much control over the way the beer is poured in the pub as he has over the selection of the ingredients that go into making the beer. Be sure to check out all the Federal Jack's gear and great brews at the KBC Gift Store. This unique gift store, located below the restaurant, offers bottled beer, growlers, and kegs; Maine-made Capt'n Eli's Soda; wearables; pint glasses; gourmet foods; and nautical gifts. www.federaljacks.com

www.federaljacks.com

www.kbcshipyardstore.com 207-967-1261

Shipyard Shops • 8 Western Avenue • Lower Village • Kennebunk Maine BrewGuide

The modern Maine beer scene was born in Portland in the 1980s, when David L Geary’s brewery broke ground. The seaside city still reigns as the epicenter of Maine craft beer, with nearly two dozen breweries in and around the Portland city limits. With local beer on draft in nearly every bar, more in local stores, and too many great restaurants and venues to count, there’s no better place to enjoy beer in Maine than Portland. It’s one of many reasons the Forest City consistently tops lists of the best places to visit in the US.

fall 2016 | premiere issue

photo: benjamin moore

portland

By Josh Christie

Greater Portland

beer

1988

food

Since 1988, GRITTY’S has been creating fine, handcrafted ales and traditional pub fare. From humble beginnings as a small brew pub in Portland’s Old Port, they have grown to become a brew pub of choice for many Mainers and folks “from away”. From the start, Gritty’s was at the forefront of the brewing renaissance in the Maine. Founders Ed Stebbins and Richard Pfeffer had two simple goals in mind: to create a true, English-style pub serving fresh ales and great food, and to have fun doing it. With three brew pubs now: the original location in the old port section of Portland, another pub in Freeport and the “new one” on the banks of the Androscoggin River in Auburn, Maine. Their fine ales are sold in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont. www.grittys.com www.facebook.com/grittymcduffs or www.twitter.com/grittys

SEBAGO BREWING COMPANY is a Maine-owned and -operated company firmly rooted at the crossroads of food and beer. Since opening in 1998, Sebago has become Maine’s premier contemporary American brewpub and one of the fastest-growing craft breweries in the state. Sebago offers a full line of year-round beers, three seasonal beers and several highly anticipated, limited-edition Single Batch Series beers. Sebago Brewing Company has a reputation for creative, high-quality, unique beers that tempt and satisfy the palates of beer lovers.

Local before it was a catchphrase. Sustainable before it was a movement. Micro before it was craft.

Gritty McDuff’s Brew Pubs

Craft Beer I Fresh, Local Pub Fare PORTLAND I FREEPORT I AUBURN I www.grittys.com Stop by for a pint and grab a burger at any one of Sebago’s four brewpub locations in downtown Portland, by the Maine Mall in Scarborough, Gorham in the Village or Kennebunk at the shops at Long Bank. Or schedule a tour and tasting at the brewery in Gorham! For more information on Sebago Brewing Company’s events and beers, visit www.sebagobrewing.com.

SEBAGOBREWING.COM/BEERFINDER Maine BrewGuide

homebrew

corner Text David Patterson

for tips on how to let the lupulin shine in your next batch of homebrew. My first call was to Joel Mahaffey at Foundation Brewing Company. Mahaffey and his brewing partner, John Bonney, created Epiphany, a DIPA gushing with luscious hop flavor and the winner of the 2016 Maine Madness Beer Tournament. They clearly know how to get the most out of their hops. Mahaffey described three main hop categories: fruity, piney, and dank or resinous. He noted this is an oversimplification since each hop has its own idiosyncrasies, but it’s a good starting point.

There’s no denying that in the pecking order of brewing ingredients, these days hops are king.

“First begin by trying to imagine what flavors you want, and then pick the hops that will give you those flavors and aromas,” Mahaffey stated. Think about an IPA you love. Break down the hop profile into Mahaffey’s

Craft beer lovers are so

number of hops now

decide which flavors and

IPAs they’re willing to

available to homebrewers

aromas to mimic in your

stand in endless lines to

and countless brewing

homebrew.

acquire cans of resinous

tips for when to toss the

liquid. And brewers are

hops into the beer, getting

brew a tropical fruit DIPA

happy to oblige, dumping

the perfect hop balance

or a piney bitter IPA or a

inappropriate bucket loads

starts to feel like a math

dank, reefer-forward ale,

of hop pellets into brew

equation involving that

it’s time to choose the

kettles.

demonic trinity sine,

hops. Mahaffey offered his

cosine, and tangent.

favorite hop varieties for

homebrewers want in on

fall 2016 | premiere issue

three categories, then

thirsty for IPAs and Double

It’s no surprise that

But with a staggering

To shed some light on the

Once you’ve decided to

each category.

this nuclear arms race for

hop conundrum, I reached

For fruity flavors try

hoppy ales.

out to some Maine brewers

Mosaic, Huell Melon, El

Dorado, Idaho 7, Ella,

In addition to flameout

Enigma, and Vic Secret.

hops, Jones suggested

GORDON JONES

While the more pine-

a brewing technique I’d

focused hops include

never encountered.

Maine Brewing Supply

Cascade, Chinook, and

He explained to add hops

Simcoe. And for hops

“once the beer is done

dominating the dank slice

boiling and has dipped

of the flavor wheel try

below 180 degrees and

Topaz, Apollo, Columbus,

once the beer has dipped

and Equinox.

below 145 degrees.”

As a homebrewer who’s

The idea is to cool

“ Practices for maximizing hop flavor and aroma are evolving pretty rapidly.”

been at the kettle for

the wort to the desired

hop aroma—if you haven’t

days, and as those hops

over a decade, Mahaffey’s

temperature and add hops,

had DDH Patina, get some.

become fully saturated

advice streamlines the

letting them sit for five to

Now. I asked Austin about

they begin to drop out of

dizzying hop market.

fifteen minutes, then cool

his process for double dry

suspension just in time for

it again and repeat the

hopping this beer.

that second dose.”

Once you’ve chosen the

“DDH Patina receives

I don’t know about you,

faithful readers, I will be

its first dose of hops five

but all this advice from the

trying this technique in my

days after the brew day. At

pros is making me want

next batch.

that point it’s the normal

to boil some wort and

blend of hops we use.

experiment with hops.

hops, now the question is

process. I can promise you,

when to add them. Hops impart three main tasting notes into beer: bitter when boiled sixty

Once the boil is done,

I’ll leave you with some

minutes, flavor when

Jones outlined methods

Three days after that we

boiled fifteen to twenty

of dry-hopping: “Pre-dry

add in the second round of

last advice from Joel

minutes, and aroma when

hopping when the yeast

whatever hop variety we’re

Mahaffey on the amount

boiled five to zero minutes.

is pitched, dry hopping

looking to showcase. After

of hops to use: “Be heavy

The American IPA market

three or four days into

four days we begin the

handed. You will lose wort

is all about decadent flavor

fermentation, and dry

cold crashing,” explained

and beer from hop sludge.

and aroma notes. To help

hopping multiple times

Austin.

It’s the price you pay for

homebrewers bring out

post-fermentation.”

So what are the benefits

It seems like the key

of double dry hopping as

contacted Gordon Jones at

to achieving radioactive

opposed to dry hopping

Maine Brewing Supply on

hop aroma is ceaselessly

once with the same

Forest Avenue in Portland.

hucking hops into the

amount of hops?

these characteristics I

“Practices for maximizing

beer before, during, and after fermentation. Jones

theory “is that splitting

evolving pretty rapidly,”

noted that to dial in big,

the dry hop addition

Jones explained.

yet balanced aroma and

means more liquid

flavor, homebrewers need

is contacting less

hops have had internet

to experiment with each

hops for a few

forums abuzz. A flameout

stage of dry hopping.

addition is when hops

aromas.” Cheers!

