5 Maine Beers I Still Haven't Tried...

I can't believe there are still beers in this state that I've yet to try. Since I started this site about 5 months ago I've hardly drank the same beer twice and that goes double for those beers brewed here in Maine. Below are 5 local beers that have made my short list :

5 ~ Magic Hole IPA (Kennebec River Pub & Brewery) - One of very few IPAs here in Maine that I've yet to try. I'd also like to get my hands on their summer beer and see if it stands out against those here in Portland.

4 ~ Storyteller Doppelbock (Oak Pond Brewery) - I've yet to try ANY of Oak Pond's beers. They don't distribute down here in Southern Maine so I'll have to try and pick some up next time I head north. Storyteller is their winter offering and its sounds pretty good.

3 ~ Black Irish Stout (Maine Coast Brewing Company) - Another reason to get up to Bar Harbor and do some brewery tours. Maine Coast brews quite a few beers that I rarely see down in this part of the state. This one seems to be a standout, I'd like to see how its stands up to its neighbor Cadillac Mtn. Stout.

2 ~ Graveyard Coffee Stout/Burnt Meadow Mountain Peated Porter/Imperial Stout (Bray's Brewpub) - I love Bray's beers. These three tie since I've yet to try any of them and they all sound great. The good news is that they are ALL supposed to be on tap for Bray's One Night Stand when they have ALL of their 25+ beers on tap for one special night. I'm keeping my calendar open for Saturday, August 9th.

1 ~ Interlude (Allagash Brewing Company) - One of the most unique beers to come out of Maine (or the US for that matter). This Belgian style strong ale is brewed with two yeast strains (one of which is a house strain of Brettanomyces) and aged in French Merlot and Sirah oak barrels. This is one hell of a complex beer. I am saving my pennies.

What's on tap at Novare Res?

GO HERE

10 Wicked Mainer Beer Names

10. Sunday River Lager (Stone Coast Brewery – Portland) ~  Sunday River is one of the largest and most popular ski resorts in the state. If you live in New England than you've seen the sticker on the back of a big SUV with a ski rack. Stone Coast brews this lager and also runs a brewpub called the Sunday River Brewing Company in Bethel. 

 

9. Longfellow Winter Ale (Shipyard Brewery – Portland) ~ Born in Portland, in a house that once stood where the Shipyard Brewery now stands, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is one of the cities most famous sons. Longfellow printed his first poem at the age of 13. He enrolled at Bowdoin at 15 and graduated at 18. They did things a lot younger back then, or maybe he was just wicked smart. He would go on to be a professor at Bowdoin and Harvard. His writing and poetry was very popular both in the US and abroad. Today he is widely considered to be one of the greatest American poets. Something I found interesting was that he wore a beard in his later years because his face was badly burned in a fire that sadly took his wife’s life.

 

8. Allagash (Portland) ~ Allagash is a lot of things in Maine. It’s a town, it’s a river, it’s a lake, it’s a wilderness area and it’s of course a brewery. It took me a while but I did find out that Allagash comes from Wallegoseoegwam, and is a Maliseet word meaning “Bark Cabin”, probably indicative of a hunting camp; or, possibly meaning “north flowing water”. To many, the word Allagash represents the wild and untamed beauty here.

 

7. Cadillac Mtn. Stout (Bar Harbor Brewing Company – Bar Harbor) ~ The mountain itself is located on Mount Desert Island in Downeast Maine. It reaches a height of 1,530 feet and is assumed to be the first place in the USA to see the morning sunlight. Cadillac Mountain is a great place to do some hiking and many people make the trek to the summit to see the sunrise. The mountain is named in honor of French explorer and adventurer, Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac.

 

6. Chamberlain Pale Ale (Shipyard Brewery – Portland) ~ Joshua Chamberlain was born in Brewer, Maine and attended Bowdoin College. After graduating from Bowdoin he would become a professor of an array of different disciplines and ultimately become the President of the school. In his life he would become fluent in 9 languages, be a Civil War hero (winning the Medal of Honor) and serve four years as the Governor of Maine. He is buried in Brunswick. That is the briefest summary of his extraordinary life as you will find. Chamberlain was a truly amazing Mainer.

