Pilgrimage to Plymouth - BrewEngland (re)Visits: Mayflower Brewing Co.

So as I mentioned this past Saturday, Sarah and I - along with our friends Vicki and Joe, took a trip down Rt. 3 to attend/help out at a private event held at the Mayflower Brewing Co. brewery in Plymouth, MA.

The event was put on by the Duxbury Newcomers' Club, which is a non-profit organization that provides social, recreational, and charitable opportunities to its members. Basically, it was a beer social for club and non-club members (note: the DNC typically requires you to be a resident and member of the club to attend their events). Food for the event was provided by Go-Go's Catering, that included sandwiches, cheeses, vegetables and dips, and chili to name a few items. The Duxbury Newcomers' Club also provided soda and wine for the non-beer drinkers. However, the main focus was of course on the amazing selection of craft beer offered by Mayflower Brewing Co.

The guests started to roll in, and the requests for samples grew at a steady rate. It was then that our friend Ryan asked me to help out by pouring samples. POURING SAMPLES?? Yes, please!




Now, I must admit...prior to Saturday I had only used a draft system (not the picnic tap typically used for kegs at parties, etc) twice before. My buddy Mike received a kegerator for Christmas (jealous!), and had me over a few weeks ago. I helped myself to a few pints of his homebrewed Bourbon Porter, and got to take part in some of his first pours. It took me a little while to get the hang of Mayflower's draft lines, but I eventually got in a rhythm.

I have to say, it was really fun to help out. I've tried all of the beers Mayflower Brewing had to offer that night, so I was prepared when the guests weren't quite sure what to try. I'd ask them if they liked hoppy beers (Mayflower IPA- one of my favorites), milder beers (Golden Ale- their flagship brew or Pale Ale), or dark beers (Porter or Winter Seasonal Oatmeal Stout- both amazing beers).

We also got to meet Ryan's girlfriend Rachel, who is a Pennsylvania native. Although she was from the Eastern part of the state, I was able to share a few stories of my trips to western PA as a younger boy as I have/had family there. She's also a student finishing up here degree, much like myself, so we could commiserate with each other.

Ryan also took the guests on a few brewery tours. So, with him in the brewery, Joe and I, with the help of Rachel, tended bar.





Sarah loving the Oatmeal Stout!

After the guests cleared out, the four of us, plus Ryan and Rachel had some time to digest the evening. We also took the opportunity to get a personal tour of the facility (again for us, first time for Vicki & Joe).



As I mentioned, Mayflower's Imperial Stout came out last week. It's a limited release beer that weighs in at a whopping 10.6% ABV. It aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon barrels for almost a year, before being bottled and released.


These are the same barrels used for Sam Adams Utopia!

The barrels are currently filled with water, to help preserve the wood, and so they can be used again. I'm unsure if Mayflower plans to brew the same Imperial Stout again next year, but it's in such high demand, and short on supply, one can only guess they might just do that! We still haven't had it, but I plan on picking up a few bottles this week. One will be reviewed here, and I plan on cellaring another bottle for around six months or so, as recommended by Ryan.






Adam also loves the Oatmeal Stout!

Ryan also showed us their newly acquired suite, which has been converted to a large cold storage area. This allows Mayflower to store all of their bottles in a unit kept around 50 degrees, which Ryan explained is also super convenient when they're ready for distribution. They have a separate cooler for their kegs and ingredients.

We once again hit the brewery floor to check out the rest of the tour.




Sarah trying some green (uncarbonated) IPA


Adam with his green IPA


Sarah and Vicki with some green IPA

We were then brought to the other side, where the kegging, bottling, and packaging takes place.


Rachel and Vicki near the kegging system & bottling line




Just beyond the bottling line, is Mayflower's cold storage unit. All their kegs are kept there, which is conveniently located near their loading dock for easy access.

We also got the scoop on Mayflower Brewing Co.'s upcoming Spring seasonal beer. At this time it's highly top secret, but all I can say is that I am VERY excited for it to come out. Once I'm able to share details on the style, I will let everyone know!

Once again, we had an amazing time at this brewery. The dedication Ryan and the rest of the Mayflower Brewing crew put into their beer and the company are amazing. We can't be more excited for them to continue to grow and expand, and we plan on visiting the brewery again in the near future!