Austin muses one

hop flavor and aroma are

In recent years, flameout

those glorious flavors and

While considering the art

are added after the wort

of dry hopping, I decided

has been removed from

to contact Jake Austin at

the heat source to keep

Austin Street Brewery. His

from boiling off hop oils

Double Dry Hopped Patina

essential to aroma.

Pale Ale is bursting with

Maine BrewGuide

tasting room directory te as of early Note: Hours were accuadraing out please September. Before he nfirm hours. check ahead to co

By Josh Christie

THE

GREAT LOST BEAR 78 BEERS ON TAP INCLUDING 40 LOCAL FRESH MAINE BEERS 540 FOREST AVENUE PORTLAND, ME 207-772-0300 www.greatlostbear.com

fall 2016 | premiere issue

Establishment

Town

Region

Airline Brewing Company Brewery

Amherst

Downeast

Airline Brewing Company Pub

Ellsworth

Downeast

Allagash Brewing Company

Portland

Andy's Brew Pub (Andrew's Brewing)

Lincolnville

Midcoast

Atlantic Brewing Company

Bar Harbor

Downeast

Atlantic Brewing Downtown

Bar Harbor

Downeast

Austin Street Brewery

Portland

Bag & Kettle Brewpub (seasonal)

Carrabasset Valley

West. Mountains

Banded Horn Brewing Company

Biddeford

Maine Beaches

Barreled Souls Brewing Company

Saco

Maine Beaches

Baxter Brewing Co.

Lewiston

Central Maine

Bear Bones Beer

Lewiston

Central Maine

Bigelow Brewing Company

Skowhegan

Central Maine

Bissell Brothers

Portland

Black Bear Brewing Company

Orono

Greater Bangor

Blank Canvas Brewery

Brewer

Greater Bangor

Boothbay Craft Brewery & Tavern

Boothbay

Midcoast

Bray's Brew Pub and Eatery

Naples

Maine Beaches

Bunker Brewing Co

Portland

D.L. Geary Brewing Co.

Portland

DeepWater Brewing Co (seasonal)

Blue Hill

Downeast

Dirigo Brewing Company

Biddeford

Maine Beaches

Fat Friars Meadery

Newcastle

Midcoast

Fore River Brewing Company

South Portland

Greater Portland

Foulmouthed Brewing

South Portland

Greater Portland

Foundation Brewing

Portland

Funky Bow Brewery & Beer Company

Lyman

Maine Beaches

Geaghan's Pub

Bangor (Pub)

Greater Bangor

Geaghan Brothers Brewing Company

Brewer (Tasting Room)

Greater Bangor

Gneiss Brewing Company

Limerick

Maine Beaches

Gritty McDuff's

Auburn

Central Maine

Gritty McDuff's

Freeport

Greater Portland

Gritty McDuff's

Portland

Hidden Cove Brewing Company

Wells

Maine Beaches

Kennebec River Pub & Brewery

The Forks

West. Mountains

Kennebunkport Brewing / Federal Jack's Restaurant

Kennebunk

Maine Beaches

tasting room directory S

Facebook

12 – 8

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4 – 10

12 – 10

/airlinebrewingcompany

11 - 10

/airlinebrewingcompany

11 – 6

/AllagashBrewingCompany

11:30 – 8

10 - 6

/atlanticbrewing

11 - 9

/atlanticbrewingdowntownbh

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—

3–7

12 – 7

/AustinStreetBrewery

11a - 10p

/The-Bag-and-Kettle-226206227458472/

12 – 8

4–9

4 – 10

12 – 10

/BandedHornBrewing

12 - 10

4 - 10

4 – 12

12 – 12

/barreledsouls

—

3–9

/baxterbrewing

12 - 6

—

4 - 10

4 – 10

12 - 10

/bearbonesbeer

—

3–8

12 – 5

/bigelowbrewingco

12 – 5

—

12 – 6

12 – 8

/BissellBrothers

2–8

3 – 10

3 - 11

2 - 11

/blackbearmicrobrew

—

4 -9

4–9

/blankcanvasbrewery

11:30 – 8:30

—

11:30 – 8:30

/ Boothbay-Craft-Brewery-Tavern -104727574679

11:30 – close

/braysbrew

12 – 6

—

5–8

12 – 6

/bunkerbrewingco

—

12 – 7

/gearybrewingco

4:30 - 9:00

—

4:30 - 9:00

12 - 8

—

12 - 8

12 - 12

/dirigobeer

—

12 - 5

/The-Fat-Friar-Meadery-175864219129026

12 - 9

—

2-9

12 - 9

/foreriverbrewing

12 - 11

3 - 11

12 - 11

/FoulmouthedBrewing

12 - 5

—

3–7

12 – 7

/foundationbrew

1–5

—

4–9

1–9

/FunkyBowBreweryAndBeerCompany

11 - 12

11 – 1

/geaghans

—

4 -9

4-9

12 - 9

/geaghanbros

—

2–7

12 – 6

/GneissBeer

11 – 1

/grittymcduffs

11 – 1

/grittymcduffs

11 – 1

/grittymcduffs

12 - 7

/HiddenCoveBrewing

7a – 9p

/KennebecRiverBrewery

11:30 - 1

11 - 12:30

11:30 - 1

/federaljacks

/ Andys-Brew-Pub-Lobster-Pound -398179753656507

/DeepWater-Brewing-Co-264815220234618

Maine BrewGuide

Serving lunch, dinner, late night & kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menu too! In 4 locations in Maine. Open 7 days a week. All year! BANGOR 26 Front St, Bangor, ME 04401 (207) 947-8009

SO. PORTLAND 125 Western Ave. So.Portland, ME (207) 871-7000

TOPSHAM CAMDEN 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, 1 Main St. Topsham, ME Camden, ME (207) 725-0162 (207) 230-1306

seadogbrewing.com 18

fall 2016 | premiere issue

Establishment

Town

Region

Liberal Cup Public House and Brewery

Hallowell

Central Maine

Liberty Craft Brewing

Liberty

Midcoast

Liquid Riot Bottling Company

Portland

Lively Brewing / Ebenezer's Brewpub

Brunswick

Midcoast

Lone Pine Brewing Company

Portland

Lost Orchard Brewing / Crooked Halo Cider House

Gardiner

Central Maine

Lubec Brewing Company

Lubec

Downeast

Maine Beer Co.

Freeport

Greater Portland

Maine Coast Brewing Co. / Jack Russell's Steakhouse

Bar Harbor

Downeast

Maine Mead Works

Portland

Marshall Wharf Brewing Co.

Belfast

Midcoast

Mason's Brewing Company

Brewer

Greater Bangor

Mast Landing Brewing Company

Westbrook

Greater Portland

Monhegan Brewing Company (seasonal, May - Oct)

Monhegan

Midcoast

Norway Brewing

Norway

West. Mountains

Oak Pond Brewery

Skowhegan

Central Maine

Orono Brewing Company

Orono

Greater Bangor

Orono Brewing Company - Downtown Bangor

Bangor

Greater Bangor

Oxbow Blending and Bottling

Portland

Oxbow Brewing

Newcastle

Midcoast

Penobscot Bay Brewery / Winterport Winery

Winterport

Midcoast

Ricker's Hard Cider

Turner

Central Maine

Rising Tide Brewing Company

Portland

Rock Harbor Pub & Brewery

Rockland

Midcoast

The Run of the Mill Public House & Brewery

Saco

Maine Beaches

Saco River Brewing

Fryeburg

West. Mountains

Sea Dog Brewing Co.

Bangor

Greater Bangor

Sea Dog Brewing Co.

South Portland

Greater Portland

Sea Dog Brewing Co.

Topsham

Midcoast

Sea Dog Brewing Co.

Camden

Midcoast

Sebago Brewing Co.

Gorham

Greater Portland

Sebago Brewing Co.

