We peeped the forecast and this weekend is predicted to be full of sun and suds (note: forecast not endorsed by the American Meteorological Society), from Imperial Sour Ales to a Double Milk Stout literally brewed with cookies! 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
This week, we want to raise a glass and wish Rising Tide Brewing Company a very happy 10th birthday. It’s hard to believe, but way back in 2010, there were only about 40-50 breweries operating in our fair state. Now there are over 150, and we think the folks at Rising Tide helped pave the way, from turning East Bayside into a craft beer mecca to fighting to overturn antiquated alcohol laws in the state legislature. To celebrate reaching double digits, Rising Tide is throwing a 10-day birthday bash, which kicks off on Friday.
In other party news, Bissell Brothers is throwing a socially distanced shindig on Thompson’s Point, and plenty of other breweries throughout the state have new releases that are sure to be a hit at your next party, even if it’s just a party of one.
Thursday, Sept. 17
Blaze Brewing Company
28 Pearl St., Biddeford
Bayview, IPA (6.7%)
Bayview is brewed with a simple grist, dry-hopped excessively with El Dorado and Mosaic hops, and combined with a multi-step dry-hopping process to yield an incredibly juicy and soft beer that smells and tastes like blueberry frozen yogurt, ruby red grapefruit, and Hawaiian Punch.
Fogtown Brewing Company
25 Pine St., Ellsworth
The Missing Piece, Pale Ale
The Missing Piece is a wet-hopped American Pale Ale brewed with 100% Maine ingredients, including Maine-grown barley and wheat, fresh whole cone Cascade from Aroostook County, and house ale yeast.
Foulmouthed Brewing
15 Ocean St., South Portland
Blue Balls, Belgian Strong Dark Ale (12%)
Blue Balls is back and in CANS this year! This Belgian Dark Saison is brewed with Maine blueberries to complement the rich dark fruit flavors of the style.
Friday, Sept. 18
Definitive Brewing Company
35 Industrial Way, Portland and 318 US Route 1, Kittery
Batch 200, Imperial Sour Ale (8%)
An 8.0% Imperial Sour Ale brewed with blackberry, blueberry and raspberry, this high-altitude beer tastes just like blackberry preserves, raspberry jam, and hiking the ridgelines of Blueberry Mountain. Available Friday in Portland and Saturday in Kittery.
Foundation Brewing Company
1 Industrial Way #5, Portland
Passionberry Jam, Sour
!!NEW MY JAM ALERT!! Introducing Passionberry Jam, the newest addition to Foundation’s My Jam fruited kettle sour series. Passionberry Jam is brewed with lactose and fermented on piles of passionfruit, tangerine, and raspberry.
Rising Tide Brewing Company
103 Fox St., Portland
10 Years of Great Beers
Starting on Friday, the folks at Rising Tide will kick off a 10-day celebration in honor of their 10th anniversary. You won’t want to miss the special 10th Anniversary IPA, featuring Citra and Sultana hops and big citrus and tropical fruit characteristics, as well as a variety of other limited releases throughout the 10 days, including Maine Harvest, a Maine-grown wet hop ale, Strawberry Mango Squadron, a kettle-soured ale with fruit, Polaris, a barrel-aged wheat stout, and more! There will also be a special Oktoberfest-themed menu from Fire & Co, and commemorative 10th anniversary swag.
Yes Brewing
609 Main St. Suite 2, Westbrook
Parfait BlackRazz, Sour (5.1%)
This slightly sour beer with razzberries and blackberries is now available in cans, along with Parfait Peach Mango and Parfait Watermelon, which also clock in at 5.1% ABV.
Saturday, Sept. 19
Definitive Brewing Company
35 Industrial Way, Portland and 318 US Route 1, Kittery
STUFFED, Double Milk Stout (7.2%)
If the hint of chill in the air has you craving something hearty and chocolatey, it’s time to enjoy a pint of STUFFED! Brewed with heaps of crushed cookie pieces, STUFFED tastes and smells like double chocolate mousse, vanilla buttercream frosting, and the crunchy layer inside an ice cream cake. Available at both locations on Saturday.