 

5. Magic Hole IPA (Kennebec River Brewery – The Forks) ~ The label on this beer shows a cartoon picture of a raft on the Kennebec that is fighting some serious rapids and what can only be the “Magic Hole”. According to the brewery’s site, “so named for its ability to make rafts disappear, Magic Hole is the Kennebec River's biggest challenge.”

 

4. Frye’s Leap IPA (Sebago – Portland/Gorham) ~ Frye Island is located in Sebago Lake. It’s populated during the summertime when people come up for their vacations. Apparently there was a Captain Frye who “during his escape from a tribe of Native Americans in Portland came upon a large rock, now known as Frye's Leap, and had no way of going around it”. He made the decision to jump and swim away. You can still go to Frye's Leap but apparently doing the jump is “extremely dangerous and illegal”. I still want to do it, if the kids on the label can do it so can I!

 

3. Damariscotta Double Brown (Sheepscot Valley Brewing – Whitefield) ~ Damariscotta is a small town along the mid-coast of Maine that hugs the Damariscotta River. The name comes from an Indian term meaning “river of little fish”. This is a great beer if you can find it! Remember to say it right too (dammer-scotta).

 

2. Vacationland Summer Ale (Gritty’s – Portland) ~ You’ve seen it on the license plates and on everything else in the state. The name itself refers to the rampant tourist industry here in Maine. The online dictionary defines Vacationland as “an area having recreational facilities, historic or picturesque sights, etc., that attract vacationists.” I didn’t know “vacationists” was a word!

 

1. DoorYard Ale (Oak Pond Brewery – Skowhegan) ~ In Maine, the “dooryard” is the area directly outside your front door. Most times this is a yard but can also refer to the driveway or other parking area. It’s a great regional name for a beer.

Maine Beer Writers' Guild formed

Three of us that write/blog about beer here in Maine got together last week and established the Maine Beer Writers' Guild.

The Maine Beer Writers' Guild will give beer writers here a chance to meet, drink some good beer and discuss items of importance (i.e. beer).

The Guild's goals are to promote better beer writing and celebrate Maine's craft brew culture. Membership is open to any writer of beer-related content (electronic or print) who resides in Maine.

If you're interested go HERE!

Its nice that this news corresponds with what will be my 100th post on Beer, Maine & Me. I always like to celebrate a milestone with good things (see Harvest Ale) and this is definitely a good thing.

Current Maine Beer Writers' Guild Members:

Beer, Maine & Me

Blog About Beer

BeerBloggers

Think Beer

Chris Sweet - Writer for Ale Street News

Sean Sweeney - Writer for Yankee Brew News

Maine Beer Passport

What do Florida, New Jersey and Vermont all have in common? They all have Beer Passports that can be used to collect stamps from their respective state’s breweries/brewpubs and turned in to claim prizes. Where is Maine's Beer Passport?

The Vermont Brewers Association, for instance, issues a “passport” online that you can printout and use to collect stamps from the 18 breweries/brewpubs in the state. You then submit the passport, either by mail or in person at the Vermont Brewers Festival, and claim “Drink Vermont Beer” related prizes. Not only is this a great idea and fun for those of us who hunt down craft beer everywhere we go, but its also great for the breweries since people get consumed by things like this (myself included). Last summer, my wife and I hit 6 of the 18 breweries/brewpubs in one weekend. Thankfully Vermont is a small state!

Why doesn’t Maine do something like this? It’s as simple as designing a graphic of the passport to be downloaded off the Maine Brewers' Guild website and simply having stamps made and different colored ink provided to all the breweries/brewpubs in the state. Get some t-shirts, bottle openers etc. made as prizes and you are all set. It would be great for tourists and Mainers alike. Collect the stamps and get some Maine beer related prizes!

Hey, maybe people could turn in their passports at the Portland Summer Beerfest, once that dream comes true!

