Maine Brew Guide Fall 2017 Preview

25

THE NEW ENGLAND BEER POLL RESULTS p. 39

Maine Brew Guide

TOP

fall & winter hikes near the maine beer trail Page 34

plus

A Talk with David Geary Page 8 Lubec: A Downeast Brewery Destination Page 27

Regional TASTING ROOM

GUIDE HOURS & LOCATIONS

Fall 2017

p. 14

beer & yoga

contents FALL 2017

6

Dirigo Brewing Co. Leading by example

by John Breerwood

8 My First Talk with David Geary

by Dave Patterson

13 Tale of the Tide

Walker: The story behind New England Distilling’s newest Bourbon

BEER + YOGA See page 14

by Kay Stephens

14

Trending: Beer & Yoga-Fitness, community, and Maine’s craft brewing scene

by Shannon Bryan

21 Mix a six: 6 beers

to cozy up to the camp fire

HIKING THE MAINE BREW TRAIL

by Josh Christie

See page 34

22 Maine Grains a MIX A SIX: 6 GREAT CAMPFIRE BREWS

See page 21

devoted partner in the craft brewing industry

26 Cannabidiol

Brews An Ode to Hops’ Twin Sibling

by The Hop Culture Studios

33 Distillery Spot

Light -Split Rock Distillery is the latest to join Maine’s Distillery Trail

by Kate Cone

2

fall 2017

34 Hikes & Brews: Hiking adventures and great brews abound along the Maine Beer Trail

by Carey Kish

38

Brew Reviews Check out these tasty Four Maine Brews this fall

New England

beer poll See page 39

39 New England Beer Poll: Find out which beer tops the list of 25 finalists

by Jeremy Marquardt

42 Discover Lubec

A Downeast Brewery Destination

by Johanna Billings BREW REVIEWS

CANNABIDIOL BREWS

See page 26

See page 38

tasting room directory

6 Southern Maine 14 Greater Portland 26 Western Maine

& Kennebec Valley

35 Midcoast 42 Greater Bangor 46 D owneast 46 The County

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

PUBLISHER

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ART DIRECTOR Larissa Davis

GRAPHIC ARTIST

Robin Bean Kristina Roderick Elizabeth Berry MacKenney

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Kristina Roderick

MANAGING EDITOR Kay Stephens

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mike Leonard Ellis Ducharme

ADVERTISING SALES Jim Harnedy Stanley J. Rintz Ellie Stengel Joline Bell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Johanna Billings John Breerwood Shannon Bryan Josh Christie Kate Cone Billy Cook Jeremy Marquardt Dave Patterson Kay Stephens

OPERATIONS ASSISTANT Marissa Gianino

MEMBER

Maine Brewers Guild Maine Tourism Association Convention & Visitors Bureau Chambers of Commerce

visit activitymaine.com/subscribe to subscribe If you prefer to mail your payment, please send a check payable to: Activity Maine, 9 Susan’s Way, Windham, ME 04062

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3

The fifty-mile stretch from Kittery to Portland is home to nearly a dozen Maine breweries, brewing everything from traditional English-style ales to funky barrel-aged sours.

The only thing nicer than relaxing on one of Maine’s beaches is doing so with a Tributary Gose or a Hidden Cove Patroon in hand.

Text Josh Christie

southern maine

Note: Hours were accurate as of printing.

Before heading out please check ahead to confirm hours.

tasting room directory NAME

CITY

S

M

T

W

TH

F

S

Banded Horn Brewing Company

Biddeford

12 – 8

4–9

4–9

4–9

4–9

12 - 10

12 – 10

FACEBOOK /BandedHornBrewing

Barreled Souls Brewing Company

Saco

12 - 10

4 - 10

4 - 10

4 - 10

4 - 10

4 – 12

12 – 12

/barreledsouls

Blue Current Brewery (Sake)

Kittery

1-5

1-6

1-6

1-6

1-6

1-6

1-6

/BlueCurrentBrewery

2-8

2-8

2 - 10

2 - 10

/dirigobeer

Dirigo Brewing Company

Biddeford

12 - 8

Funky Bow Brewery & Beer Company

Lyman

1-5

1-9

1-9

/FunkyBowBreweryAndBeerCompany

Gneiss Brewing Company

Limerick

12 - 4

2–7

12 – 6

/GneissBeer

Hidden Cove Brewing Company

Wells

12 - 7

12 - 7

12 - 7

12 - 7

12 - 7

12 - 7

12 - 7

/HiddenCoveBrewing

Kennebunkport Brewing / Federal Jack's Restaurant

Kennebunk

11a - 1

11a - 1

11a - 1

11a - 1

11a - 1

11a - 1

11a - 1

11:30 – 1

11:30 – 1

11:30 – 1

11:30 – 1

11:30 – 1

11:30 – 1

11:30 – 1

11 – 10

11 – 10

11 – 10

11 – 12

11 – 12

11 – 12

11 – 12

/federaljacks

Run of the Mill Public House & Brewery

Saco

Sebago Brewing Co.