Norway Brewing Company
237 Main St., Norway
Life’s a Peach, Farmhouse Ale
Norway Brewing Company turned 4-years-old this year, and since they didn’t get to throw a party on their actual birthday, they’re throwing a belated celebration this weekend by releasing Life’s A Peach, an oak-fermented farmhouse ale with Pietree Orchard peaches! This beer spent many months aging in sauvignon blanc barrels while the wild microorganisms contributed by the raw Maine-grown peaches slowly soured & funkified it.
Sunday, Sept. 20
Bissell Brothers Brewing Company
Thompson’s Point, Portland
The Bissell Brothers are throwing a party this Sunday afternoon on Thompson’s Point and you’re invited! It runs from 2-6 p.m. and admission is free. There will be five Bissell beers pouring on draft, local food trucks, and live music—all with a super safe and socially-distant vibe. Bring your mask and arrive thirsty!
Monday, Sept. 21
Maine Beer Co.
525 U.S. Route 1, Freeport
Black Barn Program No. 15 Fresh Hop IPA, IPA
Hop harvest in the Northern Hemisphere usually falls around August/September, and during this time, hop growers at Yakima Chief direct ship Maine Beer Co. fresh hops that are added to a beer within 24 hours of being picked. This version utilizes fresh whole cone Simcoe hops, and will be available in bottle and on draft from the tasting room.
New Releases
This week’s new releases have something for everyone, from folks who want to hang on to summer with a cool, crisp Pale Ale by their side, to those fully embracing the change of seasons with Märzens, Brown Ales and Stouts. Here are some of the latest releases that hit taps and/or stores across the state this week.
Allagash Brewing Co.
50 Industrial Way, Portland
North Sky, Stout (7.5%)
Just in time for crisp, star-swept evenings, Allagash has debuted North Sky—their newest year-round beer. This silky stout balances light notes of fruit and sweetness with roasty malt. Inspired by late evenings spent gazing upward, North Sky is brewed to merge lightness and darkness into one super-sippable stout.
Bath Brewing Co.
141 Front St., Bath
Oktoberfest, Märzen (5.8%)
Bath Brewing’s take on an Oktoberfest beer is clean and crisp with malty flavors.
Battery Steele Brewing
1 Industrial Way Units 12 and 14, Portland
Banyan, English Brown Ale (4.7%)
This English style Brown Ale is brewed with a blend of crystal and chocolate malts and traditional English barley and hopped with some old-school classics you don’t see much these days: Northern Brewer, Fuggles and Goldings. Banyan is a smooth, malty ale with notes of dark fruits, chocolate and freshly cooked biscuits.
Baxter Brewing Co.
130 Mill St., Lewiston
Sea to Summit, Lager (5.5%)
Sea to Summit is a refreshing Maine-made lager brewed with spruce tips and a hint of blueberry. It celebrates the amazing Maine wilderness while honoring both those who explore our wildlands and those who protect them. A portion of proceeds from the sale of Sea to Summit will be donated to the Friends of Acadia and the Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters non-profits.
Bunker Brewing Co.
17 Westfield St., Unit D, Portland
Peach Colourz, Sour (3.5%)
Peach Colourz is back on tap and in canz! Colourz is a rotating fruited sour beer with different Maine fruit, this one uses peaches from The Locust Grove.
Flight Deck Brewing
11 Atlantic Ave., Brunswick
Light the Fires, Pale Ale (5.6%)
This Pale Ale is made with roasted poblano peppers, fresh-sliced jalapeños, and zested limes. Pepper flavors and heat up front give way to a smooth, citrusy finish. A balanced taste for spice lovers and heat aficionados alike.
Fogtown Brewing Company
25 Pine St., Ellsworth
Winnowing, Sparkling Blueberry Wine (7%)
Crafted with organic blueberries grown in Cherryfield, Maine, by Blue Barrens Farm, this sparkling craft wine was made using traditional methods and carbonic maceration, and is naturally gluten-free (may contain traces of barley & wheat). This year’s rendition of Winnowing benefits Downeast Salmon Federation in their efforts to protect the rivers and fish of eastern Maine.
