Has it been hot enough for ya, bub? What a week! Luckily, the temps are finally starting to fall, and it looks like it will be mostly sunny, comfortable weather for the long holiday weekend. Now that’s something worth celebrating! In addition to our country’s b-day, of course. No matter if your plans include a trip to the beach, taking in some fireworks, or even just lounging in your own backyard, we think nothing pairs better with 4th of July relaxation than some local Maine beer. Make sure to pick up some local brews soon to tide you over through the long holiday weekend, especially since many breweries will be closed on Sunday and/or Monday because we all deserve some R&R after what we’ve been through the past 15 or so months, amiright?
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.
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Upcoming Releases & Events
Get your wallet ready because there are A LOT of new releases over the next few days. We’re especially excited for some of the fruit-forward releases from Banded Brewing, Blaze Brewing, and Foundation Brewing. Wait, fruit-infused beers DON’T count as a serving of fruit? We’re going to choose to ignore that and raise a glass to the (misguided) food pyramid this weekend!
Thursday, July 1st
Allagash Brewing Company
50 Industrial Way, Portland
From Maine, With Love #06, Lager
These are the hazy, crazy, lazy days of Lager. This heat gasps for a cold, snappy beer, and Allagash has got just the thing: From Maine, With Love #06. The brewers took the crisp, bright malt profile of a Lager and fermented it with a Belgian yeast strain, resulting in a balanced, refreshing, snappy beer with the subtle notes of fruit for which Belgian-style beers are renowned.
Banded Brewing Co.
32 Main St., Bldg. 13-W, Ste. 102, Biddeford and 82 Hanover St, Ste. 6, Portland
Tropical Sorbet IPA
This beer is the latest in Banded Brewing’s collaboration series with their friends and neighbors in Biddeford at Sweetcream Dairy. Brewed with papaya, pineapple, and pink guava, this beer is juicy and full-bodied with tropical and citrus notes. There are notes of fresh pineapple and tangerine on the nose with under ripe stone-fruit and a burst of tropical fruit medley on the first sip. Hints of Jolly Ranchers follow leading to orange rind and kiwi. Hints of shredded coconut linger on the finish.
There will be a rain-or-shine Hawaiian shirt-themed release party to celebrate the release of Tropical Sorbet IPA at the Biddeford location. It runs all day, from open to close, and will feature surf rock, food specials, and a nightcap scoop of sorbet.
Blaze Brewing Company
28 Pearl St., Biddeford
Jam Flow, IPA (7%)
Jam Flow is brewed with a wheat-heavy grist and then dry hopped excessively with Amarillo and Mosaic. This combination yielded an incredibly juicy, bright and soft beer. Jam Flow smells and tastes like fleshy orange, ripe mango, and pink Starburst.
Flight Deck Brewing
11 Atlantic Ave., Brunswick
SeaBee, Saison
Seabee is a nickname given to the U.S Naval Construction Battalion, who’s “can do” attitude solved the need for military infrastructure in World War II. These units were some of the first racially integrated units in the Navy and paved the way for a fully integrated U.S. military.
In honor of their heroics, Flight Deck is releasing SeaBee, a Saison brewed with Maine blueberries. This brew offers subtle spice notes balanced with juicy blueberries and is a perfect companion for hot summer days.
Friday, July 2
Definitive Brewing Company
35 Industrial Way, Portland and 318 US Route 1, Kittery
Fallstreak, IPA (7.4%) & Calzone Party, Double IPA (8%)
Named after an especially rare cloud formation, this plush IPA with Citra, Galaxy, and Nelson is definitely special. Fallstreak tastes and smells like pineapple juice, piña coladas, and fulfilled expectations.
Get ready to get in the zone with Calzone Party, a juicy new Double IPA brewed in collaboration with Cushwa Brewing Company from Maryland. Layered like a calzone with flavors from Citra, Bru 1, Mosaic Cryo, and Mosaic Incognito hops, this “Parks & Rec”-inspired beer tastes and smells like Hawaiian flowers, ripe green fruits, and a bowl of pineapple punch. Both beers are available Friday in Portland, Saturday in Kittery.
First Mile Brewing Co.