Scarborough

Greater Portland

tasting room directory S

11 – 9

11:30 – 9

11:30 – 10

/TheLiberalCup

11: 30 – 8

/libertycraftbrewing

11:30 - 7 12 – 11

12 – 11

12 – 1

11:30 - 1

4–8

12 – 8

12 - 4:30

2 - 8:30

12 – 6 12 - 4:30

12 - 4:30

2 - 8:30

Facebook

/liquidriot /Ebenezers-Brewpub-211281985715280 /LonePineBrewing /LostOrchardBrewing /Lubec-Brewing-Company-1406990739591377

11 – 5

11 – 8

/mainebeer

4–9

/Jackrussellssteakhouse

12 - 5

11 - 7

/HoneyMakerMead

11 - 4

/Three-Tides-Marshall-Wharf-BrewingCompany-41135004445

10:30–10:30

4–8

12 - 8

12 – 8

/mastlandingbrewing

12 - 6

/MonheganBrewingCompany

4 – 11

4 - 12

2 - 12

/norwaybrewingco /OakPondBrewery

11 - 4 10:30–10:30

10:30–10:30

12 - 5 12 - 6

12 - 6

12 - 4

/masonsbrewing

3 – 5:30

12:30 – 5:30

12 – 7

3 – 10

3 – 12

12 – 12

/oronobrewing

12 – 7

3 – 10

3 – 12

12 – 12

/oronobrewing

12 - 9

12 - 11

/Oxbow-Blending-Bottling-372533856238705

12 – 7

12 - 7

12 – 7

12 - 9

/OxbowBeer

11 – 5

/Winterport-Winery-and-Penobscot-BayBrewery-107454236064

11 - 6

/RickersHardCider

12 – 5

12 – 7

/risingtidebeer

11:30 – 11

/rockharbor.me

11:30 – 1

/The-Run-of-The-Mill-Public-House-andBrewery-52414106886

3-7

12 - 7

/sacoriverbrewing

12 - 5 11 – 1

11 – 1

/seadogbangor

9-1

11 – 1

9-1

/seadogsouthportland

10 - 1

11 - 1

/seadogtopsham

11 - 12:30

/seadogcamden

11 – 10

11 – 12

/sebagobrewing

11 - 1

/sebagobrewing

Maine BrewGuide

THE GREAT LOST BEAR has become a Portland institution since opening in 1979. The Bear is located about two miles from Portland’s touristy Old Port but well worth the journey across town to the Mysterious Woodford’s Area. The Great Lost Bear features an enormous, eclectic menu with something for everyone, all served in an entertaining atmosphere. They have added more taps as new breweries open throughout the Northeast. Now, with the Craft Beer Revolution in full throttle GLB offers 78 beers on tap with over 40 from the State of Maine alone. Come taste some of the freshest local beer around at the GLB! (See our ad p. 16)

SEA DOG BREWING COMPANY is a family owned brewery with a full line of handcrafted ales that capture the spirit of Maine's sea-faring history. Sea Dog ales are brewed using time-honored methods and only the finest ingredients. The brewery’s traditional brewing style results in brews with a distinctive, refreshing taste and crisp finish. For the full Sea Dog experience, visit one of their brew pubs! In Maine, you can visit one of the three waterfront locations – overlooking the Androscoggin River in Topsham, along the historic Penobscot River in Bangor, blocks from the Atlantic Ocean in the historic shipbuilding town of Camden or by the Maine Mall in South Portland. The Sea Dog pubs serve lunch and dinner daily. The Bangor location brews their beer on the premises and offers daily brewery tours. You will also find Sea Dog pubs in North Conway, NH and Orlando, FL, and a brewery and tasting room in Clearwater, FL. www.seadogbrewing.com (See our ad p. 18)

fall 2016 | premiere issue

Establishment

Town

Region

Sebago Brewing Co.

Kennebunk

Maine Beaches

Sebago Brewing Co.

Portland

Sebago Brewing Co. (Brewery)

Gorham

Greater Portland

Sheepscot Valley Brewing Co.

Whitefield

Midcoast

Shipyard Brew Pub

Eliot

Maine Beaches

Shipyard Brewing Company

Portland

Shipyard Inn on Peaks Island

Peaks Island

Greater Portland

Simplicity Brewing Co and Supplies

Warren

Midcoast

SoMe Brewing Company

York

Maine Beaches

Strong Brewing Company

Sedgwick

Downeast

Sunday River Brewing Company

Bethel

West. Mountains

Theory Brewing Company (Fall 2016?) Wells

Maine Beaches

Threshers Brewing Company

Searsmont

Midcoast

Tributary Brewing Company

Kittery

Maine Beaches

Tumbledown Brewing

Farmington

West. Mountains

Urban Farm Fermentory (Kombucha, Cider + Beer)

Portland

tasting room directory S

11 – 10

11 – 12

/sebagobrewing

11 - 12

11 – 1

/sebagobrewing

3–5

Varies (Call Ahead)

Facebook

/sebagobrewing

Varies (Call Ahead)

/Sheepscot-valley-brewing-337885939564553 /ShipyardEliot

11:30 – 9

11:30 – 10

11 - 5

9-6

9-7

11 - 9

11 - 10

10:30 – 6

12 - 8

12 - 9

12 - 7

/SomeBrewingCo

1-7

1–7

/StrongBrewingCompany

6a – 11p

6a – 1a

11 – 5 12 - 7

6a – 11p

12 - 8

6a – 11p

/ShipyardBrewing /InnOnPeaks /simplicitybrewingco

/Sunday-River-Brew-Pub-w-The-Savages-315654268558376/ /TheoryBrewingCompany

12 - 8

/ThreshersBrewingCo

1–5

12 – 7

/tributarybrewingcompany

1–7

11 – 7

/TumbledownBrewing

12 - 7

/urbanfarmfermentory

12 - 5

12 - 7

SHIPYARD BREWING COMPANY is a family owned brewery – rooted in tradition and brimming with innovation. Each year, Shipyard serves up more than 20 varieties of award-winning, handcrafted beer and a full line of Capt’n Eli’s Soda. Shipyard is committed to brewing the freshest, most flavorful, full-bodied ales available using only the finest, all natural ingredients. The first Shipyard beer was brewed in 1992 at Federal Jack’s Brew Pub before the Portland brewery was built in 1994. Today, Shipyard is a vibrant centerpiece of the Portland waterfront and continues to brew at Federal Jack’s in the heart of Kennebunk. You can visit the Shipyard brewery, store, and tasting room on the waterfront in Portland, Maine. www.shipyard.com

Located in Portland’s original brewery neighborhood in the Riverside Industrial Park, NEW ENGLAND DISTILLING is Portland’s first distillery since Prohibition. The distillery was founded by Ned Wight, former Allagash head brewer, and a descendent of several generations of whiskey distillers. Ned brings his brewing background and family distilling heritage together to produce high quality spirits that are unique and delicious. New England Distilling is known for their traditional, low-tech approach to making spirits. Starting with raw grain or molasses, they make a mash and then ferment the wort to produce a beer. The beer

is then distilled using simple pot stills which are heated with direct fire, resulting in uniquely flavorful spirits. These award winning spirits are Ingenium Gin, Eight Bells Rum, and Gunpowder Rye Whiskey. Each is intended to be sipped on their own, but are excellent in cocktails as well. Look for their highly anticipated bourbon to be introduced in early 2017, as well as future small batch whiskey releases. Interested in seeing their process first hand? They love to show off the distillery and explain their production methods. For tour information, see www.newenglanddistilling.com

Rich with History. JUST LIKE MAINE.

tours & tastings on the hour M-F 12-5pm, SAT 10-6pm Visit our new tasting room: 1 Industrial Way, Portland 26 Evergreen Drive, Unit B Portland, ME * 207.878.9759 newenglanddistilling.com