Mayflower Brewing Co. is located on 12 Resnick Road in Plymouth, MA. They provide tours most weekdays, and if you're lucky you might get a Saturday tour (unsure if they still are doing them). If you haven't been, you have to go! If you see Ryan, let them know Adam and Sarah from BrewEngland sent you!

The brewery can be rented out for private functions, such as the one for the Duxbury Newcomers' Club. If you're interested in having an event there, you can email them at info@mayflowerbrewing.com or call them at (508) 746-2674 to get more information.

Escape to the Cape...technically

I'm excited for this evening. Tonight, Sarah and I are heading back to one of our favorite places - the Mayflower Brewing Co. brewery in Plymouth, MA.

A few weeks ago while I was working the Beer Summit's Winter Jubilee, I ran into Ryan Conn from Mayflower. It's funny, because I have run into him at each of the beer events I've been to over the past year, not to mention when we visited the brewery last August. Knowing their company was going to be there, I figured I would run into him. Anyway, he invited Sarah and I down to the brewery for a small gathering, beer tasting, and tour. Naturally, I said we'd be there.

Aside from being a generally good time, the folks at Mayflower Brewing Co. have been busy. Since our last visit, they have added a new bar space (found out through their website). In addition, as I found out from Ryan at the Beer Summit, they have expanded their brewery floor. When we visited in August he had told us they were in the works of acquiring the suite next to theirs at their brewery, in order to expand their production.

If these additions and improvements to their brewery wasn't enough, I just learned this morning that Mayflower is extending their reach. They are happy to announce that they will begin distributing in Rhode Island, beginning next week. Previously Mayflower Brewing only distributed in Massachusetts, so this is a big step for this small, yet up and coming brewery! I couldn't be happier for them.

So, we're very much looking forward to revisiting the brewery and checking out the new space. It'll also be great as Mayflower Brewing Co. was the first brewery to confirm to the "Cure Me I'm Irish" event coming up on March 5th, so it'll be nice to meet some of the other people who we'll be working with. If we're lucky, we'll get to try their newest limited release beer, an Imperial Stout aged on Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels. I hear it's impressive!

You can expect a full write up on our visit soon, not to mention a several Tweets from both Sarah (@pinkshoe) and I (@brewengland).

Tuesday Night Tasting: Blue Hills Brewery Watermelon Wheat

This was supposed to be posted on Wednesday. Don't tell Adam.

As Adam posted earlier this week, we had a great time visiting Blue Hills Brewery last Friday. After our tour and tasting Jim was nice enough to hook us up with a couple of their beers to take home: The Black Hops, and the Watermelon Wheat. I had never heard of the Watermelon version of their wheat beer but when Jim spoke of it on the tour I knew I had to try it - so try it I did for our latest Tuesday Night Tasting.

I will always have a place in my heart for fruity beer. It is because of fruity beer that I am the beer lover I am today! It is a great "gateway" beer for people who think they don't like beer. As Adam is fond of saying "There is a craft beer lover in everyone" and I concur, some are just more hidden than others and need a little more coaxing.

Now onto the tasting.



Blue Hills Brewery - Canton, MA
Watermelon Wheat

As soon as you pour the beer - the smell of watermelon hits you. To me it smelled like a watermelon Jolly Rancher. I was expecting it to be quite sweet but in fact the first taste is mild, a little malty, citrusy. Which makes sense since this beer is made with their Wampatuck Wheat - a hefeweizen (and delicious beer in it's own right). As you swallow, the watermelon taste hits you and it's quite refreshing! It's like sipping a wheat beer and biting into a watermelon immediately afterwards. I can see kicking back on the porch on a hot summer day drinking one of these beers ice cold and let me tell you, I am clinging to that image as I look outside at the 8 feet of snow on the ground right now.




It is a warm, golden color and very bubbly. I drank it from a flute by chance but I think it was a great vehicle for this refreshing treat. Adam and I took a Beer Tasting course at the Boston Wine School a couple of years ago and learned that a wine glass is actually the best shaped glass to taste beer with. While I am sure most dudes out there cringe at the idea of drinking beer from a wine glass - you should give it a try sometime and see if I'm right!