28 Market St., Ste. 103, Fort Kent
Shiretown Pale, American Pale Ale
Shiretown Pale is a collaboration from First Mile Brewing and The Thirsty Dawg. Staff from First Mile Brewing Co. will be at The Thirsty Dawg (9 Florence Ave., Houlton) from 3-6 p.m. pouring samples of several of their delicious beers. Sip, sample, and pick some up to take home for the long 4th of July weekend!
Fogtown Brewing Company
25 Pine St., Ellsworth and 33 Cottage St., Bar Harbor
A Clockwork IPA (7%) & Studwall: Spruce Ale (6.3%)
A Clockwork IPA is brewed with Maine grains, blood orange and grapefruit; then dry-hopped with Mandarina Bavaria.
Studwall: Spruce Ale is infused with fresh spruce tips hand-foraged around Acadia National Park during their yearly “tipping” season. Dry-hopped with Azacca.
Foundation Brewing Company
1 Industrial Way #5, Portland
Bumbleberry’s My Jam, Sour Ale (5%)
Berry lovers, rejoice! Bumbleberry’s My Jam is back, for the first time since last summer. This Sour Ale is brewed with milk sugar and fermented over mountains of blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Refreshing, silky, and oh-so-very-berrylicious, Bumbleberry’s My Jam is here to take the summer fun up a notch, just in time for the long weekend.
Geary Brewing Co.
38 Evergreen Drive, Portland
Day Trip, Session IPA (4%)
There’s one sure way to make summertime even more enjoyable, a can of Day Trip IPA. This beauty features all the best parts of Geary’s Haze Trip IPA but at a crisp and crushable ABV of 4%. For the warm summer Maine days when a full-bodied IPA is too much and a Pilsner just won’t cut it, Day Trip is the beer you want when it’s time to kick back and relax.
Saturday, July 3
Barreled Souls Brewing
743 Portland Rd, Saco
Munro, Scotch Ale (11.5%)
Munro is one of the first three beers ever brewed at Barreled Souls. This version of their classic Scotch Ale spent just under a year in Weller bourbon barrels.
Norway Brewing Company
237 Main St., Norway
Life’s A Beach, Session Saison (3%)
This summer heat sure does call for a crisp, low-alcohol refreshment. That’s why Life’s A Beach is returning in cans just in time for Independence Day. This 3% beach-day crusher was brewed with Blue Ox Malthouse pale malt and Norway Brewing’s own farmhouse yeast.
Tuesday, July 6
Blaze Brewing Company
28 Pearl St., Biddeford
Bark, Cream Ale (4.5%)
Bark is a collaboration with Meet York County. Mike from Meet York County was one of Blaze Brewing’s first supporters and has stuck with them through thick and thin. When he came to Blaze and asked them to brew a Cream Ale they could not have been more stoked! Bark is a straightforward Cream Ale that is crisp, refreshing, and perfect for warm summer days.
New Releases
The fruit theme rolls on in our new release section as well, with fruity beers to sample from Bangor Beer, Bigelow Brewing, Bissell Brothers, and Footbridge Brewery. Our moms will be so proud of how much fruit we’ll be getting in this weekend (is what we’re telling ourselves).
Bangor Beer Co.
330 Bangor Mall Blvd., Bangor
Endeavor Lime, Cream Ale (4.7%)
Endeavor Lime is the perfect summertime beer, perfect for floating, boating, or any other fun in the sun.
Bigelow Brewing Company
473 Bigelow Hill Rd, Skowhegan
Raker Blueberry Ale (5.2%) & Scary Gary Rhubarb Ginger Ale (5.2%)
Raker Blueberry Ale is a fruity Maine Blueberry Ale made with blueberries from Bickford Orchard in Fairfield.
The tartness of the locally sourced rhubarb combined with ginger makes Scary Gary Rhubarb Ginger Ale a unique and refreshing brew.
Bissell Brothers Brewing
38 Resurgam Place, Portland
Menagerie, Mixed Fermentation Ale with Maine Strawberries, Blueberries, and Spruce Tips (6.6%)
Less is generally more. Not in this case. A literal menagerie of some of Maine’s most unique flavors – Bradbury Mountain strawberries, Worcester’s low-bush blueberries, foraged spruce tips, and 100% Aroostook County grain.
Footbridge Brewery
25 Granary Way, Boothbay Harbor
Traysure, Gose (5%); Fisherman’s Thumb, Pilsner (4.8%); and Companion, IPA (4.6%)
Traysure is a slightly hazy Gose with refreshing lime and gentle sweetness from Maine strawberries. Maine sea salt rounds out the taste of this summer drinker.