For information about the beer passports already in existence:

VERMONT

NEW JERSEY

FLORIDA
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Today is Neal Dow's Birthday

Neal Dow was born, here in Portland, on this day back in 1804. The so-called Father of Prohibition led a pretty fascinating life, albeit one that many a beer drinker find hard to comprehend.

He was the son of Quakers and his father had a tanning business. Early in his life he became a volunteer fireman “to gain exemption from militia duty because of the reputation of militia musters to be drunken bashes. He gained local notice when he persuaded his company to forego the customary liquor at their annual celebration.” This marked the beginning of a life dedicated to the temperance movement.

In 1827 he became the founding member of the Maine Temperance Society. His popularity grew steadily and in April of 1851 he became the 9th mayor of Portland. One month later he submitted a bill that would impose prohibition. What is really insane is that it was actually signed by then governor, John Hubbard. Thus the “Maine Law” was enacted.

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The law, which prohibited the sale of all alcoholic beverages except for "medicinal, mechanical or manufacturing purposes," quickly spread. By 1855, twelve states had joined Maine in total prohibition. Opposition to the law (who would oppose such a thing!) turned violent in 1855 during an incident known as the "Maine Law riot".

In 1854 he ran for re-election and lost but won again in 1855. This election was marred by scandal (see Maine Law Riot above) and by 1856, he was replaced in office and the Maine Law had been repealed, which I am sure made plenty of people very happy.

Interestingly, Dow was made a Colonel of the 13th Maine Infantry during the Civil War in which he would be captured and held prisoner by the Confederate army for 8 months. He was released in exchange for Robert E. Lee’s son. That’s some trivia for you!

In 1880, Dow ran for President under the Prohibition platform. He came in 4th place with a little over 10,000 votes. That just proves that people will vote for just about anyone!

Neal Dow died, in the city of his birth, in 1897. He was 94 years old! I guess there is something to be said for clean living. His former home stands at 714 Congress St. and is the current home of the Maine Women’s Christian Temperence Union.

He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Portland.

Support Maine Brewers on St. Patrick's Day!

This St. Patrick's Day when you pay homage to that guy who rid Ireland of snakes,  why not also pay homage to Maine brewers? 

Here are some stouts brewed right here in Maine:

Bar Harbor Cadillac Mountain Stout - Bar Harbor Brewing Company

Blue Fin Stout - Shipyard Brewery

Lake Trout Stout - Sebago Brewing Company

Black Fly Stout - Gritty McDuff's

Black Demon Stout  - Black Bear Brewery/Bearbrew Pub

Black - Allagash Brewing Company

McGovern's Oatmeal Stout - Belfast Bay Brewing Company

Tarbox Cream Stout - Liberal Cup Public House & Brewery

Black Irish Style Stout - Maine Coast Brewing Company

Jamaican Style Stout - Stone Coast Brewing Company

Quaker Ridge Oatmeal Stout - Brays Brewpub

Sláinte!

My Ten Favorite Maine Beers (version 1.0)

This list will change quite a bit over time as beers come and go but I thought I'd post version 1.0 now and update it every couple months. So, without further ado I present to you, in no particular order whatsoever, the 10 beers that I love most (right now) here in Maine.

1. Coal Porter ~ Atlantic Brewing Company (Bar Harbor)
2. Autumn Ale ~ Geary's Brewing Company (Portland)
   
3. Damariscotta Double Brown ~ Sheepscot Valley (Whitefield)
   
4. Dubbel ~ Allagash Brewing Company (Portland)
   
5. Cadillac Mountain Stout ~ Bar Harbor Brewing Company
   
6. St. Nick's Porter ~ Andrew's Brewing Company (Lincolnville)
   
7. Brother Adam's Honey Bragget ~ Atlantic Brewing Co. (BH)
8. Prelude Ale ~ Shipyard Brewery (Portland)
   
9. Mt. Olympus Special Ale ~ Bray's Brewpub (Naples)
   
10. Full Throttle Double IPA ~ Sebago Brewing Company (Portland)

Maine Beer Map

I recently came across a new feature that Yankee Brew News came out with called www.goodbeermaps.com  

At Good Beer Maps you can choose between US regions and get maps of individual states showing you all the breweries, brewpubs, beer bars and beer stores. 

