Have you dug out from our first major snowfall of the year yet? That was…fun? While winter may be here, we find that there’s no better way to spend a cold, crisp winter day than going for a 10-mile run, followed by Nordic skiing, then a night spent out in the cold campin’…we kid, we spend it drinking delicious Maine-made BEER!
There are so many new releases out this week perfect for sipping on a cold winter day. And, while you’re out visiting our many fine breweries why not also “wrap” up your Christmas shopping (sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves) by picking up gifts for the beer lover in your life. Lots of breweries have a ton of merch to choose from, including glassware, t-shirts, beanies, you name it. Not sure what to get? Gift cards from the recipient’s favorite brewery are one-size-fits-all!
Here’s this week’s guide to the latest beer releases, rundowns of what’s on tap, upcoming brewery events, and a roundup of Maine beer news.
Beer This Week is Sponsored by: Tigpro Stainless Fabrication
Tigpro specializes in the design, fabrication, and installation of high-quality, custom-built brewing systems, tanks, process piping, and supporting equipment to the brewing industry. With more than a decade of experience, the Tigpro team can design a brewing system to meet your brewery’s unique needs.
Upcoming Releases & Events
There are a lot of beers we’re pretty jazzed about this week, including a Wild Ale brewed with peaches (millions of peaches, peaches for me…), an Imperial Tart Fruit Ale, four IPAs, a salted caramel Amber Ale (we’re already drooling), and a Whoopie Pie Imperial Strout. Start planning your purchasing route now!
Thursday, December 10
Allagash Brewing Company
50 Industrial Way, Portland
Windfall, American Wild Ale (6.2%)
Allagash created this tart, Brettanomyces-fermented beer thanks to an unlikely harvest of peaches. Windfall’s trove of vibrant aromas includes blood orange, peach, and ruby red grapefruit. Its sour flavor stores notes of subtle clove, orange, and the peaches that it is aged on for five months. Think of this beer as a toast to pleasant surprises.
Foundation Brewing Company
1 Industrial Way #5, Portland
Jam Packed Berry-Cherry Whip, Imperial Tart Fruit Ale (8%)
The second in Foundation’s Jam Packed line of Imperial Tart Fruit Ales, this one’s packed with blueberry, cherry, and black currant. A dash of sweet and silky vanilla cushions the oodles of fruit, taking us straight to a 1950s soda fountain (in our minds, anyway). Grab your poodle skirt or best leather jacket and head on down to Foundation for a real treat!
Island Dog Brewing
125 John Roberts Rd., Unit 15, South Portland
Salted Caramel Amber Ale (5%)
Brewed with local Blue Ox malts, this Amber Ale has caramel and pretzel flavors with a hint of salt and a smooth malty finish. It’s available in cans and on draft.
Friday, December 11
Definitive Brewing Company
35 Industrial Way, Portland and 318 US Route 1, Kittery
Insensitive, IPA (7%)
Insensitive, part of Definitive’s ever-evolving DDH IPA series, is back with Batch #10! This series utilizes different yeast, malt, and hops with each brew in order to make the outcome a unique drinking experience that changes from batch to batch. This time they used Citra, Mosaic, New Zealand Cascade, and Ekuanot Cryo hops to create a super smooth and refreshing IPA. Available on Friday in Portland, Saturday in Kittery.
Mast Landing Brewing Co.
920 Main St., Westbrook
Electric Skies, Double IPA
Electric Skies is a triple dry-hopped Double IPA brewed with Idaho 7 and Sabro Hops.
Saturday, December 12
SoMe Brewing Company
1 York St., #3, York
2020 Big Whoop, Imperial Stout (9%)
Brewed in August every year and aged in bourbon barrels until SoMe’s December anniversary, this big version of their Whoopie Pie Stout is just that, BIG. Huge chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon flavors are backed up by sweet maltiness and a smooth finish. It will be available on draft, in cans, and in bottles. Since their actual anniversary (#7, if you’re keeping track) falls on Monday, they will be offering “Buy One, Get One for $1” large pours on the 14th as a thank you for customers. We’ll see you there!