Kennebunk

Shipyard Brew Pub

Eliot

11:30 – 9

11:30 – 9

11:30 – 9

11:30 – 9

11:30 – 9

11:30 – 10

11:30 – 10

York

12 - 7

12 - 8

12 - 8

12 - 9

12 - 8

12 - 9

12 - 7

Tributary Brewing Company

Kittery

12 - 5

12 – 7

12 – 7

12 – 7

12 – 7

/tributarybrewingcompany

Woodland Farms Brewery

Kittery

12 - 6

12 - 8

12 - 8

12 - 9

12 - 9

/woodlandfarmsbrewery

SoMe Brewing Company

12 - 8

/The-Run-of-The-MillPublic-House-and-Brewery-52414106886 /sebagobrewing /ShipyardEliot /SomeBrewingCo

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.

4

fall 2017

Southern Maine

kennebunk

birthplace of shipyard brewing

TULLY’S BEER AND WINE in Wells, opened in May 1997 with a mission to expose the world of specialty beer and great wine to the residents and visitors of Southern Maine and beyond. With the enormous selection of craft beer, Tully's prides itself on service, selection, and product knowledge.

They also sport a mighty fine wine selection, 6 humidors of premium cigars and a huge selection of home brew supplies.

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

5

leading by example DIRIGO BREWING COMPANY

Text & Photos: John Breerwood 6

fall 2017

Maine, in many ways, stays true to its state motto Dirigo (Latin for “I lead”) and the brewing industry is no exception. Maine brewers continue to impress and set standards from California to Iceland. As competition grows, every company strives to find its focus, trying everything from farmhouse ales to kettle sours. In downtown Biddeford, Dirigo Brewing Company also holds true to its namesake as it leads us down a road less traveled by regional brewers: German-style lagers.

for upcoming bands, food trucks, and yoga. And, of course, Octoberfest!

Patrons have plenty of German styles to expand their horizons beyond Beck’s. The Dirigo Lager is light and crisp and goes well with any occasion, especially for drinkers who lean on the domestic section of the beer aisle.

Tom and Molly Bull are not the only

something else, and that challenges

The Baltic Porter (actually a lager, not

ones producing lagers in the state;

us every day to make the cleanest,

an ale) will warm your insides with

however, their focus on smooth

best beer we can.”

its velvety smoothness. Their German

German styles distinguishes them

Despite technical challenges,

Red Ale (a.k.a. Rotbier) is well-

among Maine’s bustling scene. Lager

lagering has been anything but a

balanced, but still rich in malty flavor.

yeast ferments at lower temperatures

strain on the business. After opening

And their New England Pale Lager

for longer periods of time than ales,

in mid-August, 2016, Dirigo now has

(NEPAL) is a perfect choice for all of

granting a smooth, clean finish. In

approximately 300 accounts and

us hopheads. “It’s hoppy and juicy,

fact, lager means “to store” in German.

currently distributes throughout

but it’s clean on the palette and still

“Our taproom board has only one ale,”

the entire state of Maine. They will

possesses those great lager qualities,”

said Tom. “Show me that anywhere

begin distributing out of state as

said Bull. “By mid-September, the

else in the state of Maine.”

well this year. Just as their sights are

NEPAL will be available in cans. And,

set beyond the border, Dirigo has

of course, their Octoberfest, which has

with his dad at the age of 19, which

also been forefront in boosting the

been lagering away since they brewed

eventually led to winning several

economy of Biddeford, which has

it last St. Patrick’s Day, will also be a

competitions. The state’s craft beer

struggled to elevate its status beyond

fall favorite.”

industry was in its infancy then with

a stagnant mill town.

Tom Bull began home brewing

only a handful of Maine breweries. As

“Biddeford is an awesome town,”

I can drink IPAs until the haze absorbs into my eyeballs; however,

Bull said, “Back then, you couldn’t be

said Bull. It’s going through a

clean German-style beers are

a homebrewer and immediately start

resurgence, which Molly calls the

undeniable. As iconic as the Maine

your own brewery. You had to come up

‘Biddesance.’”

beer scene has become in just a

through the craft.”

