Kate the Great Day is here!

Tuesday, June 24th is Kate the Great Day at the Portsmouth Brewery down in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. If you haven't taken the day off of work then you can pretty much kiss your chances of getting a bottle of this bad ass Russian Imperial Stout good bye. People are coming from all over to get some of this stuff and you can expect there to be quite a crowd queued up for the rather limited supply (only 10 barrels were produced).

At 2:27 pm this year's batch of what was named the best beer in America (according to BeerAdvocate magazine) will go on sale. It should be quite a scene as the hype over this beer spread across the internet pretty damn quickly and once its gone...its gone!

If you're going, this is what you need to know:

~ Bottles are $10 each and you are limited to two per day (like its going to last more than one)

~ Selling will be done like a deli counter, grab a ticket/number and come back when its your turn, I suggest going to the bar to sample all the other great beers.

~ Unfortunately growlers are not being filled

~ Bottles are being sold downstairs in the Jimmy LaPanza Lounge and not in the little retail store adjacent to the brewery

~ Bring donuts to sell to the crowd if you are getting there early (which I recommend as well)

~ Do the Smuttynose Brewery tour if you have the time, its a little out of town but a great tour (with free beer)

~ Have fun and get to know some other beer lovers. There is going to be quite an array of people in Portsmouth from all over. I would expect a beerfest atmosphere during the afternoon hours.

If anyone has an extra bottle for this poor guy who has to work tomorrow please let me know!!!!

so innocent yet so sought after

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.

Cadillac Mtn. Stout: Bombers vs 12 oz. bottles

  VS  

By now you've heard that Bar Harbor Brewing Company was sold and moved from its prior location (Tod and Suzi Foster's place) to a new location in Bar Harbor. You may have also heard that the bombers that were rather limited in supply are no longer being produced. Bar Harbor Brewing Company is now contract brewing three of their beers at Geary's in Portland for sale in six-packs. 

Since there are a lot of fans of the BHBC beers that are concerned about the taste and quality of those beers they've grown accustomed to, I present my personal comparison of the "old" to the "new" Cadillac Mtn. Stout. 

Looks like...

Bomber (old) - Pours a perfectly dark, pretty much black color. The head is nice, fluffy and coffee colored. The contrast of the very dark stout and that light colored head is one of the greatest things about a good example of this style. The head on this one doesn't good away quickly which I'll say can be contributed to it being a well brewed beer.

12 ouncer (new) - Pours inky black, a bit syrupy with about a finger's worth of coffee colored foam on top. The head lasts for a bit before slowly disintegrating leaving about a quarter-inch ring around the glass with some oily foam left in the middle. 

Smells like...

Bomber (old) - Smells like dark roasted malt, a little sweet with slight hints of vanilla, chocolate and coffee.

12 ouncer (new) - Smell is very rich, tons of dark sweet maltiness, lots of coffee and caramel. A few more whiffs bring out some chocolate soft serve smells. All in all a very tasty smelling beer.

Tastes like...

Bomber (old) - Tastes very rich with a smooth creamy finish. Chocolate and coffee notes galore. Lots of malt sweetness with some well placed dryness. An excellent example of the style. Once you drink a bit of this beer, you'll understand what all the talk is about. 

12 ouncer (new) - Taste is very roasty and sweet. There is a creamy texture on the tongue which gives way to some bitterness and dryness. There is an aftertaste with this one that was also present in the new bottle of the Thunderhole Ale. I really can't explain it, but its a sharp almost metallic taste that stays in your mouth for quite a long time. It doesn't ruin the taste of this beer and this is still a very good stout. 

Overall...

Okay, we all know that you weren't going to brew a Cadillac Mtn. Stout outside of Bar Harbor that tastes exactly like the original. I will give some credit and say that the "new" CMS smells great and looks great and maintains some of the rich, roastiness that the original head. That being said, its is not the creamy, smooth beer that it once was. The bombers were definitely better and the smooth, sweet dry finish has been replaced with the astringent, cloying taste. Such is life, grab the bombers while you can. I've already talked to a number of people that have bought cases so its only a matter of time before they go extinct.

If you do happen to see the bombers grab one and grab a 12 ouncer and do your own comparison. I'll try and do the same for the Thunder Hole Ale and the Harbor Lighthouse Ale (which I think could end up being one of the best six packs of "light" beer available in Maine).

Thunder Hole Ale: Bombers vs 12 oz. bottles

VS

By now you've heard that Bar Harbor Brewing Company was sold and moved from its prior location (Tod and Suzi Foster's place) to a new location in Bar Harbor. You may have also heard that the bombers that were rather limited in supply are no longer being produced. Bar Harbor Brewing Company is now contract brewing three of their beers at Geary's in Portland for sale in six-packs. 

Since there are a lot of fans of the BHBC beers that are concerned about the taste and quality of those beers they've grown accustomed to, I present my personal comparison of the "old" to the "new" Thunder Hole Ale. 

Looks like...

Bomber (old) - Pours a nice deep brown with a large fluffy tight head. The head is thick and lasts and lasts...