Monday, December 14
Maine Beer Company
525 US-1, Freeport
Black Barn Program No. 17 Double IPA
As they approach the two-year anniversary of the first release of Second Dinner, Maine Beer Company is ready for another Double IPA! Brewer Paul, who runs the Black Barn program, became the first “Double Champ” at Portland’s Arcadia National Bar (stay with us, this is relevant), winning both the Arcadia Brewery Battle and the Arcadia Belt Tournament in rounds of pinball and arcade gaming. This win inspired Paul’s Black Barn Program No.17 Double IPA recipe, featuring two championships (see?!) quality experimental hops (HBC 586, HBC 630) along with Citra & Centennial, as well as a “winning” combination of pale and wheat malts from Blue Ox Malthouse. It will be released in bottles and on draft at the tasting room at 11 a.m.
Release Date TBD
Black Bear Brewing
19 Mill St., Orono
Hazy New Zealand Pale Ale (5.4%)
A hazy Pale Ale brewed with a premier hop, Motueka, from New Zealand that boasts an exciting tropical and citrus-forward flavor.
Liquid Riot Bottling Company
250 Commercial St., Portland
Superlumière IPA (6%)
Superlumière is being canned this week. It’s an IPA brewed using malted oats with an aggressive amount of Galaxy hops and then a light dusting of Simcoe, Mosaic, and Idaho-7. Double dry-hopped with Galaxy, Mosaic, and Idaho-7.
Marsh Island Brewing
2 Main St., Orono
Battle Buddies, IPA (6.4%)
Marsh Island will be releasing Battle Buddies this week and statewide next week. This beer was brewed in collaboration with the Maine Veterans Project. It’s a New England IPA brewed with Veterans blend hops from Yakima Valley hops.
New Releases
We’ve got several intriguing IPAs to tell you about this week, including one brewed in honor and support of WCYY DJ Mark Curdo’s annual MARKATHON. There’s also an Italian Pilsner, a “toasty” Porter, a lager brewed with coffee, and the return of one of our favorite Russian Imperial Stouts. Nostrovia!
Austin Street Brewery
1 Industrial Way, #8, Portland & 115 Fox St., Portland
Pallino, Italian Pilsner (5.9%)
Say ciao to Austin Street’s brand-new Italian-style Pilsner, Pallino! This style features more dry hop character than most other pilsners, which gives this crisp beer an amplified fruity character.
Bissell Brothers Brewing
4 Thompsons Point #108, Portland & 157 Elm St., Milo
Sigil IX, Ale (11.1%)
The temperature is dropping as we settle into the season, but don’t worry, Bissell Brothers are here to help. Sigil IX is a blended barrel-aged Winter Warmer Ale spiced with everything nice: white pepper, cardamom, and nutmeg.
Blaze Brewing
28 Pearl St., Biddeford
Toasted, Porter (5.5%) & Block Party, IPA (7%)
Toasted is a peanut butter s’mores Porter brewed with a plethora of dark malts to create a beer full of cocoa flavor. Then, to make it interesting, Blaze Brewing added marshmallows and peanut butter. This resulted in a liquid dessert at a modest ABV that smells and tastes like s’mores.
Block Party is a brand-new IPA brewed with Sabro and Taiheke. While we may not be able to be together for a Block Party right now, the brewers wanted to showcase an IPA that celebrates those hot summer hangs with the people who know you the best. Block Party tastes like an Orange Julius with coconut on the rim. Juicy, refreshing, and delicious!
Flight Deck Brewing
11 Atlantic Ave., Brunswick
Ground Pounder, Dark Coffee Lager (5%)
In collaboration with veteran-owned, Maine-based Black Ink Coffee Company, Flight Deck brewed a special iteration of their Ground Pounder Lager, this time with coffee! While it pours as dark as 4:30 p.m. in December, it drinks as light and crisp as a lager. Whole beans of Black Ink’s Maineiac blend were used in the brewing process, providing a medium-roast taste with a dark-roast color. A treat for all senses, from start to finish.
Fore River Brewing Co.
