Review of East Ender

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed the East Ender.

The quintessential gastro-pub, with a lusty, varied menu of creatively prepared fare. Must-haves include the deviled eggs (with various fillings), the lobster poutine, trout fritters, the East Ender burger and a very good lobster salad sandwich. For starters and main courses, standouts include the mussels in green curry coconut milk, nachos with lobster, smoked hen, Montreal smoked brisket and hanger steak with bacon-bourbon butter…

Today’s Telegram also includes an article about Maine’s mushroom farming industry.

Review of Andy’s

Drink Up and Get Happy has reviewed Andy’s Old Port Pub.

The atmosphere at Andy’s is cozy and laid back.  It’s a place where everyone seems to know everyone.  Many were taking the chance, while waiting for the ferry, to have a snack, a drink, and enjoy friends company.  The place rung with laughter.  They also feature live music throughout the week and on weekends from local musicians.

Our verdict is that Andy’s is a great spot to meet up with friends over some good brews.  You also might make some new friends!

ABV Prohibition (Updated)

Maine Today has a report on the Maine law which prohibits bars from posting the alcohol percentage of the beers they serve.

Maine Law prohibits bars from posting the ABVs. (But wait, bars all over the state post the ABVs on tap menus and chalkboards all time. Yeah. But technically, they’re not supposed to.) It’s an archaic law that’s getting a lot of attention on Three Tide’s Facebook page. When David Carlson, an owner of Three Tides, got a call from his liquor inspector saying it’s not OK to list the beers’ alcohol-by-volume numbers, he posted to the company’s page so that customers would know.

Update: See this article in the Bangor Daily News for additional reporting on the law and the efforts to change it.

So far his plea has reached the ears of several lawmakers, including Rep. Louie Luchini, D-Ellsworth, the co-chair of the Veterans and Legal Affairs committee, which deals with matters of alcohol sales. He said Friday that earlier that day he had submitted a bill request in an effort to quickly resolve the legal problem.

Allagash x Speckled Ax Coffee Bean Collaboration

BDN’s new Portland culture blog Urban Eye has a report on a collaboration between Speckled Axe and Allagash.

Armed with 40 pounds of green beans (at their most absorbent before roasting), [Speckled Ax owner Matt] Bolinder walked into the brewery’s cold cellar, stacked high with wooden barrels of aging triples, and took over two empty vessels.

“Instead of adding coffee to the beer, I’m adding elements of brewing to my coffee,” he says with a runaway smile.

Oakhurst Sold

Oakhurst has been sold to a dairy farm cooperative, according to an article in the Press Herald.

Oakhurst Dairy, which has been owned by a Maine family since the company was founded in 1921, has been sold to a national cooperative owned by farmers.

Oakhurst was acquired by Dairy Farmers of America, a cooperative owned by more than 8,000 farms in 48 states. The deal, negotiated for about eight to nine months, closed Friday.