12 ouncer (new) - Pours a very dark, almost opaque brown with hints of ruby redness. The head is about a finger's width in thickness and dies down rather quickly leaving some oily foam on top with and a ring around the color of the glass. Something else I notice is the amount of carbonation bubbling up from the dark depths.

Both beers look great in a glass. 

Smells like...

Bomber (old) - Smells sweet, malty with small hints of hops. This just smells like a solid beer.

12 ouncer (new) - Smell is sweet caramel and burnt sugar, dark rich maltiness and some roasted coffee. There is also a hint of smokiness like burning wood. 

Both have a nice rich smell of dark malt and caramel.

Tastes like...

Bomber (old) - A flood of malty sweetness with a bit of hoppiness and a sugary sweet finish. This is a really enjoyable brown ale. I really like the smoothness of this beer and the fact that its a full bodied brown and not at all watery and free of that sharp astringency that some browns have in the finish.

12 ouncer (new) - Taste is sweet dark malts with a dry astringent aftertaste and lots of bubbles on the tongue. The coffee notes come out quite strong after a few more sips. The roasty smoky taste is a lot weaker than the smell might let on. One thing that I notice with this one is a syrupy after taste that is a bit cloying. Not sure how to describe it, kind of like a diet soda aftertaste or something. 

Overall...

Definitely some comparisons to be made. Both beers look good in the glass thats for sure. The bomber is a richer, darker brown beer with a bigger, fluffier head. The 12 ouncer has some ruby notes that are more apparent. Smells are both quite strong and sweet. Its hard to notice a lot of difference. Taste is a big comparison obviously. The 12 ouncer has a bitter cloying taste that stays with you and dries your mouth out a bit. The bomber was rich and malty with none of that aftertaste. Besides a bit of difference in carbonation levels, that aftertaste is what I really notice most. I'll go in search of some bombers that may still be floating around and try and get my fill before they're gone for good...

If you happen to see the bombers grab one and grab a 12 ouncer and do your own comparison. I'll try and do the same for the Cadillac Mtn. Stout and the Harbor Lighthouse Ale (which I think could end up being one of the best six packs of "light" beer available in Maine).

Hop Scented Air Freshener

For quite some time I've been rambling about how great hops smell and how much I would love to get an air freshener that smelled like them. Well, today my dream came true. Its a long story but to make it short I will say that it involved the internet and the kindness of a stranger in Virginia. 

Now, the question on all of your minds:

Does it actually smell like hops?

You bet, it smells like fresh hops straight from your home brew shop. If I had to guess which variety I would say Cascade or maybe Centennial. Hooray, now my truck doesn't have to smell like a Yankee Candle anymore!

Hop Air Freshener next to Big A IPA (for a size comparison)

Once I find out about getting more of these I will post something...

North vs South: A Battle of Fresh Hop Ales

VS

Last year Sierra Nevada released their first bottled version of their Harvest Fresh Hop Ale, a beer brewed with fresh raw hops harvested from the Yakima Valley in Washington State. This past month they followed it up with the first release of their Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale, a beer brewed the same way with hops harvested in New Zealand (the only place that harvests hops during "our" springtime. The question is, how do these beers stack up against eachother?

Let the battle of hemispheres begin!

Brewery

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (both)

Location

Chico, California, USA (both)

Names

Harvest Fresh Hop Ale (11th Edition)

Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale (1st Edition)

Style

American Pale Ales/India Pale Ales (both)

Container

24 oz. bottle (both)

Malts
Two-row Pale & Caramel (both)

ABV

6.7% (both)

Bittering Hops
Northern - Centennial from Yakima Valley in Washington
Southern - Pacific Hallertau from New Zealand


Finishing Hops

Northern - Cascade & Centennial from Yakima Valley in Washington

Southern - Motueka & Southern Cross from New Zealand

IBUs
Northern - 60-65 IBUs
Southern - 66 IBUs

Yeast

Ale Yeast (both)

Looks like...

Northern - Pours a slick, clean golden tangerine color. You swear that you can see the alpha acids floating around within that beautiful amber liquid. The head is fluffy and has the rings of a fresh beer.

Southern - Pours a nice, deep dark golden color with a decent-sized head on top. Carbonation is moderate. Head slowly dissipates leaving some nice lacing along the top of the glass. A great looking pour.

Both beers look great in a glass. Because they are brewed with the same malts they look almost identical.

Smells like...

Northern - Smell is outstanding. Its bitter lemon, grapefruit, pure fresh humulus lupulus juice in all its glory. There is a bit of breadiness to compliment the overload of hoppiness. Pure olfactory heaven if you ask me and I am a hophead.

Southern - Smell is fresh, spicy hops. Definitely floral but I also get some sweet fruit notes, kind of like Froot Loops cereal a bit (I can't think of a better way to describe it). Don't get me wrong, this is definitely a hoppy smelling beer! Hopheads won't be let down by the smell.

Both have very powerful fresh hop smells. You really get a good idea of just how fresh the hops that went into these beers were when the brewing took place. Great job Sierra Nevada!

