Category: Beer

Maine Craft Brewing & Annual Food Calendar

| Posted in Beer, Events, Under Construction

The new issue of Portland Magazine reports on the growth of Maine’s beer industry that features 3 new breweries: Bissell Brothers, Foundation Brewing and Banded Horn.

Also in the new issue is the magazine’s annual Maine food calendar. The article includes an interview with chef Cara Stadler about the new dumpling restaurant she has under development on Spring Street in the building that’s been the longtime home of the West End Deli.

And what becomes of West End Deli and its tasty takeout sandwiches? “Look for us to open in the former Gleason Fine Art Gallery at 545 Congress by the end of January,” says owner Nancy Arnold. “It’s a great spot. We’ll have more room for specialty foods–cheese, meats, pastries.”

SoMe Brewing, Reviews of Mathew’s & The Bridgeway

| Posted in Beer, Reviews

Today’s Press Herald includes a bar review of Mathew’s,

Mathew’s Pub, advertised as “the oldest pub in Portland,” is as gritty as they come, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Pay nearly nothing for beer and even less for a pool table, and Mathew’s is not just the oldest bar in Portland but perhaps the cheapest. If it’s your first time venturing into Mathew’s, bring a friend or two.

a review of The Bridgeway,

The Brideway isn’t hip, it doesn’t offer any kind of funky fusion fare, and some could argue it could use some updating. But you know what? It’s also a respectable spot that is honest about what is has to offer. This wasn’t lost on me or my lunch date, and for that reason I’m glad it’s there and I am glad that it surely has a legion of longtime diners who keep the historic place in business.

and an article about SoMe Brewing.

Crystal Persuasion is in imperial pale ale made with 100 percent Crystal hops. Rowland said the recipe came about because his hop supplier offered him the hops, and he created first a regular pale ale – which will come on the menu at some point – and then the imperial version, which is 8 percent ABV. This was a nicely malty beer, with just enough hops bite to make it interesting.

Gritty’s 25th Anniversary

| Posted in History, Beer, Events

Today’s Press Herald includes a front page article about Gritty’s 25 years in business and the impact they’ve had on Maine’s craft beer industry.

“Yeah, I’d say [Dave] Geary and those guys ([Gritty’s co-founders] Stebbins and Pfeffer) were sort of the godfathers of Maine brewing, and today the scene is just so filled with talented people, very small outfits finding a niche for themselves,” said Houghton, who also runs The Liberal Cup brew pub in Hallowell. “The main reason I’m in Maine is because of Gritty McDuff’s.”

Bangor Daily News and publisher of The Bollard has also written about Gritty’s 25 anniversary in his weekly column.

Together with David Geary, Dave Evans of The Great Lost Bear, and Alan Eames of Three Dollar Dewey’s, Gritty’s founders Richard Pfeffer and Ed Stebbins deserve a significant amount of credit for the scores of breweries, thousands of jobs and millions of dollars the microbrew movement has brought to Maine since the 1980s. For that alone, Pfeffer and Stebbins deserve the key to the city and a big bear hug from Gov. Paul LePage…

Gritty’s 25th Anniversary Party is taking place at 4pm today at their Portland location.

Karen Kay Geary, 68 (Updated)

| Posted in People, Beer

The Beer Babe has posted an article about the passing of Karen Kay Geary, co-founder of D.L. Geary Brewing.

Notably, Karen was the first female brewery owner in Maine, and among the first in New England and the U.S., after prohibition. Author and beer historian Tom Acitelli commented that, “To be a woman involved in craft beer in the early/mid-1980s was to be in rare company; it was, like the larger brewing industry, very much a man’s world on both the consumer and business sides.” I, for one, would like to thank her for being a pioneer in the early days and paving the way for those that came after her in craft beer. I hope you will join me in raising a toast in Karen’s honor.

Update: For more information see the article in Wednesday’s Press Herald.

Under Construction: Bissell Brothers, Austin Street & Foundation Brewing

| Posted in Beer, Under Construction

Three Portland breweries under construction on Industrial Way are making good progress:

For some additional details on Austin Street and Bissell see the What Ales You column in today’s paper.

Allagash FV13 in Top 25

| Posted in Beer

Allagash’s FV13 is at the top of the Wine Enthusiast list of the Top 25 Beers of 2013.

This is Allagash’s first foray into the world of foudre (giant oak tanks used for aging) beers, and man, did they come out of the park swinging! FV 13 is a blend of wild yeasts and bacterias, a malty base beer and, “about four years of patience.” The brewery’s patience was rewarded, as the finished beer is a masterpiece, complex and layered yet nuanced and balanced. Initial aromas are tart and vinous, with upfront scents of sour cherry, plum and citrus supported by accents of lightly-toasted oak, walnut shells and forest floor…

Allagash had also been recognized by the publication back in 2011 when they came in 10th on the list for their Allagash Trippel Reserve.