Foundation Brewing Co. | My Jam Sour Fruited Ales

As waves crash against the rocky coast and boisterous gulls soar over historic brick buildings and sidewalks, Portland, Maine slowly begins to see the hustle and bustle of summer tourists return. According to C+R Research, as of 2021, Portland has the highest number of breweries per capita nationwide with 18 per 50,000 people and no visit to Portland is complete without multiple brewery stops.

Although there are fourteen breweries or brewpubs alone to visit on Portland’s three-mile-long peninsula, it is well worth it to make the journey inland to Industrial Way, where five different breweries reside. Thirsty beer drinkers are known to stroll from one tasting room to another, enjoying a wide range of beer styles and food trucks. With Allagash Brewing Co. as the cornerstone of the neighborhood, the industrial buildings on this aptly named road quickly filled with brewery upstarts during the initial craft boom of the 2010s and thrives today as the home of Foundation Brewing Co.
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Allagash Brewing Co. | Little Grove Sparkling Session Ale

Welcome to a new year: You made it. Although the past year turned out far, far different from anything anyone could have imagined, some things remain the same. One consistency, in particular, is the anticipation of a fresh start the new year brings. Whether celebrating with loved ones or hunkered down at home, every New Year’s Eve bubbles over with eagerness, hope, reflection and new goals.

In 2020, many learned the importance of self-care in a way that the onslaught of viral blogs and articles could never have accomplished. Self-care takes shape in many different forms and looks and feels different for everyone. With a year filled with unprecedented events and challenges, carrying that self-care energy forward is undeniably a part of this year’s beginning. One avenue some may take to accomplish this goal is to be more cognizant of the food and beverages consumed. If the idea of thoroughly drying out your cabinets does not “spark joy,” Allagash Brewing Company’s Little Grove sparkling session ales offer a lighter step in that direction.
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Allagash Brewing Company | North Sky Stout

A chill flows through the air as crisp autumn season approaches. With that chill comes the desire for warm flannels, fire pits, and dark beers. Allagash Brewing Company’s newest addition to their year-round lineup, North Sky stout, is precisely the beer for your stargazing, s’ more making fall night.
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2 Days 2 Nights | Midcoast Maine

Maine, the northernmost state of the contiguous United States, is known for its bearded lobstermen and lumberjacks, the freshest seafood, wild blueberries and high-quality craft beer–it’s no wonder the state’s nickname is Vacationland. In summer 2020, living in Maine is something to cherish. Although the pandemic canceled most travel plans, living in this secluded state allows for fun and fulfilling “staycations” to shake off those quarantine blues.
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Orono Brewing | Fruit Pie (Key Lime)

Youth is a fleeting moment in the story of a lifetime. Yet the memories created in those formative years often carry the most weight. The smallest moments become landmarks in a life story and shape the realities of the future. Recognizing this can be momentous for some and commonplace for others. Brewery tag team Asa Marsh-Sachs and Abe Furth of Orono Brewing bring both of their childhood experiences into the imaginative and creative beers they craft. Their newest series of releases are a variety of Fruit Pie Pastry Berliner Weisse Ales perfect for a hot, sunny summer day.
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Lone Pine Brewing Company | Chaos Emeralds

Lone Pine Brewing Company is a not-to-be-missed brewery that quickly grew from a small hole in the wall spot to a major player in the New England craft beer scene. Lone Pine opened in Portland, ME’s East Bayside neighborhood in 2016; by 2019, they grew enough to warrant a major expansion in Gorham, ME. Lone Pine is known for its vibrant hop-forward American ales and, over the course of two years, Lone Pine has worked to create what they call the “quintessential NEIPA with boutique hops.” The offspring of that labor of love is their award-winning Chaos Emeralds Double IPA featuring Galaxy and Mosaic hops.
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Oxbow Brewing Company | Pils & Love Collaboration Lager

The third Pils & Love Festival returned to Portland, ME this past July and, to honor the occasion, approximately 40 of the 60 participating breweries gathered to make a collaboration brew (a list of the breweries that participated is below). The festival was hosted by Oxbow Brewing Company and furthers a state-side version of Birrificio Italiano’s Pils Pride festival in Italy. Birrificio Italiano is known for its Tipopils, which puts a spin on a German pilsner by dry-hopping the beer, something prohibited by the Reinheitsgebot; the Pils & Love collaboration beer takes its inspiration from Birrificio Italiano’s classic. Read More

Hop Harvest at The Hop Yard

As a crisp breeze blows in the early morning, it is clear that fall is in air. Although the sun still shines at high noon, the days are ever so slightly shorter and the nights ever so slightly cooler. With the change in season comes not only pumpkin-spiced everything and the return of flannels, but also harvest. One can enjoy that spiced latte at the farmers market while picking up the year’s best produce. However, it is not just gourds and sunflowers in bloom: The start of fall is also hop harvest season.
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Austin Street Brewery | Obsolete Vernacular