In any case, this is a fabulous summer beer and you would like a little taste of summer now (as I think we could all use) definitely look for it at these stores or even better visit the brewery and pick some up!

A Call for Help!

So as most of our readers are already aware of, BrewEngland is setting up a really kick ass beer tasting at this year's "Cure Me I'm Irish" event. So far, we've booked Mayflower Brewing Company, Cape Ann Brewing Co., Blue Hills Brewery, and Magic Hat. With a little more success, we'll finalize the brewery list this week, and be set for the ultimate brewers line up.

Staying with the beer theme, I've also reached out to local restaurants that have a focus on New England craft beers to make donations to the cause. I don't have them in my hands yet, but we're putting the finishing touches on acquiring some great gift certificates from some restaurants that I know you've heard of.

Each year they have several raffles, not to mention one of the best silent auctions I have ever seen. Last year's event saw autographed movie scripts, Celtics and Bruins tickets, Bruins and Patriots autographed memorabilia, great getaway packages to spas and hotels, just to name a few.

This is where YOU come in! Aside from purchasing tickets, which not only includes the beer tasting but a FULL open bar, the Friends of Will is looking for donations big and small! Whatever you can spare, the Friends of Will could use!

If you would like to buy tickets to the event, please click here to purchase online. If you would like to donate money or items, please email Pat Lacey at pat@beatnb.org. You can also leave a comment here, and I will pass on your information.

BrewEngland Visits: Blue Hills Brewery - Canton, MA

This past Friday evening, Sarah and I (finally) made the short 15 minute ride to Blue Hills Brewery, located in Canton, MA. We had heard about BHB a few years ago, and more recently have began to try a few of their beers. We had recently been in communication with their Office Manager Jim via Twitter, after he picked up on our review of their most recent release - Dunkelweizen. Jim invited Sarah and I to the brewery for a visit, and we couldn't pass it up.

Located just down the street from the Blue Hills themselves, Blue Hills Brewery is a small facility tucked into a few other offices. In fact, we drove by it the first time, despite our GPS (which I need to update) telling us when to turn. Nevertheless, we found their unit and made our way inside.

When you step inside the Blue Hills Brewery, you walk right into their primary office space, which also holds their sampling room and retail space. BHB typically has three beers available on draft at the brewery, but they don't seem to hold back on opening up some of their 22oz bombers to dish out more samples.



Jim came from the brewhouse to meet us, and couldn't have been nicer. He informed us that he began working as an intern helping out the brew staff. It wasn't until the former office manager moved on, that he took his space, which is where he currently finds himself.





Jim took us out back, and as we passed their labeling station, we were introduced to Andris, one of the co-owners and head brewer at the brewery. We chatted for a few minutes, before heading to the cold storage area.



According to Jim, the brewery has the capacity to brew 20 barrels, or 620 gallons per batch at a time. The brewery only operates Mondays through Fridays, and they often brew two to three times per week. What also was nice to find out is that they use cold storage for all their beer. Whether they've kegged or bottled the beer, it keeps chilled around 40 degrees. Once the drivers come to pick up the beer, they go right into the cold storage, pull whatever they need, and put it right onto the trucks for delivery.




Jim poured us each a sample of the Imperial Red IPA. It was both Sarah and my first time trying this beer, though I believe I may have had it at the end of the night at the Beer Summit recently. It was a pleasantly bitter, unfiltered, Red IPA that was easy to drink. It also packs 9% ABV, which isn't too shabby.

We chatted with Jim and one of their part time drivers a bit more about the Beer Summit, and figured that we missed each other. Otherwise, I would have introduced myself.

Jim then poured Sarah and I a healthy sample of their newest series of beers called Anti-Matter. This edition of the Anti-Matter is an American Pale Ale that pours (as you would expect) a fantastic pale concoction.




The beer is brewed with a single malt, and uses a single hop, to make what in my opinion is one of their finest beers. Granted I haven't tried many of their offerings (yet), it's incredibly smooth, refreshing, and enjoyable. Once we're able to snag a bomber of the Anti-Matter, it will no-doubt be reviewed here!