Fisherman’s Thumb is a Pilsner malt-based New England IPA with a light body that allows the hop flavor to shine.
Greeting you with welcoming notes of apricot and slightly bitter crisp finish, this juicy IPA is the perfect “Companion.” A portion of all proceeds from the sale of Companion goes to support Action For Animals Maine.
Foundation Brewing Company
1 Industrial Way #5, Portland
Radiant Waves, Hefeweizen (4.7%)
Radiant Waves was brewed in the tradition of the great German Hefeweizen, or wheat ale. The classic German yeast strain used to brew this beer — paired with the New Zealand Pacifica hops chosen for their light, citrus notes — meld together to deliver sip after sip of pure gold, ringing out with balanced fruit and spice notes. And at 4.7% ABV, you can ride the refreshing wave all day.
Grateful Grain Brewing Company
26 Route 126, Monmouth
Numinous, Double IPA (8%)
Numinous is an American Double IPA that is intensely kettle and double dry hopped. Hops include Simcoe, Falconers Flight, and Mosaic.
Shipyard Brewing Company
86 Newbury St, Portland, ME 04101
The Swallows, Hazy New England IPA (6.0%)
Available now, this Hazy New England IPA is boasting with tons of smooth citrus flavor & features two experimental hops by Yakima Chief Hops. With currently 9 experimental beverages on draft only, The Shallows is a great opportunity to take one home with you!
SoMe Brewing Company
1 York St. #3, York
Super Lead IPA (6.5%) & Crystal Persuasion, Double Pale Ale (8.2%)
SoMe Brewing took the base for Tailwhip IPA, turned it down to 6.5%, and dry hopped it with Pacifica, Rakau and Citra to bring it all together in Super Lead IPA, a fruity and crushable New England Style IPA.
Double Pale Ale Crystal Persuasion delivers hints of sweet bready malt and a lemon-citrus zing on the nose from the use of Crystal hops, leading into a smooth and dangerously drinkable body underneath.
Stars & Stripes Brewing Co.
8 Varney Rd., Freeport
Ooh-Rah! IPA (6.5%)
This East Coast-style IPA is dry hopped with Simcoe hops. With notes of grapefruit, this IPA is a citrusy, hoppy delight. Ooh-rah, troops!
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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.
Foulmouthed Brewing
15 Ocean St., South Portland
- Frobscottle, Sour Ale (4.8%)
- Grawlix, IPA (6.4%)
- Luminous Monolith, Wild Ale (8%)
- Liquid Leftovers, Sour Brown Ale (7%)
- Sir Squirrel, Brown Ale (5.8%)
- Local Beer, Blonde Ale (5.2%)
Island Dog Brewing
125 John Roberts Rd., Unit 15, South Portland
- A Beer Called Blue, Blueberry Wheat (4.8%)
- St. Hubbins, Blackberry Gose (4.2%)
- None More Black, Black IPA (7%)
- Capt’n Strawberry, Fruit Ale (4.8%)
- Pear of the Dog, Imperial Gose Sour (7%)
- Unit 15, Saison (6%)
Maine Beer Company
525 US-1, Freeport
- Another One, IPA (7%)
- Dinner, Double IPA (8.2%)
- Lunch, IPA (7%)
- Peeper, Pale Ale (5.5%)
- Post Ride Snack, Session IPA (4.9%)
- Prince Percy, Pilsner (5.1%)
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Maine Beer in the News
Every wondered how North Carolina’s beer capital of Asheville stacks up compared to Portland? Wonder no more, because the PPH’s Tap Lines recently paid a visit. Allagash is also getting some love from the Peach State — Georgia. Wow, there’s that fruit theme again.
Tap Lines: Why a Mainer’s brewery tour of Asheville feels familiar, yet different
The North Carolina city has a lot in common with Portland but also plenty of its own character to discover.
Beer Pick: Allagash Belgian-style Truepenny Pilsner is a summertime treat
Portland Maine’s Allagash Brewing Co. launched its Belgian-style Truepenny Pilsner in April.
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Maine Beer This Week! If you own a brewery or other beer business and would like to be featured in upcoming issues, please email us to learn more.
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