Maine BrewGuide

Greater Portland

LIQUID RIOT’S roots date back to 2001 when Eric Michaud’s homebrewing filled his parents' basement in Yarmouth, Maine, with batches of newly created beers. Today his and his team's passion for brewing exceptional beers and distilling outstanding spirits pairs perfectly with the great food served at this Portland Brewery/Distillery/Resto-Bar, which opened in 2013. Liquid Riot maintains 16 house beers on tap and a full lineup house spirits, as well as Liquid Riot beers and spirits in every dish. Liquid Riot's "Blushing Star" earned a gold medal for Brett Beer at the 2016 World Beer Cup. Also Liquid Riot has won the Great Lost Bear “Brewpub Cup" and Portland Phoenix Best Brewpub awards and Ratebeer. com named Liquid Riot the Best Brewpub in Maine the past two years. Liquid Riot's award winning beers, spirits and food are available at 250 Commercial St., Portland, Maine 04101. www.liquidriot.com When you shop for beer at RSVP DISCOUNT BEVERAGE, on Forest Avenue in Portland, you’re immediately struck by two things: RSVP’s overall beer selection… and RSVP’s CHILLED beer selection. RSVP’s filled the entire SIDE wall with beers, and added 19 beer coolers on the back wall of the retail store. Stocking the latest beers from local Maine and New England breweries, all the way to Belgian ales made by Trappist monks, plus hard cider, (not to mention wine and spirits), RSVP wants you always to find the adult beverage you want. www.rsvpdiscountbeverage.com

fall 2016 | premiere issue

Greater Portland

LITTLE TAP HOUSE is a cozy sixty seat gastropub located in the West End. Offering a curated selection of 14 local rotating microbrews and a farmto-table menu; they partner with Maine brewers and farmers to bring the freshest ingredients in house. Open daily at 11am for Lunch and Dinner at 4pm. Drink fresh and eat local! littletaphouse.com

From your first sip to your last bite, sit back, relax and enjoy delicious handcrafted links and drinks at THE THIRSTY PIG. Proudly pairing our house-made, locally sourced sausages with the best Maine beer we can find. Check out our monthly Brewer’s Choice Dog of the Month, weekly sausage specials, live music and events going on 24/7. Located in Portland’s Old Port on Exchange Street or visit us at www.thirstypigportland.com

MAINE BREWING SUPPLY is Northern New England’s largest home brew shop & mecca for all things beer. There you will find all the supplies (& support) to get you brewing from home. Already brewing? They offer over 100 different types of hops & their “Grain Room” has over 80 varieties of grain. While there check out their line of “Brew Local” clone kits. Maine Brewing Supply collaborated with local breweries to create clone kits based on their sought after beers. Yes, you can now brew these amazing beers at

home. Looking for rare beers? Check out the back wall, you’ll be amazed by the beers just sitting there. How about a keg or kegging supplies? They can set you up. Maine Brewing Supply is really an adult candy shop. Oh ….and it is conveniently located right next to The Great Lost Bear, can it get any better?

Maine BrewGuide 23

brew

news

Your source for the latest happenings at Maine breweries This year, New England's first craft brewery is turning 30. We will celebrating our birthday on December 10th at Three Dollar Dewey's downtown, the bar that poured the first pint of Geary's Pale Ale. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue to do what we love and brew beer for Portland and beyond. While our classics such as the Pale, Hampshire Ale, and London Porter aren't going

anywhere, our brewers have been experimenting with small pilot batches that are only available to try at our tasting room. Come for a pint and a tour!

Rising Tide Brewing Co. Rising Tide Brewing Company invites you to visit our brewery at 103 Fox Street in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood. We offer free tours and sell samples, growler fills, and

COURTESY OF GEARY’S BREWING CO.

Geary's

beer to go, as well as glassware, hats, t-shirts, and other gifts in our tasting room. Our spacious tasting room features a large bar and indoor seating, as well as a seasonal outdoor area. We have our year round and seasonal beers on tap, plus occasional limited releases and experimental beers. Our fall seasonal offerings include Cutter and Waypoint. Cutter is our Imperial India Pale Ale—our homage to hops. Waypoint is our Coffee Porter, brewed in collaboration with our friends at Tandem Coffee, whose roastery right around the corner from us is another must-visit spot in the neighborhood. Open 7 days a week. risingtidebrewing. com @risingtidebeer

The Somerset Taphouse

GEARY’S TURNS 30!

Join the celebration on December 10th at Three Dollar Dewey’s in Portland.

Foods Market offers 24 craft beer selections on tap, featuring unique beers from local breweries with a consistent rotation. What sets the Somerset Tap House apart from any other beer-centric establishment in Portland? There is an ice rail to keep your brew icy cold—especially useful for those who like to savor their selection. You can also try any of 24 local beers in one place, grab an appetizer or meal from the Tap House menu, then a six-pack of your favorite to go, all under one roof!

For the beer adventurist, the Somerset Tap House at Whole If you are a brewery, email 100 words about your updates, expansions, new brews, collaborations, or cool new projects to brew@activitymaine.com

fall 2016 | premiere issue

Greater Portland

PHOTO: BENJAMI

N MOORE

TIGPRO INC. is a team of highly skilled professionals of all disciplines who specializes in The design, fabrication and installation of high quality, custom built brewing systems, tanks, process piping and supporting equipment to the brewing industry. Some of Tigpro’s recent accounts include Bissell Brothers, who are continuing to expand at their new location and working with TigPro on a new 20BBL brewhouse as well as adding 40 and 60BBL fermentors to increase their capacity for next spring. Tigpro’s equipment was chosen to set up Dirigo Brewing Company's new 15 BBL brewery in Biddeford this year. They are also outfitting Bunker Brewing's recent expansion to 17 Westfield Street in Portland by adding a new 15 BBL Brewhouse, 30 BBL

fermenters and Brite tanks as well as new 40 BBL HLT & CLT Tanks. In the Bangor region, Geaghan Brothers Brewing Company is using Tigpro’s brewing equipment to put out their quality brews and finding it difficult to keep up with the demand for their outstanding beers. Tigpro has partnered up with a veteran brewer who is working closely with customers to design brewing systems that are affordable, have shorter lead times and fit the needs of the individual breweries. Their focus is on the small brewer. Brewhouse System sizes start at 5 BBL and go in increments of 7, 10, 15, 20 and 30 BBL's while HLT, CLT, Unitank Fermenters, Brite Tanks, Lagering Tanks and conditioning/serving tanks as large as 80 BBL are available. TigPro also manufactures a manual 4 head keg washer/filler so basically, when it comes to brewing equipment and components, if you need it, they can build it. SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 3

Free tastings and tours seven days a week. Come on by!

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Maine BrewGuide

brewery

western maine brews featured SACO RIVER BREWING CO. NORWAY BREWING CO. SUNDAY RIVER BREWING CO. TUMBLEDOWN BREWING BAG & KETTLE BREWPUB PENNESSEEWASSEE BREWING

Text Josh Christie

fall 2016 | premiere issue

Nestled in the shadow of the Appalachian mountain range, Maineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s western lakes and mountains region is a vast swath of land, stretching north and west from Lewiston/Auburn to the Canadian and NH borders. The land is a checkerboard of undeveloped wilderness, towns large and small, and bucolic fields and farms.

COURTESY OF PENNESSEEWASSEE BREWING CO.

roadtrip

experience at Lervig Aktiebryggeri,

Maine’s brewers, who have been part

brews a slate of unique beers, such as

of the landscape since Bray’s Brewpub

a 2% ABV saison called Life’s a Beach

and Sunday River Brewing Company

(served with optional lime). Norway’s

opened in the mid-nineties. Today,

small food menu compliments the

development continues in hamlets

beer, consisting of a mix of pub

like Norway and Fryeburg, both towns

snacks, tapas, and simple entrees.

that added craft breweries just this

When the weather’s nice, you can

year. Traveling between ski slopes,

enjoy the Melhus’ food and beer in

hiking trails, and lakeside cabins,

an attached beer garden, which adds

you’re more likely than not to discover

much-needed elbow room outside the

fresh beer nearby.

