Epic Saturday in Portland, Part I

To say this past weekend was anything other than epic would be a severe understatement. While not quite a ritual, but soon it could become one, this was the second November in a row Sarah and I ventured north to Portland, ME. We typically hit Portland a few times a year, but hadn’t had an opportunity to get up there since last fall.

We knew we had a lot on our docket, so we hit the road just after 10am. Our first stop was for some food. We opted to hit When Pigs Fly Pizzeria in Kittery, ME. Our buddy Brian Aldrich of Sea Coast Beverage Lab had mentioned it a few times on his blog, and mentioned it had great food and drinks, so we set the iPhone map to Kittery.

The set up of this upscale pizza joint is incredible. They have a great line up of beers that spans from local Maine brews (Marshall Wharf Brewing Co Illegal Ale-ien), to Delaware (Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA), to Norway and Denmark. They also have draft wine if that’s your style. They also have fantastic wood grilled pizzas which we thoroughly enjoyed!

Marshall Wharf Illegal Ale-ien

DFH 120 Minute

We pointed our compass north and next headed to Rising Tide Brewing Co.’s new brewery on the outskirt of downtown Portland. I had visited their original brewery, conveniently located near Allagash, Maine Beer Co. and now Bull Jagger (which wasn’t there when we went), during the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) Rally, and Nathan and Heather showed my buddy Mike and I around.

 

The new brewery, now located at 103 Fox Street, is a significant upgrade in terms of space, tanks, and storage. They are now distributing in Massachusetts, which we’re VERY happy to see, but the one beer we were searching for is only available at the brewery. Rising Tide brews a weizen stout called Ursa Minor that is a stout fermented with a hefeweizen yeast. Polaris is their bourbon barrel aged version of Ursa Minor that we could not get last year. It’s a 350ml corked and caged bottle (aside from Russian River, it’s one of the only one of its size to be corked & caged). Needless to say, after our sampler and a chat with Nathan and Heather, we purchased three bottles of Polaris and a bottle of Tempest (a barrel aged brown porter, brewed with local coffee).

After a brief stop at Rising Tide, we debated whether or not to make the trek to Lewiston to hit the Baxter Brewing Co. open house they were having. The discussion took five seconds before we said “Umm…yeah,” and we were once again heading north to another brewery.

To our surprise when we got to Baxter, the place was PACKED! Like, really packed. The brewery is in the process of expanding, but for the past several months has been able to sell full pints of their beers at their brewery/tasting room. They were offering flights of four of their beers, which included some brewery only Small Batch Series, for $5. We loaded up our sample paddle with Phantom Punch Winter Stout (newest canned beer), Stowaway IPA (of course), Snow Weiss (Small Batch Belgian), and The Artist (Small Batch Black IPA).

We had to take the opportunity to get a pint of fresh Baxter Brewing Co. beers from their tap line, so Sarah opted for the Stowaway IPA and I got the Phantom Punch Winter Stout. We definitely look forward to drinking more of the Stout in the upcoming months (expect a full review soon).

It was starting to get late, and we were starting to get hungry. We knew it was time to descend once again on Portland, so we began our drive back south to the city...

Part II of Epic Saturday in Portland will be posted shortly!

Drink Craft Beer Fall to Winter Fest

DrinkCraftBeer.com is hosting their second brew fest at Space 57 in Boston this Friday and Saturday. Following up their successful (and also sold out Summerfest), Jeff and Devon of DCB are having 25 New England breweries come and pour 70+ fall and winter beers. Some of the featured breweries are Allagash, Baxter Brewing Co, Cody Brewing, Idle Hands Craft Ales, Jack's Abby Brewing Co, Bantam Cider, Notch Brewing, Mayflower Brewing Co, and many more.

Included in the mass of beer is their collaboration brew with Peak Organic Brewing Company out of Portland, Maine called "Nut Your Average Ginger," a harvest brown ale crafted with local ingredients!

The sessions are as follows:

Friday, November 30th: 6-9pm
Saturday, December 1st: 1-4:30pm
Saturday, December 1st: 6-9:30pm

Some tickets still remain, but are going fast! Each session is limited to just 650 beer nerds, which will assure you the opportunity to get to the front of each of the 25 beer table lines!

Each session is $45 and includes:

- Unlimited 2oz samples
- Biodegradable tasting cup
- Fest guide
- Free coat check

You can also sample and purchase food from local eateries, such as Mei Mei Street Kitchen and Redbones BBQ.