The brewery sits in an old textile

matter of years, its future is still a

mill on the Saco River. Converting

little hazy. Germany, on the other

McDuffs, Bull landed a two-year

the abandoned building into an

hand, has been perfecting beer for

apprenticeship. He would later work

operational brewery was difficult,

a millennium. And, Dirigo Brewing

for places like The Liberal Cup and

delaying their target opening by eight

Company, as the lager itself, remains

Stone Coast Brewing. All the while,

months.

deeply rooted in tradition and is here

Initially hired as a bouncer at Gritty

Bull wondered why breweries weren’t

But the work paid off. Their taproom

primarily producing lagers. Despite

is rustic and welcoming with lots

hearing excuses such as having too

of table space, games, and window

much fermentation time or too many

views of the waterfalls. As the cold

technical hardships, Bull was up for

starts to creep in this fall, Dirigo will

the challenge. “There’s nowhere to

be a great place to cozy up with some

hide in a lager,” he said. “If there is a

friends and watch the Pats on the

slight flaw, you’re screwed. You can’t

big projector screen. Check out their

throw in a fistful of hops and call it

website (dirigobrewingcompany.com)

to stay.

John Breerwood just relocated to Maine from Louisiana in January and has been writing about beer for 10 years. After working at Abita Brewing Company as a brewer for three years, John currently works as a cellarman at Shipyard Brewing Company.

Maine BrewGuide

7

BREW TALES

david geary

8

fall 2017

The first time I met

Text & Photos Dave Patterson

Moose Drool, Umpa Lumpas, and Hipsters: A Look Back At My First Beer with David Geary The first time I met David Geary, I

From an office behind me, a gruff

I learned a lot about David Geary

was nervous. Geary is a legend in the

voice yelled, “Send him in!” The woman

during our hour-long meeting that

world of Maine brewing. Being new

at the desk motioned towards the

day. First off, I learned that there were

to beer writing at the time of that

office and said, “Go ahead.”

no Umpa Lumpas in his brewery, or if

first meeting, I had placed Geary on a pedestal. And, rightfully so.

After all, I told myself as my car idled in the brewery parking lot, this is the guy who opened Maine’s first post-

What first struck me about David Geary was the boyish charm that shone

there were, he kept them well hidden.

Secondly, despite his aversion to the

through the exterior of a man pushing

nouveau beer movement, the man

70 years old.

truly loved beer. When he poured us

“So, you write about beer?” Geary

two glasses of Ixnay, he held up his

Prohibition brewery in 1986. He is the

asked me with a wry smile. “Someone

pint glass and we both gazed at the

original gangster of Maine beer.

actually pays you for that?”

liquid.

As I stared at the brewery’s brick

Taking a seat in a chair in front of

“Look at how clear and beautiful this

façade, I remembered the stories I’d

his desk, I laughed and said, “Yeah, it’s

beer is,” he said with reverent tone

heard that Geary was a bit of a crank.

pretty great.”

bordering on beatific.

“Don’t piss him off,” one local beer writer had cautioned. “He’ll kick you out of his brewery!”

Add to all this the fact that Geary’s

“Not bad,” Geary nodded. “Not bad at all.”

I looked around at the office that hadn’t seemed to changed much since

Finally, I learned that David Geary is an old crank—albeit, the best kind: a wonderful, hilarious, kind-hearted old crank.

didn’t have a tasting room at that

the late 1980s: the chocolate lab was

time. While every other Portland

curled on the faded brown carpet, a

that first meeting, he’s continued

brewery was constructing tasting

mammoth computer monitor sat on

to be nothing less than that warm

rooms and inviting beer fans into

his cluttered desk, and an aging mini-

curmudgeon he was three years ago

their brewhouses, no one I knew had

fridge hummed in the corner.

in his office; though he still gives me

ever been inside D.L. Geary’s Brewing

Before I could ask Geary any of my

Each time I’ve run into Geary since

a hard time that I described him as

Company. The brewery had garnered

prepared questions about his new

‘ruddy faced’ in the ensuing article I

something of a Wonka Factory

gluten-free beer, he launched into

wrote about our meeting.

reputation, leaving beer lovers to

an unsolicited diatribe, bemoaning

As David Geary steps away from

speculate about what the heck was

the new beer movement of cloudy,

his role as owner and operator of

happening inside those beige brick

excessively hopped IPAs that, according

D.L. Geary Brewing Company, let’s

walls.

to him, had the stupidest names.

collectively raise our pint glasses to the

After reading over my notes and

I sheepishly admitted that I liked a

underlining the warning, Don’t piss

lot of these cloudy IPAs and waited for

inside the glass may be or how stupid

him off, I shut off my engine, got out

him to kick me out of his brewery.

the beer’s name.

of the car and headed in to meet the founding father of Maine brewing.