Before leaving, Jim graciously hooked us up with their Watermelon version of their Wampatuck Wheat Beers, as well as a bottle of their Black Hops and two pint glasses. I also picked up a bottle of their Imperial Red IPA, which I plan on reviewing soon.



All in all, it was a great visit, and I look forward to working with Blue Hills Brewery on the "Cure Me I'm Irish" event in March.

It should also be noted that Blue Hills Brewery has announced a B.I.A. program, or in other words a Brewery Internship Program. They are primarily looking for interns to work between 9-5pm Monday through Friday, but may be somewhat flexible with the hours per week. If you're interested in finding out more information, click here to get more details.

If you haven't been to the Blue Hills Brewery yet, why not stop in soon? It's only about 20 minutes from Boston, and very accessible from the highway. You'll get personal attention, and a great insight on the operations and happenings at this up and coming Massachusetts brewery. We had a great time, and know you will too!

Weekend Preview

It seems like it's a relatively slow weekend in Boston in the beer event world, but that doesn't mean that you can't create your own adventures!

Provided the weather gets better - which according to most of the Boston area weather guessers it's supposed to happen, Sarah and I are scheduled to take a tour of the Blue Hills Brewery in Canton, MA this evening. After posting my review of their Dunkelweizen Wampatuck Winter Wheat, I was contacted by their Twitter guru Jim and was asked if I would like to stop by their facility. Surprisingly, we haven't visited their brewery yet, even though we technically live one or two towns over from them.

If that wasn't enough, Sarah, myself, and a few members of the Boston Brewin' Homebrewers Club are also going to check out Cape Ann Brewing's new digs up in Gloucester, MA tomorrow during the day. Sarah and I visited their old brewery back in March of last year and had a great time. It was actually then where we learned of their plans to move across the street into a new building, where they would have a full brewpub with better retail capabilities.

Provided we don't have our fill at Cape Ann (which I'm sure we will, but what the hell?), we'll be heading back to Salem, MA to visit The Old Spot or possibly Salem Beer Works. The only Beer Works restaurants I haven't been to are in Salem and Lowell, although I've had plenty of opportunities to go to both. We'll see where the day takes us, but there is definitely enough to do in the area to keep us busy.

You can expect a full write up of each activity, and of course I'll be keeping people update on Twitter the whole time. If you have not already began following us (@BrewEngland), please do! We're also available on Facebook, so please head over to "Like" the page!

From the Vault - Gritty McDuff's: Halloween Ale

From time to time I do some Tuesday Night Tastings or other beer reviews that I either forget to post, lose, or just kind of put them on the back burner. These will eventually be posted, such as my first installment - Gritty McDuff's Halloween Ale (ESB), under the title "From the Vault".

I hope you enjoy!



Gritty McDuff's - Portland, ME
Halloween Ale - Extra Special Bitter (ESB)
6% ABV 12 oz.

This beer has a medium light feathery brown head, which likes to hang around for a while. In fact, it took 3-4 minutes or so for it to fade away. The beer pours a rich medium brown hue with tones of amber throughout. The first thing you notice is its rich, malty scent with a hint of hops! It also has a subtle nutty smell as well. It certainly invites you to take a sip!




After my initial sip I thought it was a very good beer! After taking a few more sips, I began to pick up more layers of flavor. It's definitely malty, but not too bitter. It seems to have a nice slight hoppy finishing flavor. It's very good - in my opinion. The beer is full of body! I actually had to go to the Gritty's website to find out that this was actually an Extra Special Bitter (ESB) versus an Oktoberfest style beer. I'm somewhat new to the ESB style, so it wasn't as distinguishable to me.

The Halloween Ale has a full mouth feel and coats the entire palate. It's malty without being too heavy, which is great. Essentially, Gritty's has created a beer which will allow you to knock back 2-3 without thinking twice. I only had one bottle though, so I would prefer additional bottles to conduct further "research" to give a more complex evaluation.

Aside from having a great aroma and flavor, Gritty's does a great job on the labeling of this beer.





Gritty McDuff'ss Halloween Ale is available September through November and is available in 12 oz and 22 oz bottles, mini-kegs, and of course on draft in any of the three Gritty's brewpubs in the great state of Maine.