Click here to get full details, including the complete brewery line up and ticket information.

Narragansett Porter Makes Seasonal Return

TOP-RATED NARRAGANSETT PORTER MAKES SEASONAL RETURN

Winter Craft Brew Now Available Following Wins at Leading Industry Events

November 20, 2012; Providence, RI – The Famous Narragansett Beer announces the return of its winter craft brew, Narragansett Porter. A brand staple since the early 1900s, Porter has received a number of industry accolades, including a silver medal at the 2012 Great International Beer Competition following a bronze medal win the year prior, and a silver medal at the 2011 World Beer Championships.

Narragansett Porter is brewed under the supervision of award-winning Brewmaster Sean Larkin at Trinity Brew House in Providence, R.I., and High Falls Brewery in Rochester, N.Y., with chinook hops for bitterness, simcoe hops for aroma, black malt, pale malt, chocolate malt, munich malt, crystal malt, roasted barley, and ale yeast.  An American-style porter, this winter brew has a deliciously mild chocolate flavor with a hint of smokiness and hops to balance out the finish, making for a robust yet extremely approachable craft experience.  Narragansett Porter is 7% Alcohol by Volume and 28 IBUs.

Narragansett Porter dates back to 1916 when it was first brewed, and when Prohibition struck down breweries across America in the 1920s, the Narragansett Brewing Company was one of just six given a patent by the U.S. government to continue brewing beer for medicinal purposes, based largely on the belief that porter had healing properties. Narragansett Porter was prescribed by doctors and distributed throughout New England to patients suffering from a variety of ailments, particularly blood-related illnesses like anemia.  After Prohibition was repealed in the early 1930s, Narragansett Porter became a favorite of New Englanders from Fall River, Mass., to Falmouth, Maine, and was often referred to as “‘Gansett Dark.”

In 2012, Narragansett expanded distribution of their winter craft brew to District of Columbia and Wisconsin, adding to a list of markets added in 2011, including Southern New York, North Carolina, East and Northeastern Pennsylvania, and Florida.

For further information on Narragansett Porter or to find a retailer near you, visit:www.narragansettbeer.com/products/porter.  

ABOUT NARRAGANSETT BEER:                                                                                                                             

Narragansett Beer…Brewed since 1890. ‘Gansett is a straightforward, quality beer that has been a New England tradition for generations, producing a classic family of award-winning American lagers & ales. Today, ‘Gansett is produced at top-rated breweries in Rochester, NY and Latrobe, PA, with craft brews being produced in Providence, RI and Pawcatuck, CT. Narragansett Lager is available for purchase in local restaurants, bars, and liquor stores throughout New England, Florida, Southern New York, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.

Redhook's Ben Harris Beer Now Available

REDHOOK BREWERY’S ‘BEN HARRIS BEER’

NOW AVAILABLE IN BOTTLES AND ON DRAUGHT

Tribute Brew Benefits the Benjamin Harris 2012 Memorial Trust

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Nov. 19, 2012 - Redhook Brewery has announced that the Ben Harris Beer, a tribute beer brewed in honor of Ben Harris, a longtime member of the Redhook family who passed away earlier this year, is now available on draught and in bottles in select markets, including the brewery’s backyard markets in New England and in Ben’s home state of Pennsylvania. A portion of the proceeds from the beer will benefit the Benjamin Harris 2012 Memorial Trust.

“Ben Harris was longtime member of the Redhook family and a dear friend to all of us. We are looking forward to sharing this special beer with Ben’s family, friends and beer drinkers who live outside of Portsmouth, New Hampshire,” said Alex Kopf, Redhook senior brewer. “Ben Harris Beer was brewed in tribute to Ben, and we hope that the community will join us in honoring his legacy, celebrating his life and remembering Ben with every pint of Ben Harris Beer.”

About Ben Harris Beer

Ben Harris Beer is Redhook’s special take on the classic cream ale style, brewed in tribute to our friend and teammate, Ben Harris.  This is a beer that Ben would have wanted to drink.  It’s a beer brewed for those who work hard and play hard, just as Ben did. But most importantly, it’s a beer brewed for us to share as we remember and celebrate Ben’s life. 