45 Huntress Ave., South Portland
Surfaces, IPA (6.5%)
Hazy, juicy, smooth, and bursting with flavor! Notes of citrus and ripe tropical fruit bring the light, subtly floral, Surfaces to life, and create a mouthwatering and incredibly delicious drinking experience.
Foundation Brewing Company
1 Industrial Way #5, Portland
Forge, Russian Imperial Stout (10%)
Forge is back! This Russian Imperial Stout is jet black and potent. Deep coffee, chocolate, and malt flavors take center stage, with round, citrusy hops in the background adding depth. This is truly an absolute bear of a beer!
Lone Pine Brewing
219 Anderson St., Portland
MARKATHON 12, New England Session IPA (4.7%)
Every year WCYY’s Mark Curdo embarks on his 102-hour radiothon, MARKATHON, to raise money for the Center for Grieving Children. In honor of Mark’s quest, Lone Pine brewed up MARKATHON 12 Session IPA, with all proceeds donated to MARKATHON. Perhaps their haziest Session IPA so far, MARKATHON 12 is crisp and easy-drinking with a bold, bitter finish. Its aromas and flavors of delicious fruity hops are an excellent way to celebrate the gracious work of those working to improve the lives of grieving families throughout Maine.
Maine Beer Company
525 US-1, Freeport
Maine Brewers Guild Collaboration Beer 2020, IPA
Maine Beer Company’s take on the Maine Brewers Guild Collaboration Beer 2020 is now available on draft in the tasting room. The Maine Brewers Guild promotes and advocates for the craft beer industry here in Maine. Traditionally, funding for the guild comes from the many festivals and events they host throughout the year. This year in lieu of those events, 39 Maine breweries agreed to create a collaboration beer, working off a single recipe, with a portion of proceeds going to support the guild’s work.
Mast Landing Brewing Co.
920 Main St., Westbrook
Fresh Powder, IPA (6.9%)
Fresh Powder is a double dry-hopped IPA brewed with Pacific Sunrise, HBC 630, and Simcoe hops.
On Draft
Help support local breweries while sampling these flagship beers and rising stars. Here’s a taste of what you’ll be able to enjoy at select breweries this week.
Foundation Brewing Company
1 Industrial Way #5, Portland
- Casco Gold, Helles Lager (5.8%)
- Cran-Orange Jam, Tart Fruit Ale (5%)
- Burnside, Brown Ale (5.1%)
- Flights of Fancy, IPA (6.5%)
- Double Double, Imperial Milk Stout (11%)
- Curse Breaker, Imperial Milk Stout (10.9%)
Geaghan Brothers Brewing
570 Main St., Bangor
- Dutton St. Double, Double IPA (8.9%)
- Press 2, Mexican Lager (4%)
- The Refueler, American Hefeweizen (5.2%)
- 11:43 IPA (6.8%)
- Big County, West Coast IPA (6.2%)
- Higgins Irish Red, Irish Red (5.5%)
Norway Brewing Company
237 Main St., Norway
- Bam’s Brown, Brown Ale (5.6%)
- Triple Stack, Farmhouse w/Maple (9.7%)
- Sunday Surf, IPA (4.5%)
- Inglorious Bastard, Farmhouse Ale (6%)
- Berliner Weisse, Sour (4%)
- Left Turn, Pale Ale (5.3%)
Maine Beer in the News
Maine’s senators are going to bat for Maine breweries, and we are here for it. Read all about it, as well as a profile of a Bangor yeast lab, and more in this week’s Maine beer news you need to know.
Maine senators join push for tax relief for craft brewers
Portland has more breweries per capita than any other American city, according to Food & Wine magazine.
Restaurants, bars brace for most challenging winter ever
Dan Kleban, founder of Maine Beer Company, said outdoor dining helped his tasting room and brewery operation make the most out of a challenging summer.
Tap Lines: Bangor yeast lab banking on beer
Maniacal Yeast, which plans to move to Vassalboro next year, freezes strains for breweries to use.
How This Maine Brewery Is Supporting Racial Equality
Want to know the most beautiful thing about the new Imperial Stout from Maine’s Allagash Brewing Company?
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