30-seat pub.

After years of dreaming, planning,

A stalwart of Maine’s brewing scene,

building, and permitting, SACO RIVER

SUNDAY RIVER BREWING COMPANY was

BREWING COMPANY finally opened their

founded in 1992, during the initial

doors this June. Everything in the

wave of craft breweries opening in

charming tasting room and brewery,

the Pine Tree State. At one time a

located on Rt 302 just across from the

sister brewery to the much-loved

popular Jockey Cap hiking trail, points

but now-defunct Stone Coast

NORWAY BREWING COMPANY

Mr. Grumpypants oatmeal stout w/ coffee

PHOTO: JOSH CHRISTIE

It’s proven to be fertile ground for

back to the brewery’s namesake. Tap handles are made of driftwood from the Saco River. An Old Town canoe hangs over the poured concrete bar, which itself is painted with a twisting river. Even the names of the beers, like the Old Course Porter and Clearwater Pale Ale, point back to the banks of the Saco. Speaking of the beer, head brewer Mason Irish has whipped up a nice mix of old-school pleasers like

Traveling between ski slopes, hiking trails, and lakeside cabins, you’re more likely than not to discover fresh beer nearby.

the aforementioned porter and pale, along with a number of hop-forward

Brewing Company in Portland, the

32 ounce cans (also known as

beers that speak to current brewing

brewery now stands on its own as

“crowlers,” short for “can growlers”)

trends.

an après ski, avant ski (they open

throughout the state.

Located in a historic former trolley

at 6am for breakfast), or even non-

College towns and brewpubs often

depot on Main Street, NORWAY

ski destination. The current beer

go hand in hand, but until recently

BREWING COMPANY has one of the

portfolio is a nice mix of new brews,

Farmington (home of a University of

more distinctive looks on the Maine

old favorites, and even some recipes

Maine campus) was found wanting.

brewing scene. From the odd, square

grandfathered in from Stone Coast.

This was rectified in 2014, when

profile to the snowshoes, murals and

After some changes in management

turquoise chairs visible through its

over recent years, the attached pub

Matthew Swan opened TUMBLEDOWN BREWING in the Eastside Mall just

wide windows, the brewery looks

now serves up food and atmosphere

outside of Farmington’s downtown.

like something out of a children’s

worthy of the delectable beer. While

Swan was a newcomer to the world

picture book, cut out and plopped

Sunday River Brewing’s ales and lagers

of commercial brewing, but had been

into sleepy Norway. Co-owner and

were once impossible to find beyond

brewing beer on his own for nearly

head brewer Charles Magne Melhus,

their pub’s doors, the recent addition

a decade – including Tumbledown

a Norway native (the country, not

of canning capabilities means their

Red, a malty Irish Red that’s now

the town) with professional brewing

beers can now be found in massive

Tumbledown’s flagship. The best place

Maine BrewGuide

to enjoy Swan’s beer is the cozy wood-paneled taproom that abuts the brewery, but you can also find Tumbledown beer on drafts, in 22 ounce bottles, and even in sealed PHOTO: JOSH

CHRISTIE

growlers throughout Maine’s western mountains. The BAG AND KETTLE BREWPUB has been a fixture at Sugarloaf since it first opened in 1969, serving up food and beer to generations of hungry skiers. The English-

YOU KNOW BEER. WE KNOW INSURANCE. WE SHOULD BE PARTNERS.

style pub developed its reputation over the years for its massive Bag Burgers – topped with super-secret “Bag Sauce” - and pizza, but for beer-lovers the house brews are just as big an attraction. A rotating series of house beers make appearances throughout the winter, including your standard assortment of pale ales, brown ales, and porters. The pick of the bunch is the Potato Ale, a lightly hopped beer made with local Yukon Gold potatoes. Also of special note is Joe’s Stout, a coffee stout brewed with espresso beans from local roasters Carabassett Coffee. Despite being at the base of one of New England’s best winter

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Through partnerships with our customers and insurance carriers GHM INSURANCE has helped to develop comprehensive and competitively priced insurance programs for breweries, brewpubs, bars and other related businesses. With over 200 accounts in 20 states we have the experience and knowledge to help with all your insurance needs.

resorts, you could argue that the Bag and Kettle is the real attraction. As an infamous Sugarloafer once quipped at the bar, “hey, did you hear they put in a ski area behind The Bag?”

PENNESSEEWASSEE BREWING, a Harrison nanobrewery headed up by Lee Margolin, debuted in 2012. The small operation is one of a handful of Maine breweries without a public tasting room (though you can call Margolin to set up a tour). To try out the brewer’s flagship Pennesseewassee Pale Ale or Bolster’s Brew Honey Brown, your best bet is that old craft brewery standby – the 22oz bomber bottle. The elderberries used in the Bolster’s Brew Honey Brown Ale are organic (MOFGA certified) and Maine-grown. The “Penny” Pale Ale is a throwback to the English-style pales that used to dominate the Maine beer scene, a caramelhued ale that balances sweet flavor with grassy hops.

BOLSTER’S is sweet, nutty, and slightly fruity, and calls to mind classic British session ales.

fall 2016 | premiere issue

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORWAY BREWING

OUTSIDE SEATING AT NORWAY BREWING CO.

fall beers

with a Twist

Fall is a spectacular time to live in (or visit) New England, and the changeover from summer into fall is often a graceful and beautiful transition. Seasonal beers, on the other hand, can sometimes fall into gimmicky and generic categories — we are flooded with dime-a-dozen pumpkin beers and Oktoberfest-style beers brewed from out of state. But across the state, several brewers have found ways to express their fondness for fall by pushing the boundaries of what a seasonal beer can be.

Text Carla Jean Lauter

[RYE]

[WILD]

[NUTS]

Sebago Brewing Company

Allagash Brewing

Mast Landing

Instead of relying on spices added to the

One of the series of beers that Allagash

Peanut butter stouts are rare enough in

beer after fermentation, this autumn

brews using an open vessel known as a

the craft beer world, but well-balanced

beer gets its slight spiciness from the rye

Coolship, Ghlouschip is unique in that it

and delicious ones are even rarer.

used in its production. The backbone of

includes pumpkin - but tastes nothing

Gunner’s Daughter avoids the trap of

this beer is a hoppy brown ale, but the

like a typical gourd-based brew. The

being too sweet, and instead is simply a

rye elevates it to an earthy masterpiece

funkiness of the wild yeasts and bacteria

stout wrapped in earthy peanut flavors

of flavors that is complex yet easy to

that create this beer, combined with

that actually sends you back for more

drink. Packaged in cans, this one slides

some additional tartness that develops

after each sip. For some reason, the

in beautifully next to a late autumn

as it is aged makes this one a stand-out.

aroma reminds me of soil and the earth -

Bonfire Rye

Ghoulschip

cookout or a night under the stars. You may find yourself wishing this was brewed all year.

[COFFEE]

Gunner’s Daughter

all of the aromas that fall brings to bare.