Ben liked a touch of hops in his beer, so we hopped up a classic cream ale recipe, Redhook style. Ben Harris Beer was brewed with ingredients you’d expect to find in cream ale: two-row barley malt, Carapils for a touch of sweetness, Victory malt for a touch of breadiness and a dose of corn for good measure. We hopped it up with some Sterling, Saaz, and Hallertau hops, which create a crisp, clean and refreshing beer just for Ben. Ben Harris Beer is 4.7% ABV and 19 IBU.

Ben Harris Beer was recognized on Nov. 2 at the 16^th Annual Great International Beer & Cider Competition where it received second place in the Cream Ale category.

About Redhook

Redhook was born out of the energy and spirit of the early 80s in the heart of Seattle. While the term didn’t exist at the time, Redhook became one of America’s first “craft” breweries. From a modest start in a former transmission shop in the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard, to the current breweries in Woodinville, Wash., and Portsmouth, N.H., Redhook has become one of America’s most recognized craft breweries. While Redhook has “grown up” during the past 30 years, one thing has never changed – Redhook is still brewing great beers like ESB, IPA, Copperhook, Pilsner and seasonal brews. Most importantly, Redhook makes sure to have fun doing it.   Redhook's beers are available both on draught and in bottles around the country. For more information, visit www.redhook.com.

Thanksgiving Beer Pairings

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is this Thursday, but let's face it...it's here! With that being said, you'll want to stock up on some tasty local craft beer, and we figured we would give you some solid recommendations to better enjoy your time with friends and family!

If you'll be noshing on some cheeses to start the day, Mystic Brewery Vinland One and White Birch Brewing Belgian Pale Ale are nice options. Both beers feature similar Belgian style qualities that will help both cut through some strong flavors and compliment some softer and subtle cheeses.

Bantam Cider Wunderkind is another great way to start off a meal that compliments pretty much any kind of cheese. It's similar to champagne, so it's a festive alternative. It's native to the Boston area, so if you can't get it locally, you can always grab some Downeast Cider (available in MA & ME). If you're trying to pace yourself for a long day of eating and drinking, you can't go wrong with Notch Brewing Session Pils. It has some great hoppy notes that will compliment the cheeses, but at 4% ABV you can sip and keep on sipping all day!

When the bird is served, you might want to have some Night Shift Brewing Rose, Baxter Brewing Co. Hayride Autumn Ale, and Rising Tide Brewing Company Zephyr on hand. The Rose pairs especially well with meats (we had it with lamb burgers). Similarly, the Baxter Hayride Autumn Ale has a good dose of rye and black pepper, which provide a nice spiciness that will go with all the sides. If a nicely hopped IPA is what you're looking for, Zephyr fits the description. It has some nice aromatic and bittering hoppiness, without being too bold.

Finally, what is Thanksgiving dinner without desert? We have to suggest Slumbrew Porter Square Porter or if you can find it, get their My Better Half Cream Ale. The porter is brewed with cacao nibs from Taza Chocolate, and the cream ale has a superb sweetness that it will pair with any desert choice. Also, the Smuttynose Brewing Co. Barleywine Style Ale has great scotch type aromas and flavors that will balance off the sweetness in any pecan, chocolate, or pumpkin pie.

We hope that you enjoy your beers with family and friends and that everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday!

Backlash Beer Founder on Zagat's 30 Under 30 List

The news came out the other day, but Backlash Beer Co. Founder and brewer Helder Pimentel was named one of Zagat's 30 Under 30: Boston's Hottest Up and Comers in the 'Restaurant Industry,' which includes bar managers, GMs, Mixologists, and even craft brewers!

You're sure to recognize some of the other list members, if not you will at least recognize their businesses they own/run or work at. If you've ever met Helder, you'll know he's a pretty grounded guy. But, he certainly holds nothing back when it comes to his beer.

You can read the full article here.

Congrats buddy!

Cheers,
Adam

Earth Eagle Brewings opens in Portsmouth on Saturday | SeacoastOnline.com

Earth Eagle Brewings opens in Portsmouth on Saturday | SeacoastOnline.com

Here's a great write up about this weekend's launch of Earth Eagle Brewings in Portsmouth! We shed some light on them last week, but the official countdown to the launch is just about up! Congrats to Butch Heishorn and Alex McDonald on the opening.

We'll be in New Hampshire tomorrow and might take the drive to Portsmouth to check out the new nano. If it doesn't happen this weekend, we're going to try to stop in next weekend as we'll be making our way back form Portland and already had plans to stop in Portsmouth!