Instead of being greeted by a chorus

He studied me with his crystal blue eyes, and finally said, “There’s a beer called Moose Drool. Moose Drool!” We

of impish Umpa Lumpas when I

both laughed. He demanded that when

walked inside the brewery, a chocolate

I got home after the meeting I watch a

lab lazily licked my outstretched hand

YouTube video called, “Hipsters Love

as I pushed through the office door.

Beer,” a sketch video satirizing the

I told the woman at the front desk

man—no matter how hazy the beer

Dave Patterson is a freelance writer with a great thirst for craft beer. His Beer Muse column runs each week in the Portland Press Herald.

over-the-top nature of the craft beer

I was here to interview David Geary

movement. (If you haven’t seen it,

about his new gluten-free beer, Ixnay.

check it out. It’s hilarious.)

Maine BrewGuide

9

PHOTO: ELLIS DUCHARME

greater portland

10 fall 2017

greater portland

Note: Hours were accurate as of printing.

Before heading out please check ahead to confirm hours.

tasting room directory NAME

CITY

S

M

T

W

TH

11 – 6

11 – 6

11 – 6

11 – 6

11 – 6

/AllagashBrewingCompany

12 - 7

12 – 7

12 – 7

/AustinStreetBrewery

Allagash Brewing Company

Portland

11 – 6

11 – 6

Austin Street Brewery

Portland

12 - 5

12 - 7

Battery Steele Brewing

Portland

12 - 5

12 - 7

Bissell Brothers

Portland

12 – 5

Bunker Brewing Co

Portland

11 - 8

12 - 9

D.L. Geary Brewing Co.

Portland

12 – 7

2-7

Fore River Brewing Company

South Portland

12 - 8

Foulmouthed Brewing

South Portland

12 - 10

3 - 10

Foundation Brewing

Portland

12 - 5

12 – 7

Gritty McDuff's

Freeport

11 – 1

11 – 1

Gritty McDuff's

Portland

11 – 1

11 – 1

Island Dog Brewing

South Portland

12 - 6

Liquid Riot Bottling Company

Portland

12 – 11

Lone Pine Brewing Company

Portland

12 - 7

2-9

Maine Beer Company

Freeport

11 – 5

Maine Mead Works

Portland

11 - 8

Mast Landing Brewing Company

Westbrook

12 - 5

Nonesuch River Brewing Company

Scarborough

Oxbow Blending and Bottling

Portland

Portersfield Cider

Pownal

Rising Tide Brewing Company

Portland

Sea Dog Brewing Co. Sebago Brewing Co.

12 - 9

S

FACEBOOK

12 - 7

12 - 7

12 - 7

/batterysteelebrewing

12 - 8

12 - 8

12 – 8

12 – 8

/BissellBrothers

12 - 9

12 - 9

12 - 10

12 - 10

/bunkerbrewingco

2-7

12 – 7

12 – 7

/gearybrewingco

2-9

2-9

12 - 9

/foreriverbrewing

2-7 3 - 10

3 - 10

3 - 10

12 - 10

/FoulmouthedBrewing

12 – 7

12 – 7

12 – 7

12 – 7

/foundationbrew

11 – 1

11 – 1

11 – 1

11 – 1

11 – 1

/grittymcduffs

11 – 1

11 – 1

11 – 1

11 – 1

11 – 1

/grittymcduffs

4-8

4-8

2-8

12 - 8

/islanddogbrewing

12 – 11

12 – 11

12 – 11

12 – 1

12 – 1

/liquidriot

2-9

12 - 9

12 - 9

/LonePineBrewing

11 – 8

11 – 8

11 – 8

11 – 8

11 – 8

11 – 8

/mainebeer

11 - 8

11 - 8

11 - 8

11 - 8

11 - 8

11 - 8

/HoneyMakerMead

4–8

4–8

4–8

12 - 8

12 – 8

/mastlandingbrewing

11a 10p

11a 10p

11a 10p

11a 10p

11a 11p

11a 11p

/Nonesuch-RiverBrewing-CompanyLLC-715365338561799

12 - 9

12 - 9

12 - 11

12 - 11

12 - 11

12 - 11

/Oxbow-Blending-Bottling-372533856238705

2 - 5:30

2 - 5:30 2 - 5:30 2 - 5:30 /PortersfieldCider

12 – 11

3 - 10

F

12 – 5

12 – 7

12 – 7

12 – 7

12 – 7

12 – 7

12 – 7

/risingtidebeer

South Portland

9-1

11 – 1

11 – 1

11 – 1

11 – 1

Scarborough

11 - 1

11 - 1

11 - 1

11 - 1

11 - 1

11 – 1

9-1

/seadogsouthportland

11 - 1

11 - 1

/sebagobrewing

Sebago Brewing Co.