[HOPS]

Rising Tide

Calcutta Cutter

[BOURBON]

Shipyard

Why add an Imperial IPA to a list of fall

Smashed Pumpkin

Midnight Special

beers? Because this beer defines the

As the nights get chillier, beers that are

onset of fall in Portland for many. When

a little higher in alcohol can provide a

In Midnight Special, a straightforward

Rising Tide’s summer sessionable brew,

source of warmth. An entirely different

porter is elevated to another tasty plane

Maine Island Trail Ale, stops production,

experience than Shipyard’s flagship

when cold-brewed coffee is added to the

the Calcutta Cutter is the next one on

seasonal Pumpkinhead, Smashed

brew. This addition makes the resulting

the canning and kegging line. When

Pumpkin is rich, sweet and boozy. Best

beer both hearty and flavorful, without

fresh, Calcutta Cutter is a masterfully

enjoyed in snifter glasses where you can

being overly heavy. If you have some

crafted beer - the resinous hops are

fully appreciate the aroma, it is a more

wood chopping ahead of you, this may be

backed up with a solid backbone. While

mature take on the typical pumpkin

the beer to fuel your winter preparations.

we may be lucky to have so many hop-

beer, and the burbon and oaky notes

Though this isn’t truly an autumn beer, it

forward beers available in our area,

play well with the pumpkin spices.

does seem to fit very well into the flavor

this one is still one that hop fans look

profiles of the season.

forward to returning each fall.

Funky Bow

Maine BrewGuide 29

brewery

midcoast brews When I find myself stuck in the din of Route One summer tourist traffic, a bumper sticker I once saw comes to mind: Welcome To Maine, Now Go Home! featured BOOTHBAY CRAFT BREWERY OXBOW BREWING CO. ROCK HARBOR BREWERY MARSHALL WHARF BREWING CO. Text & Photos David Patterson

I don’t fully embrace this hardline

know this state. From Kittery to Lubec,

view of seasonal tourists with their

Maine offers a myriad of day trips for

pink lobster-print shorts and the aloof

beer lovers. As the traffic on Route

way they wander the Old Port reading

One eases, autumn is the perfect

Yelp reviews on iPhones. Nevertheless,

opportunity to hit up the growing list

I do relish the collective sigh Mainers

of Midcoast breweries.

release when the cold air hits and

August, I head north with my wife and

southbound on I-95.

one-year-old to visit four Midcoast

Fall is the time for Maine residents to enjoy the splendors of this state after the tourists have drifted back to their lives elsewhere. And Maine’s craft breweries are—in my opinion—the best way to get to

fall 2016 | premiere issue

On a sun-drenched day in mid-

those out-of-state plates line up

breweries. The first stop on our travels is Boothbay Craft Brewery. Just an hour drive from Portland, Boothbay Craft Brewery offers a diverse lineup of beers from English

PHOTO: JOYCE LOVE

roadtrip

BOOTHBAY CRAFT BREWERY & WATERSHED TAVERN

Left & Below

ales to stouts to American ales and, on this trip, even a couple sour beers. The brewery adjoins the WATERSHED TAVERN, a striking post-and-beam pub with a spacious outdoor patio, featuring wrought iron tables, cornhole, and a bocce court. We settle into a patio table and order a flight of beers. The immediate standout is the 10 Lewis Session IPA. This beer erupts with huge grapefruit aroma and flavor from

Win brings me upstairs to see

the ample use of Citra hops. It has a

the new addition to the Watershed

sturdy mouthfeel for a session IPA.

Tavern. Dubbed the “Tool Room” for

In our hop-crazed world, the brown

its tool-themed décor this addition

ale doesn’t often get its just deserts.

boasts extra seating, a full bar, and a

The Ken Brown Ale will make you a

birds-eye-view of the brewery.

believer in this style with a luscious

Though I could stay and drink

caramel nose, subtle molasses flavor,

Boothbay’s solid beers all day, the

and a slightly hoppy finish.

road beckons.

The Black Rocks Stout served on nitro

In the car, we set our sights

has distinct cocoa and coffee flavors

on OXBOW BREWING COMPANY in

with a creamy body. And the Easy

Newcastle. Only a thirty-minute drive

As She Gose is an aggressive take on

from Boothbay, Oxbow’s Midcoast

the tart gose style that is thoroughly

brewery is renowned for their funk-

refreshing.

forward farmhouse ales.

OXBOW BREWING,

Newcastle

I try some of my wife’s pour of the Grizacca. The tropical fruit hops

After slaking my thirst, owners Win

Set on eighteen acres of woods

and Lori Mitchell give me a tour of the

and farmland, it’s the perfect place

brewery. The husband and wife team

to imbibe their earthy ales. In the

began construction on the brewery

cozy tasting room, I order Crossfade,

joins us in the tasting room. The

in 2009 and poured their first beer

a blended saison. This beer pours a

bearded thirty-something gets a pour

in 2012, with Win doing the brewing

straw color and has a refined barnyard

of Grizacca and offers to take us on

and much of the construction work

aroma. It has the funky flavors I want

a tour of the property. As we amble

himself.

in a saison without any of the off-

up the hill beyond the tasting room,

flavors.

Adams explains that he fell in love

and funky saison yeast mingle wonderfully. Owner and brewmaster Tim Adams

Maine BrewGuide

ROCK HARBOR BREWERY, ROCKLAND

I can’t help leave a trip like this without feeling a swell of pride for the great work being done at Maine’s coastal breweries.

We finish up our tour by watching Oxbow’s pigs root in their pen then walking past beehives and into the woods behind the brewery. In the

with farmhouse ales when he lived in

winter, Oxbow encourages guests to

Washington, D.C.

cross country ski and snowshoe on

“I had never tasted anything like these beers before,” Adams explains as

goodbyes, and Adams reminds us of

with homebrewing.”

their annual Goods From the Woods

now making saisons, it’s easy to forget that when Oxbow poured their first

party at the brewery. This year it’s October 22nd—mark your calendars. Next stop: ROCK HARBOR BREWERY

Farmhouse Pale Ale in 2011, they were

in Rockland. During the forty-five

one of the first breweries in Maine to

minute drive, while our son naps in

brew this style.

the back, my wife and I talk about the

At the top of the hill, Adams points

diversity of these breweries. There are

out raspberries, strawberries, cherries,

no redundancies on this trip; every

and elderberries they grow to use in

brewery has their own vibe and take

their beers.

on craft beer.

He plucks a vine-ripe raspberry and

fall 2016 | premiere issue

In the parking lot we say our

we walk. “So I started experimenting Since many Maine breweries are

their wooded trail system.

And Rock Harbor Brewery is no

hands it to my son who promptly

exception. The brewpub started

noshes the crimson berry. There’s a

pouring beer in 2013 and offers pub

Zen quality to the silence and solitude

fare along with a solid lineup of

at Oxbow that makes for a brilliant

American-style ales. I order a flight

drinking experience.

of beers and sip from a glass of the

As we tour the brewery, I sip Phil Brown Ale—a sumptuous brown ale made with peat smoked malt. Carlson explains that the brewery recently purchased a new mash tun and chiller to replace the system they’ve used since opening in 2007. “This will give us a one hundred percent increase in production,”

MARSHALL WHARF BREWING CO., BELFAST

Carlson says. Great news for beer lovers. We head out of the brewery into the seaside beer garden of the adjacent

Twin Screw Pale Ale. This American

highlights Pease’s ability to make

pale ale is one of those I-could-drink-

fruity hop flavors pop. If you’re a fan

THREE TIDES, a tapas bar owned by

this-all-day-long beers; it’s light and

of Mosaic and Azacca hops, Beacon is

Carlson and his wife, Sarah, where

refreshing with plenty of spicy hop

your huckleberry.

patrons can choose from seventeen

flavor. A few bar stools down, owner and

I wish Pease good luck on the expansion, and it’s back in the car for

Marshall Wharf beers on draft. Carlson pours me the infamous

head brewer Dan Pease talks to

the final forty-five minute leg of the

Cant Dog Imperial IPA. This IPA weighs

patrons. As he approaches, I take a

journey, destination MARSHALL WHARF

in at a knee-weakening 10-percent

gulp of the Ruckus Double IPA and am

BREWING COMPANY in Belfast to meet

ABV and is a favorite among Maine

almost knocked off my barstool from

with co-owner David Carlson.

enthusiasts—cans of Cant Dog

the tropical fruit symphony. My first words to Pease: “This is so good. What hops are in here?” He smiles and says, “I use a lot of

Before heading inside the tasting

disappear quickly when they’re

room, we follow Carlson to the dock

distributed to local beer stores.

behind the brewery to examine the

As I wrestle with this boozy

recent construction to the building.

tangerine bomb, Carlson notes that

In the spring of 2015, debris from an

Marshall Wharf recently committed to

ocean storm knocked into a support

using locally grown grains from Buck

This double IPA is up there with some

beam and the brewery sank six

Farms in Aroostook County.

of the best in Maine—and if you’re

inches into Belfast Harbor. As a result,

familiar with the beer scene, you

Marshall Wharf had to halt canning

saw they were producing a quality

know that’s saying a lot.

production in the summer of 2015.

product, I signed on to a twenty-ton

Thankfully, through careful planning

annual contract,” he explains.