This story begins as many brewery stories start, with a friendship and a passion for home brewing. Austin Street Brewery, co-owned by friends Jake Austin and Will Fisher, opened in 2014 on Industrial Way in outer Portland, Maine. Together they spent years on Austin Street in Westbrook, Maine, creating beers on their homebrew system that they wanted to drink. In 2013, as the craft beer boom commenced, they took a chance and opened their brewery with a one-barrel system. When speaking with Jake Austin, he made it clear that their focus is to create “highly drinkable beer, not to chase trends.” It would seem that mission is working well for them as they recently opened a second, larger location in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood.
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Maine Beer Company | Another One

The craft beer explosion in unique to everyone depending on location. Once the contracts are signed, state distributors awash the bottle shop shelves with rows of new possibilities. These beers become exciting mysteries; sold as 1 to 2 bottles per customer to get everyone’s attention to the hot new kid on the block. Years will go by, some breweries will go away, but others stay thanks to their long lasting quality. Maine Beer Company fits all these descriptors when it arrived in my state years ago.

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Fore River Brewing Company | Lygonia IPA

Maine, the easternmost state in the United States, is commonly known for its rocky coastline, fresh lobsters, and, more recently, its booming craft beer industry. Portland, the state’s largest city, is home to many of the area’s most popular breweries. However, just over the bridge, nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood, lies Fore River Brewing Company.
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We Talked with Allagash | Canning Allagash White; River Trip Debut

Classics can stay classics while still getting a refresh. Such is the case for Allagash White, one of the staple Belgian beers in the United States. Allagash announced last week that they’ll be canning Allagash White, as well as a new beer in their core lineup: River Trip. I got in touch with Brett Willis, marketing specialist at Allagash, to learn more about the announcement.

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The OGs of Craft Beer | Allagash Brewing Company – White

When you use the hardworking sensibility of a Mainer to brew an American interpretation of a classic Belgian-style Wit, the results should be delicious. If you brew that same beer once a week for over 20 years while constantly striving for perfection, then the resulting beer will be singularly iconic. Today’s featured brew may have served as a gateway craft beer to many, but we should avoid pigeonholing it as such. Whether it’s your first craft beer or your 1000th, Allagash White is a Craft Beer OG that continues to hold up.
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Shipyard Brewing Co. | Pumpkinhead & Spiced Rimmer

Maine’s Shipyard Brewing Company wants you to call it a comeback. The brewery has a bold goal for its seasonal, 20-year-old pumpkin beer: Grow sales, despite consumers experiencing pumpkin burnout. (Maple, right? That’s the new, trendy flavor of fall 2017?) Read More

Birrificio del Ducato / Oxbow | Oud Brunello

Featured photo credit: Birrificio del Ducato.

ABV: 7%

Two years ago, back in the summer of 2015, I traveled to Italy. While I am normally a beer drinker, in Italy I … Read More

Weekly Growler Fill | National Beer News Roundup

The BA releases its list of Top 50 Brewers, Mississippi officially allows direct sales to customers at breweries and Maine brewers look to streamline state laws. North, South, East and West – no matter where you live in the U.S., we’ve got you covered on the latest craft beer news. Keep reading to catch the details of these stories and more in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.

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Weekly Growler Fill | National Beer News Roundup

Bell’s creates a special release for its Texas launch, Night Shift starts a distributing operation, and Pennsylvania updates their liquor laws. You’ve read enough election news already, now it’s time to focus on what is important: beer. Keep reading to catch all of the details in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.

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Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales | Choc Lobster

ABV: 5.6% | IBU: 40 | Draft Only

There are few breweries that cause every American beer enthusiast to pause when their name is uttered. Dogfish Head has a foundation based on being one of those breweries that, when mentioned, everyone holds their breath in anticipation of hearing what is said next. Some amazing beers have come out of there, and I am not talking about exceptional IPAs or Brown ales. What I mean are collaborations with world renowned rock bands, a stout made from ingredients from each of the world’s continents, their Ancient Ales Series, and so much more. Maybe that is why I wasn’t taken aback when I found out, back in 2012, that they had brewed a beer with lobsters and cocoa. Read More

Maine’s Crafty Secret | Marshall Wharf Brewing Co

Marshall Wharf Brewing Co. 2 Pinchy Lane Belfast, ME Tasting Room: 11AM – 4PM, Tuesday – Sunday Beer Garden & Bar: 4PM – Bar close, Tuesday – Sunday

Thousands of … Read More

Weekly Growler Fill | National Beer News Roundup

August 2014 is coming to an end and it’s going out with a bang. This month, we have seen the arrival of pumpkin beers, sinkholes decided to become cool, and hopsicles exist. It sounds like some sort of strange craft beer dream, doesn’t it? Well, believe it, people! This ain’t no dream – it’s real life beer news and it’s coming at ya in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.

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