Fore River Brewing Company
35 Park Ave., South Portland
Lygonia, IPA (6.5%)
With the subtle bitterness of Vic Secret & Mosaic hops, the slightly sweet notes of tropical mango and pineapple, and a smoooth mouthfeel, it’s no mystery why this one’s an FRBC classic!
Gneiss Brewing Company
94 Patterson St., Limerick
Rockotberfest, Märzen (6%)
This delightful fall beer has a great märzen flavor, with a grassy hop.
Lone Pine Brewing Company
219 Anderson St., Portland and 48 Sanford Dr., Gorham
DOUBLE DRY HOPPED OH-J, Imperial IPA (8.1%)
DDH OH-J number three is packed with two times the standard dry-hopping rate of NELSON SAUVIN hops. Showcasing the standard white wine, peach, and melon characteristics of the Nelson Sauvin hop, this iteration of DDH OH-J dials up the bold and juicy profile in a new and exciting way.
Mast Landing Brewing Company
920 Main St., Westbrook
A Beer Named Duck, Pale Ale (5.2%)
A Beer Named Duck is a refreshing, easy-going pale ale with Centennial, Cascade, and Simcoe hops.
Stars & Stripes Brewing Company
8 Varney Rd., Freeport
Pumpkin Pale Ale, Pale Ale (5.0%)
This smooth and festive pale ale is made with pumpkin pie filing. It’s the perfect amount of pumpkin, cinnamon, and a touch of nutmeg.
Trinken Brewing Co.
144 State Rd., Bath
Radio Tower, New England Double IPA (8.7%)
We didn’t receive any tasting notes on this one, but if it’s anything like the other beers in Trinken’s rotation, it will definitely be worth stopping in to try!
Woodland Farms Brewery
306 US-1 C, Kittery
Short And…, Stout (8.3%)
Short And… is the newest addition to Woodland Farms Brewery’s small-batch series! This rich, luxurious oatmeal stout is surprisingly smooth for its hefty 8.3% ABV.
York Beach Beer Company
33 Railroad Ave., York
Flannel Sombrero, Lager (5.3%)
A craft version of everyone’s favorite summertime import light lager, Flannel Sombrero goes hand in hand with reclining in a beach chair and listening to the waves. We’ll take ours with a lime wedge!
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.
Austin Street Brewery
115 Fox Street, Portland
- Patina, Pale Ale (5.3%)
- Rally, Session IPA (3.8%)
- Six Grain, Milk Stout (6.4%)
- Offset, Double IPA (9.0%)
- OG Maine Ale, Pale Ale (5%)
- Anodyne, IPA (6%)
- Bombtrack, Double IPA (8.5%)
Island Dog Brewing
125 John Roberts Rd., Unit 15, South Portland
- A Beer Called Blue, Blueberry Wheat (4.8%)
- BOO!, Pumpkin Maple (5.5%)
- Captain Tucker, Cream Ale (4.3%)
- Foggy Beach, New England IPA (8.3%)
- Kaisertown, Kolsch (4.5%)
- Toasted Dawg, Imperial Stout (10.8%)
Kennebec River Brewery
1771 US Route 201, The Forks
- Magic Hole IPA, IPA (5.9%)
- Big Mama Blueberry Ale, Blonde Ale (4.7%)
- Whitewater Wheat. White Ale (5.5%)
- Penobscot Porter, Porter (6.8%)
- Northbound Pale Ale, Pale Ale (5.3%)
- Sledhead Red, Red Ale (5.2%)
Maine Beer in the News
This week’s news roundup is, frankly, a bummer. The pandemic has hit many industries hard, and breweries are no exception. Here’s a look at how some of them are adapting to continue to do the very important work of getting beer to the people. Please support your local breweries!
Matching last year’s sales is a pandemic ‘accomplishment’ for a Maine brewery
Normally, a brewer in Maine’s fast-growing craft beer industry would be unhappy to merely equal last year’s sales. But this is no normal year.
Tasting room operators fear state rules will leave them out in the cold
Most made it through the summer while being restricted to outdoor service, but some say they can’t survive Maine’s colder months unless the state changes its coronavirus rules.
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Beer This Week™!
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