Citra and Mosaic hops.” I take another haul from my glass.

After my adulation for Ruckus calms

“I’m from ‘The County,’ so when I

(what can I say, I’m an excitable boy),

and hard work, the building was

Pease tells me about Rock Harbor’s

secured, and their signature black

to head back to the Portland area.

plans to build a new fifteen-barrel

cans are back on the market.

We thank Carlson for his hospitality

brewery off-site in Rockland. He

If you’re not familiar with Marshall

As daylight wanes, it’s time for us

and ask where we can get a cup of

will continue to use the four-barrel

Wharf’s unapologetically big, bold

much-needed coffee. He directs us to

in-house brewery as a pilot system.

beers, then something’s wrong

the local food co-op and like that, our

The expansion will allow Rock Harbor

with you. Carlson and his brewing

Midcoast road trip comes to an end.

to open a separate tasting room,

team think outside the box when

distribute their beer more widely, and

creating their beers. Sea Belt Scotch

for I-95 as the sun dips in the sky. I

add a canning system.

Ale, for instance, is brewed with

can’t help leave a trip like this without

locally sourced sugar kelp and ten

feeling a swell of pride for the great

dozen oysters go into the making of

work being done at Maine’s coastal

Pemaquid Oyster Stout.

breweries.

“We’re hoping to open late spring or early summer of 2017,” Pease says. Before leaving, I try the Beacon session

We wind down Route Three headed

IPA. Like Twin Screw and Ruckus, Beacon

Maine BrewGuide 33

attendee will meet every new brewer and have the chance to try beer from all. GLB MAINE BREWER TAP TAKEOVER Tuesday, November 8 Maine's craft beer bar turns all their taps over to the best beer - beer from Maine on this night at the annual event. Portion of proceeds from every pint sold to benefit the Guild.

Maine Craft Weekend

Portland Beer Week

OCTOBER 1-2

NOVEMBER 6-12

Bangor Beer Week OCTOBER 16-22

The Guild is involved in/ beneficiary of a number of events throughout the week. FRESHMEN ORIENTATION Sunday, November 6 A showcase of the newest breweries in Maine where every

3RD ANNUAL PORTLAND BEER WEEK PRO-AM Monday November 7th 6-9pm polls close at 8:45 Location: Salvage BBQ Tickets: $35 (125 available) This years event will be held on election night eve so we don't get blamed for swaying the outcome of who becomes our next president. Local homebrewers worked with some of Portland’s best commercial breweries to bring you 12 collaboration beers. The last two years have shown that the sky is the limit for these brewers. We’ve had many great experimental beers from pickle beer to dark

currant aged saisons. You never know what is going to be on tap. Your ticket gets you 24 samples, a Maine Brewers Guild tasting glass to take home, 6 voting tickets to vote for your favorite, and the opportunity to meet and mingle with the beer brewers. This year voting will be blind. Each beer will be numbered with a description but the brewers will be anonymous until the votes are counted. The event will be for ticket holders only and Salvage will be closed to the public. The bar will be open with a limited food menu. All proceeds from the event go to the Maine Brewers Guild so come out and vote! Participating Breweries: ALLAGASH, BANDED HORN, BAXTER, BUNKER, DIRIGO, FORE RIVER, FOUNDATION, FOULMOUTHED, GEARY'S, GRITTY'S, MAINE BEER CO, MAST LANDING

Maine Brewer's Guild Summer Session 2017 July 29, 2017 Thompson's Pt.

upcoming

Brewfests

ACADIA'S OKTOBERFEST October 8 | 12:00 PM Smuggler's Den Campground Southwest Harbor, ME

AROOSTOOK COUNTY BREW FESTIVAL October 15 | 12:00 PM Bigrock Mountain, Mars Hill, ME

fall 2016 | premiere issue

BAR HARBOR WINTER BEER FEST January 14, 2017 Atlantic Brewing Co. 15 Knox Road, Bar Harbor barharborinfo.com/events

Midcoast

At 27 years old, Dan Pease started ROCK HARBOR RESTAURANT on Main Street in Rockland, Maine with the idea of some day making it a brew pub. After two years of growing the restaurant into one of Rockland’s favorite pubs, a brewery in southern Maine decided to close its doors. The opportunity to start a brewery presented itself and Dan purchased the equipment and moved it two hours north and installed it at Rock Harbor in July of 2013. After licensing ROCK HARBOR BREWING CO., the brewing began and by October the first pints were poured. Since then Dan has made three different IPAs, an ESB, a Pale Ale and two stouts. His only previous experience in brewing was 10 years of home brewing, but through research and experimenting he has been able to create brews that people at Rock Harbor Pub & Brewery are loving.

Open7Days 5 10OFOUR OWNBEERSON T APATALLTI MES!

new brews for fall BOOTHBAY CRAFT BREWERY ushers in the fall season with a couple new beer styles honoring traditions near and far. First off, a true Oktoberfest style German Lager that will pair great with house-made bratwurst and knockwurst sausages, offered with house spicy mustard, and of course, Morse’s sauerkraut! Prost!! Another reminder of the harvest season is the recently brewed buttercup squash spiced brown ale, created to celebrate the mid-coast region’s obsession with big gourds. “Bread and Buttercup Ale” will be offered fresh on draught at the Watershed Tavern and around the midcoast while it lasts. The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, located in mid-coast Boothbay, created a new event last year, “Gardens Aglow”, lighting up the gardens for the holidays. This year they have upped their game and will be enlarging the lighting displays. Starting November 18th the lights will be on and will be viewable right through the holidays. Area businesses have come together to join the gardens in offering additional area lighting displays. The “Boothbay Festival of Lights” includes greater shopping, dining and lodging opportunities as well. Boothbay Craft Brewery is one of the area’s popular destinations, also joining the celebration by creating the “Tree of Ales”. Starting October 28th, the BCB’s biergarten chestnut tree will be lit up. Diners can sit outside by the ﬁre pit under the lights and enjoy the awesomeness of the cool fall nights in Maine accompanied by fresh craft beer and amazing wood-ﬁred fare. “Our theme for the tree comes from the movie ‘Avatar’ where the “Tree of Souls” was a beautifully illuminated spiritual tree featuring brilliant white, pinks and blues. We have secretly looked at our creation late at night and we so look forward to others seeing this spectacular tree at night! Dining underneath it will be amazing, but dress appropriately! Maine BrewGuide

Combine that with a culture that strives for constant improvement, betterment, and broadened impact, and what follows is a craft industry that has given its consumers more variety, better quality, and increased access while making beer more approachable and maximizing positive impact. As part of Blue Ox Malthouse, it’s exciting to be part of the broader movement of brewers, maltsters, and growers to extend the impact and experience of craft beer to the next level by moving

100

the craft industry away from global supply chains and back

Text Joel Alex Malster and Founder, Blue Ox Malthouse

fall 2016 | premiere issue

TODAY we see a beer market that craves unique tailored experiences, connection to community, and alignment with values all while expecting the highest level of quality.