Tastes like...

Northern - Taste is bitter. Go figure. This is fresh hop taste at its best and very high on the tongue drying scale. Lots of citrus and piney notes. You have to respect a brewery for being able to create a beer that satisfies all the hop loving senses. Don't worry, this is balanced as well. You can drink it and not say its another one sided hop bomb that lacks character.

Southern - Taste is crisp, tongue-drying and has a long lasting aftertaste of hop bitterness. There is a strong acidic quality to this beer. Its kind of like the alpha acids are tiny scrubbing bubbles really giving it to the inside of your mouth. Its mouth puckering with not a whole lot of malt backbone. A lot of this has to do with the brewing process I'm sure. I am however not sure that term "robust" properly describes the hop presence in this beer. I'd say that it is dominating! Nonetheless, this is a great beer if you need to free base some hops to get your fix.

Overall...

Personally I liked both of them a lot! The Northern was more balanced and had a lot of what I am used to from a big citrusy/piney West Coast IPA. All the qualities I love from a big hoppy beer were there. The Southern was a little less balanced and the after taste was drawn out and very, very bittering. Not a bad thing, it just might not lead to you grabbing another bottle right away. I'd have to go with Northern being the more drinkable of the two. However, I'd have to say that both are tremendous beers in their own right and I look forward to the continuation of this series.

The Runner-Up is...

Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale

The Winner is...

"Northern Hemisphere" Harvest Fresh Hop Ale

10 Great Places to Get a Beer in Portland (Maine)

Duckfat - Our own tiny slice of Belgium here in Portland. Located on Middle St., Duckfat has some artery clogging items on their menu that are absolutely amazing. We're talking duck confit, poutine (fries with cheese and gravy) and of course their famous Belgian fries (yes they are cooked in duck fat) that you can order up with an assortment of special dips including truffle ketchup as well as curry mayo. Compliment your food with a glass of Allagash or Chimay.

Binga's Wingas - Want to wash down your ridiculously hot hot wings with a big glass of Geary's Pale Ale? Go to Binga's on Congress. With a ton of different wing options from plain to Chernobyl, as well as a pretty respectable tap selection, Binga's is a great place for comfort food and drink. Check out the beer specials online and go when the good stuff is cheap!

Bull Feeney's - Did you know that John "Bull" Feeney and John Ford (the man who directed "The Quiet Man" and "How Green is my Valley") are one in the same? Our famed Irish pub on Fore St. is a great place to get an imperial (20 oz.) pint of Guinness among quite a few local offerings as well.

Brian Boru - Look for the red building on Center St. with the huge Guinness toucan mural on the side and that is Brian Boru's. Named for the famed Irish king, Boru's is a great little pub with a vibrant atmosphere especially when they've got live Irish music on Sundays. Slainte!

Sebago Brewing Company - Two words, "Single Batch". Sebago has really done a great job brewing up some beers that stray far from their usual suspects. If only they'd brew the Full Throttle Double IPA again! Right now they've got a bourbon barrel-aged barleywine that is excellent.

Rosie's - Esquire magazine recently nominated Rosie's as one of the "Best Bars in America". Located on the cobblestone part of Fore St., Rosie's is one of the most comfortable places in town to have a pint. A great place to play some darts and grab a bite to eat. Try the Hooker Blonde or the Hooker Brown, both are house beers brewed especially for Rosie's by Gritty's down the street.

Gritty's - Maine's Original Brewpub brews up its own beers in a tiny brewery located downstairs. Right on Fore St. it can't be missed. Brewer Ben Low has been brewing up some specialty brews lately, check out the Smoked Bruin (a brown ale brewed with smoked malt).

Three Dollar Dewey's - Dewey's has been in the Old Port for almost 30 years. Its was opened by beer lover and later beer author, Alan Eames (known as the "Indiana Jones of Beer" due to his anthropological interests in ancient beers and brewing). Alan sadly passed away last year but his legacy lives on. Dewey's has close to 40 taps and a great atmosphere for having some pints with some friends. When you go, be sure to read the sign about the origin of the bar's name.

Novare Res Bier Cafe - Portland's newest spot for great beer. Novare Res, which takes its name from the Latin for "to start a revolution", is located where Black Tie Bistro used to be (off Exchange St.). A very inviting European-style drinking establishment, Novare Res has 25 taps, a beer engine serving cask beer and over 225 bottles. You simply can not have a bad beer here even if you tried. Drink all the beers on offer and earn a chalice to call your own...

Great Lost Bear - The GLB was once called The Grizzly Bear. Due to a name dispute with a far away pizza chain, the Great Lost Bear was born. The GLB has more Maine brewed beers on tap than any other place in the state. They've also added some beer engines pouring cask beers, are up to 6 Belgians on tap and are also getting some pretty hard to find kegs (I see that they'll be tapping a keg of Hitachino from Japan soon). Combine their great beer selection with their Thursday night "Showcases" and their "Buck off Belgians" nights and you really can't ask for a better place to grab a great beer. The Great Lost Bear is constantly named among the best places to have a beer in the US!

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.”