Gorham

11 – 10

11 – 10

11 – 10

11 – 12

11 – 12

11 – 12

11 – 12 /sebagobrewing

Sebago Brewing Co.

Portland

11 - 12

11 – 1

11 – 1

11 – 1

11 – 1

11 – 1

11 – 1

Sebago Brewing Co. (Brewery)

Gorham

3–5

3–5

3–5

Shipyard Brewing Company

Portland

11 - 4:30

11 - 5:30

11 5:30

11 5:30

11 - 6

11 - 6

11 - 6

/ShipyardBrewing

Shipyard Inn on Peaks Island

Peaks Island

11 - 9

11 - 9

11 - 9

11 - 9

11 - 9

11 - 10

11 - 10

/InnOnPeaks

Urban Farm Fermentory + Gruit (Kombucha, Cider + Beer)

Portland

12 - 5

12 - 5

12 - 7

12 - 7

12 - 7

12 - 7

12 - 7

/urbanfarmfermentory

Yes Brewing

Westbrook

3-8

2-8

2-8

/yesbrewing

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, fullbodied ales available using only the finest, all natural ingredients.

/sebagobrewing /sebagobrewing

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 Maine BrewGuide

11

Greater Portland

3 DAYS • 180 MILES CYCLE OR VOLUNTEER USE CODE

FOR $20 OFF REGISTRATION FEE!

CROSS M AI KA E R

U

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TA IN

SE

MO

A

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BikeTrekNewEngland.org

1, 2 or 3

TrekAcrossMaine@LungNE.org

day options available!

207-624-0312

Cheers to Shipyard and all they do!

A brewery that gives back in a big way 12 fall 2017

PHOTO COURTESY SHIPYARD BREWING CO..

Even though SHIPYARD is often seen as a giant in the Maine and New England beer scene, they are not very big in comparison to the mega breweries around the country. Shipyard is among only a few breweries in the top 50 in the country who are still family owned and operated.

For their size, they support a huge number of Maine farms, businesses, charities and communities.

Shipyard is the largest brewery in the state and comes with a massive, positive impact on our economy. They employ 400+ Mainers and give back in the form of charitable contributions, community impact programs, major sponsorships in hundreds of events and activities from food to running events, as well as support for local Maine farms and business. Here is a sample of just a few of them: Maine Malt House The Hop Yard Pineland Farms Maine Family Farms North Star Farm Maine Shellfish Backyard farms Beach to Beacon Trail to Ale (Portland Trails) Audubon Maine

Peaks 5M Fleet Feet Endless Summer 5M Shipyard 5k/Half Marathon MS MainePlane Pull, Bike Getaway & Harborfest Breaker To Breaker Harvest on the Harbor The Taste of Maine Numerous Commerces, Schools, Public services other nonprofits

Greater Portland Ned Wight, owner and distiller of NEW

ENGLAND DISTILLING said the name for their new bourbon was named for an important element of Maine history.

“I think we were grilling out for lunch and had a couple of beers then just started brainstorming about what we'd want to name it," he said. "It's a logging term that refers to the logs and snags that would make it down river and sort of float around the inner tidal zone.”

Apart from their Gunpowder Rye whiskey, which also has the rugged outdoors attached to its name, Tidewalker has a nice, toasted corn character, with a lot of caramel, vanilla, maple syrup, and pitted fruit flavor, reminiscent of apricots. “Makes me PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW ENGLAND DISTILLERIES

a little thirsty just thinking about it,” said Wight. You can imagine this bottle being passed around an old logging camp after a long day on the river, while the camp cook hauls a cauldron of baked beans out of the fire pit.

“You know, it’s funny, when you think of bourbon, you think of Kentucky, or rural inland areas,” said Wight.

“Here we are in Portland and a large

the tale of the

character of bourbon is wood, so we wanted to tie the inland, water and wood together with a name that

Tidewalker

completely fits and I think Tidewalker

Text Kay Stephens

The name Tidewalker is mysterious enough. Google it and

does that. I don't know what it is about

you'll find very little about what it means. In an overactive

people when they hear it.”

imagination, it evokes some kind of ghostly wraith trudging upon the seas. But, in actuality, the crew of the Portlandbased New England Distilling found this logging term to be

that word, but it just resonates with

Kay Stephens loves beer and hiking and often combines the two. She is an author and an arts and entertainment freelance writer whose work has appeared in a number of Maine newspapers and magazines.

the perfect moniker for their latest bourbon.

Maine BrewGuide

13

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