Beer and spirits as much as the bread we bake and the tomatoes we eat, are agricultural products. That’s right. That beer you’re drinking now started in a field, under the sun, stars, and rain, and was carefully cultivated to become the beer it is today. Was that field in Spain, Germany, Montana, Alberta, Argentina, or Presque Isle, Maine? Too often there is not enough transparency in the supply chain to know. Wouldn’t you rather know what is in your beer and where it comes from? Let’s think about the COURTESY OF ALLAGASH BREWING CO.

local

to the communities it serves.

ingredients of beer: water, malt, hops, and yeast. As brewers relied on the same suppliers, for a long time water was the selling point of beer: think Coor’s “Brewed With Pure Rocky Mountain Spring Water” or the focus on water sources like Sebago Lake. As the American market

COURTESY OF BLUE OX MALT HOUSE

are the frontier that has the

possible impact of this grain

most opportunity for craft

connection.

breweries to continue to

With Blue Ox Malt, our

offer unique products and

customers get a traditionally

build the impacts for their

processed malt with the same

communities.

commitment to quality and

This belief is what drove our

experience that craft brewers

company, Blue Ox Malthouse

promise their customers.

to start. In a state where

Like Craft Brewers and

we have as many as 40,000

Distillers, we are committed

acres of small grains grown

to the rebirth of tradition

annually and one of the most

while building something

moved towards hoppy beers,

innovative beer communities

new and unique that stands

the intensity of the focus has

in the country, the potential

out from the crowd, both in

led to enormous transparency

long term symbiosis between

its commitment to quality

in the supply chain, to the

agriculture and craft beer is

and its dedication to the

point where brewers now

enormous.

community in which it’s made. It’s our belief that

take trips to visit the farms

We’re excited to be malt

where their hops are grown

specialists in this climate.

local, quality, and reliable can

and make the selection.

After years of building

be synonymous, and work

Brewers have long been the

networks and resources

tireless to make that a reality.

domesticators of yeast; here

that allow us to stay at the

they have the most control

forefront of the industry,

over selection of traits and

we are excited to bring this

can intentionally develop

expertise and these resources

strains to perform in their

home to our growers and

brewhouse. Where does that

brewers.

leave the last ingredient malt? Malt is the silent workhorse

It’s been exciting to be part here in Maine making this

clothes, and yeast the

connection. Maine Grains

personality, then malt is

and Aurora Mills, both grist

the body and backbone that

mills, have begun servicing

support any beer. It provides

the industry with adjunct

the enzymes, starches, and

grains, and Buck Farm’s

nutrients that ultimately feed

on-farm malting operation,

the yeast; the color, clarity,

Maine Malthouse, is proving

or haze that often give us

the potential for on-farm

our first impression; and the

processing.

Know Your Malt? LOCAL. UNIQUE. ROBUST. SPIRITED. join the Malt Matters conversation @

BlueOxMalthouse.com/MaltMatters

To date we’ve worked with

can be built, expressed, and

more than a half dozen

highlighted. You can cover

grain growers and more than

up a body with sexy hop

three dozen breweries to

clothes and yeasty character,

build momentum behind a

but we all know the best

craft malt revolution. As the

beers are built are when the

only malthouse purchasing

cloths, character, and body

grain in Maine, we at Blue

complement each other.

Ox Malthouse are excited

Arguably, of the core

COURTESY OF ALLAGASH BREWING CO.

of the growing community

of beer. If hops are the

foundation on which flavors

Malt matters! What can you do with malt in your beer?

to provide the largest

ingredients, malt and grains

Maine BrewGuide

PHOTO: PAUL CYR

PHOTO COURTESY OF ORONO BREWING COMPANY

Greater Bangor becoming a craft brewing mecca

In recent years, no part of the Maine brewery landscape has been more exciting than the Highland region. While the Queen City of Bangor and surrounding towns have long played second fiddle to the brewing scene in Southern Maine, an influx of talented brewers has seriously upped the area’s reputation. Now, while relaxing at a local beer bar like NOCTURNEM DRAFT HAUS, you can enjoy beer brewed by GEAGHAN BROTHERS, ORONO BREWING COMPANY, MASON’S BREWING, or a number of other Bangor-area brewers. Hardly

also-rans, these beers handily compete for the title of Maine’s best brews.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ORONO BREWING COMPANY

Text Josh Christie

SEA DOG BREWING COMPANY’S Sea Dog pubs serve lunch and dinner daily. The Bangor location brews their beer on the premises and offers daily brewery tours. You will also find Sea Dog pubs in North Conway, NH and Orlando, FL, and a brewery and tasting room in Clearwater, FL. See our ad in the Brewery Directory on PAGE 18. www.seadogbrewing.com

WOODMAN'S BAR & GRILL was started in 2005 by Abe Furth, Heather Furth, and Mark Horton. They focused on a commitment to quality and exceptional service. Woodman's food menu features many local products from Maine grass-fed burgers to local products from beyond our borders.

ORONO BREWING COMPANY'S high quality beers start with Brewmaster Asa Marsh-Sachs and his passion for brewing. He combines the art and science of brewing masterfully. Quality control, creativity, and years of brewing experience give Asa the tools to create fantastic ales. Super filtered water, mineral additions to mimic water sources around the globe, high quality malts and hops, yeast management, and extremely high standards are all part of Asa’s system. Asa works OBC's custom built stainless steel glycol-jacketed brewery to its maximum capacity, repping out brew days and keeping the beer super fresh. Check out both locations in Orono and Bangor and see what's brewing and taste for yourself! 38

fall 2016 | premiere issue

Destination

Another new brewery opened this year, giving you a tasty reason to go beyond Portland and experience the craft beer movement farther north. MASON’S BREWING COMPANY, located along the scenic waterfront of the Penobscot River, is a destination for craft beer lovers. To the crew at Mason's, it's all about the beer experience, culture, and history. This makes going to Mason’s an adventure not to pass up. One of Mason’s newest projects in the works is its canning operation. Their automated brewing system will allow them to distribute high quality, consistent products out of state and even out of the country. With lots of other unique features, like a bier garden, a mug club, 16 rotating taps, West Coast gastropub food, tap takeovers and passionate staff, this place is unquestionably an asset for the greater Bangor community. Conveniently neighboring Darling's Waterfront Pavilion, Mason’s Brewing Company is the perfect place to stop before or after a show. As Mainers, our expectation for craft beer is always growing and Mason’s definitely hits that mark!

brewer maine

Maine BrewGuide 39

Text Josh Christie

the county

Aroostook County, the “Crown of Maine,” is a massive piece of land even by Maine’s spread-out standards. Larger than some of the other states in New England, the sparsely-populated County is a playground for outdoorsmen, where where thousands of acres to hunt, fish, hike and kayak await. While the region had been without a brewery to call its own since Presque Isle’s Slopes closed last decade, the arrival of Northern Maine Brewing Company in Caribou this year means that locally-made suds are once again flowing in Aroostook.

PHOTO: PAUL CYR

THE 2ND ANNUAL AROOSTOOK COUNTY BREW & WINE FEST will be held on October 15, 2016 at the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle, Maine. The event will run from 12:00pm to 5:00pm with a VIP Tasting $55.00 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. and General Admission $35.00 from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. The event will feature Craft Brewers and Wineries from the Maine Brewers Guild and the Maine Winery Guild. This event is a showcase for the rich farming heritage in Aroostook County including hop yards and a malting facility. www.aroostookcountybrewfestival.com

THE THIRSTY DAWG BOTTLE SHOP was established May 2010 in an effort to bring the craft beer movement to Aroostook County. Offering the largest beer and wine selection in the County or north of Bangor for that matter. As one of the original organizers of Black Fly Brewfest, the Thirsty Dawg is an enthusiastic supporter of craft beer and local Maine craft beer with 30+ Maine breweries in stock. A must visit if you love great beer!

fall 2016 | premiere issue

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