Clik here to view.
Maine Island Trail Ale voted Best Beer in Maine
The first annual March Beer Madness Tournament, which featured a very competitive field of 64 Maine beers, concluded last week with a new champion: the Maine Island Trail Ale. A tidal wave of support...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Beer made here: Maine’s 21 brewpubs keep it fresh and local
When Ed Stebbins and Richard Pfeffer opened Gritty McDuff’s in Portland’s Old Port in 1988, it was the first time draft beer brewed on site had been served in the city for more than 80 years. Since...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Beer, adventure, food and nature: what could be better?
While The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends, we’re glad that our work sometimes intersects with good food and beer. To that end, I’d like to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Maine Beer Company serves up Dinner
Maine Beer Company has released its Dinner Double IPA three times, and each release has caused a stir among fans of the punch-packing citrus brew. Courtesy photos I dream about Dinner. No, really. I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Burgers, buns and fries: Sebago Brewing vs. The Great Lost Bear
From the haute to the humble, Portland’s most visible dining establishments rarely elude me as I keep a sharp eye on most places worth visiting. But one glaring omission has been The Great Lost...
View ArticleClik here to view.
There were lots of Crafty Bastards in beer history, author comes to Portland...
Courtesy photo Every week in this column I pontificate on the glorious beer renaissance we’re experiencing in Maine. The Pine Tree State, along with the rest of New England, is brewing a glut of great...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A great Acadia weekend: Drink beerfest beer and tour the “other” park loop road
Any time is a good time to visit Acadia National Park, yes, but right now may be the very best time given that it’s peak foliage on Mount Desert Island right now. Every which way you turn you’re going...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Maine beer: Acadia Oktoberfest a rousing good time of drink, food, music,...
Given that the Acadia Oktoberfest was nearly two weeks ago (see my blog post “A great Acadia weekend: Drink beerfest beer and tour the “other” park loop road“) and I’m just now getting around to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
First look at Oxbow’s Portland tasting room
On one side is Maine Mead Works – the source of delicious meads brewed all year long. But across the wall is a project that Oxbow Brewing Company has been hoping to unveil for some time – their own...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Post-Thanksgiving food and family blahs? Go for a hike!
The weather was gray and gloomy with no forecast for improvement. No matter; I needed to get outside. No, wait, I HAD to get outside and do something. Anything. So my wife and me, we settled on a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
On the Maine Beer Trail: Good beer, good food, good people at Geaghan’s...
Everybody at Geaghan’s Brewery is a happy camper. From Lisa Sturgeon, the communications manager, to Ryan Power, the head brewer, to the rest of the crew. They all sported big grins when I visited...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Maine Beer Madness Beer Tournament 2016: Round One
Selection Sunday was a great success. The four core members of the Maine Madness Beer Tournament picked the match-ups at random from a tip bucket at Rising Tide Brewing Company, the winner of the 2014...
View ArticleClik here to view.
It’s time! Cast your vote in Maine Madness Beer Tournament 2016
The four core members of the Maine Madness Beer Tournament picked the match-ups at random from a tip bucket at Rising Tide Brewing Company during Selection Sunday. The tournament has six rounds,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Maine Madness Beer Tournament 2016: Round Two
The Round of 64 voting is complete, and we have our match-ups for round two of this year’s Maine Madness Beer Tournament. Nearly a thousand votes were cast for each match-up in round one. Maine...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Maine Madness Beer Tournament 2016: Round Three
The Round of 32 did not disappoint! We had many close matchups this round. In the closest margin of victory in the history of this three year tournament Maine Beer Company’s Mo edged The Substance...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Maine Madness Beer Tournament 2016: Round Four
The Sweet 16 was sweet indeed. Swish Imperial IPA from Bissell Brothers duked it out with Maine Beer Company’s Mo in a electrifying back and forth battle. Finally, Swish pulled off the victory to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Maine Madness Beer Tournament 2016: Round Five
Over 1,200 votes were cast in the Elite 8 and we have our 2016 Final Four matchup. This round is heavy on hops with three double IPAs; however, Allagash Curieux will represent the barrel-aged beers in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Final Round! MAINE MADNESS BEER TOURNAMENT 2016
Roughly 5,000 votes have been cast in the first five rounds, and we now have our championship match-up: Epiphany versus Swish. This is a battle of neighbor versus neighbor. For the past three years...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Results! Epiphany from Foundation Brewing wins Maine Madness Beer Tournament
In the largest margin of victory in a Maine Madness championship match-up, Epiphany is the undisputed 2016 champion! Bringing in a breathtaking 70% of the votes, Foundation’s juicy double IPA handily...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bar Harbor Winter Beer Fest and Acadia National Park: An unbeatable pairing...
Any time of year is a good time to enjoy a few made-in-Maine craft beers. Along that same line of thinking, anytime is a good time to get on out into the Maine outdoors for some fun and exercise. You...
View Article