If you're familiar with Yankee Brew News than you'll recognize the maps as they publish them in each issue. 

Check out the Beer Map for Maine

The rest of the New England Beer Maps are HERE!

License to Ale

One day I saw a Maine license plate in the Top of the Old Port parking lot that just said BEER. Needless to say, I was instantly jealous that someone had thought of this and gotten away with it before I did. For weeks afterwards I would see the car with that plate and wonder whose it was and how much they actually loved beer.

Well, amazingly it turned out that the car was owned by someone I worked with. I wasn't really all that aware of their affection for beer. When I finally spoke to the person about this, I made sure to let them know that if given the chance I would steal their plates or their entire car if need be.

Along the same lines, I went and did the Geary's tour last summer and there in the Geary's parking lot was a car with the license plate CRK1OPN. How great is that? Another beer related vanity plate that I could have on my car, had I thought of it first.

Well, now that I've been beaten to the punch twice, I am determined not to let it happen again. Below are some ideas for Maine beer related vanity plates that have yet to be taken...

10 Interesting Maine Beer Facts

In no particular order, I present to you 10 facts you might find

interesting about beer in the Pine Tree State!

1~ In 1986, Geary’s rolled out its flagship Pale Ale and became the first brewery to operate in Maine in over a century.

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2~Under the leadership of Portland's Neal Dow - known as the "Father of Prohibition" and known to me as someone I would've like to have kicked hard in the head- Maine approved a total ban on the manufacture and sale of liquor in 1851.This so-called "Maine Law" remained in effect, in one form or another, until the repeal of National Prohibition in 1934.yj

3~Currently there are 25 brewing establishments in Maine (and one potato vodka distillery)

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4~In Maine, its illegal to destroy the label on a keg, doing so is punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000 or 6 months in prison.

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5~In 1985 the legal drinking age in Maine was raised from 20 to 21.

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6~Delaware’s Dogfish Head Craft Brewery takes its name from a small point on Southport Island near Boothbay Harbor.

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7~Maine’s largest brewery is Shipyard in Portland. Maine’s smallest brewery is Freeport Brewing Company in South Freeport.

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8~Paris View Farm in Paris, Maine is home to Maine’s only hop producing farm and, true to Maine style, the hops are grown organically.

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9~Ebenezer’s Pub in Lovell, Maine was nominated as the best beer bar in the country according by Beer Advocate users.

10~November is Drink Maine Beer month.

Downeast Beverage (Portland)

Downeast Beverage is located on Commercial St. in the Old Port of Portland. If you've been to Portland and you like beer, you have been to Downeast Beverage. Let's move on.

Downeast Beverage has long been known for having the best beer selection in downtown Portland. Prepare yourself to be impressed with some of the changes that have taken place in this small and inconspicuous bottle shop. I was speaking to Adam Barber, the beer guy at Downeast Beverage a few days ago, one of several extremely nice and very beer-knowledgeable persons employed at DBC, and he showed me around.

Basically, the beer section that was up front has move the back and was expanded. The coolers have been expanded and the mix-a-six is getting bigger as well. Foreign beers are sectioned off by region with an impressive selection of Germans, British, Belgians and even Italians.

In the cooler currently, DBC has Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 25th Anniversary six-packs as well as Harvest bombers, Flying Dog Imperial Porter, growlers of Sheepscot stout and lots of other great stuff. My fingers are crossed that I may one day soon walk in and see Stone beers in the cooler as well...but right now we remain the only state in New England that you can't get any Arrogant Bastard or Ruination Ale. Thats another story altogether...

Another great thing about Downeast Beverage is that they sell singles from the cooler, which is perfect if you are catching a boat out to Peaks Island from the ferry terminal just across the road.

If you've never been to DBC and are swinging through Portland be sure to check it out and be sure to ask for Adam, he will certainly help you out with any questions you might have.

Downeast Beverage Company

79 Commercial 

Portland, ME 04101

828-2337

Store Hours:

M-Th ~ 10-7

F-S ~ 10-8

Sn ~ 11-5