Still feasting on Halloween candy? We’ve got several beers to tell you about that pair well with all your sweet treats. I mean, except Halloween Peeps. Those only pair well with the big guy downstairs. Hate joy, we mean, candy? No sweat, we’ve also got plenty of new beers to drop some knowledge on that are guaranteed to keep you warm as the temperatures start to dip. (Disclaimer: none of these beers are LITERALLY going to keep you warm. You’ll need to head to Bean’s and buy some flannel for that.)
Here’s this week’s guide to upcoming brewery events, the latest beer releases, and a roundup of Maine beer news.
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Upcoming Releases & Events
Definitive is going “dumb,” York Beach has transformed one of our favorite breakfast treats into liquid form, and Flight Deck almost has us convinced that you CAN Get There From Here.
Thursday, November 5
Definitive Brewing Company
35 Industrial Way, Portland and 318 US Route 1, Kittery
HAЯRY, Fruited Sour IPA; LLOYD, Fruited Sour IPA; & The Entity, Triple IPA (10.1%)
A fun play on a favorite movie of Definitive and their friends at Fourscore Beer Co., HAЯRY is the blue to LLOYD’s orange! Brewed with Citra and hundreds of pounds of fresh blueberry and blackberry, this beer reminds us of tart, dark berry smoothies, and cross country trips to Colorado.
LLOYD is the tangerine and mango version of this collaboration brew. Brewed with Citra and hundreds of pounds of fresh mango and tangerine, this beer tastes like tropical smoothies, fresh citrus spritzers, and ripe Bangladeshi stone fruit.
The Entity is a formidable Triple IPA that checks in at a healthy 10.1% ABV and is brewed with Citra, Mosaic, Enigma, and Topaz hops. It tastes and smells like a tropical storm of guava, fruit salad, and fields of pineapple plants. All beers will be available Friday in Portland, Saturday in Kittery.
York Beach Beer Company
33 Railroad Ave., York
Cinnamon Toast, Altbier (5.4%)
Based on the traditional German-style altbier, Cinnamon Toast is malty and bready. A healthy dose of cinnamon in the brewing gives us visions of the breakfast table on a brisk fall morning.
Saturday, November 6
Liquid Riot Bottling Company
250 Commercial St., Portland
LRV 3 Year Blend No. 2, Wild Ale (6%)
LRV 3 Year Blend No. 2 was brewed in collaboration with Novare Res Bier Café & Slab. LRV or “Liquid Riot Vessel” is a spontaneous-fermented beer brewed using Liquid Riot’s custom koelship “Vessel” (which lives on their deck during the winter months). All three locations will be offering the beer both in-house and in to-go bottles.
Monday November 8
Maine Beer Company
525 US-1, Freeport
Little Whaleboat IPA (6.5%)
Little Whaleboat IPA features Citra, Mosaic, Columbus, and Talus hops, and local Maine Malt House and Blue Ox Malthouse malted grains. The result is a light-bodied IPA with notes of mango, pineapple, grapefruit, pine, and floral aromas of rose and chamomile.
This brand-new IPA is named after the Little Whaleboat Islands, a cluster of three small islands and ledges in Casco Bay that Maine Coast Heritage Trust is raising funds to purchase and conserve. Little Whaleboat IPA was created to help support Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s fundraising, and efforts to raise awareness for their work protecting Maine’s coast.
Tuesday, November 9
Maine Beer Company
525 US-1, Freeport
Mean Old Tom, Stout (6.5%)
Stout season is upon us, and that means Mean Old Tom, Maine Beer Company’s stout aged on natural vanilla beans, is back in stock.
Wednesday, November 10
Flight Deck Brewing
11 Atlantic Ave., Brunswick
Get There From Here, Imperial Stout (9.1%)
This Needham-inspired imperial stout is brewed with toasted coconut, cacao nibs, and mashed potatoes to honor the sacred Maine Needham candy.
New Releases
From Slick Nick winter ale to Bailey Boy brown ale to Forge Russian imperial stout, there are plenty of new releases standing by to give you cozy winter vibes. But if you aren’t quite ready to cross over and embrace the beers of winter, there are a pair of pale ales, a Certain pilsner, and a Dream-y IPA to help you pretend that it’s still summer/fall lite.
Battery Steele Brewing
1 Industrial Way, Units 12 & 14, Portland
Firn, New England Pale Ale (5.8%)
This luscious pale ale is brewed with a base of Pearl malt for a clean finish, the perfect blend of oats and wheat for a soft body, then a touch of rye for a slightly spicy, refreshing character. The combination of Citra and Simcoe both in the kettle and dry hop give this burley pale ale notes of grapefruit, citrus, pine and a light spice finish.
Black Pug Brewery
30 Bath Rd., Brunswick
Mimir, Juniper Rye Ale (5.3%)
Just in time for candy pairings, Mimir is back on tap! Black Pug’s juniper rye beer found its soulmate in a Heath bar this Halloween weekend. What candy would you pair it with?
Blaze Brewing Company
28 Pearl St., Biddeford
Bailey Boy, Brown Ale (6.5%) & Jam Flow, IPA (7%)
Bailey Boy is brewed with two row, biscuit, pale chocolate and caramel malts, with centennial hops. During conditioning, the beer is infused with a coffee blend from the Peruvian highlands and the Oaxaca region of Southern Mexico sourced from and roasted by Acadia Coffee Company. This process resulted in a beer with rich chocolate and toffee flavors.
Jam Flow is brewed with a wheat-heavy grist and then dry-hopped excessively with Amarillo and Mosaic. This combination yielded an incredibly juicy, bright, and soft beer. Jam Flow smells and tastes like fleshy orange, ripe mango, and pink starburst.
Fogtown Brewing Company
25 Pine St., Ellsworth and 33 Cottage St., Bar Harbor
Strawberry Dreamsicle, Double IPA (7.8%)
Strawberry Dreamsicle is loaded with strawberries, marshmallow fluff, and ethically sourced vanilla beans, brewed with Maine grains, and double-dry hopped with Galaxy.
Fore River Brewing Co.
45 Huntress Ave., South Portland
Black Bellamy, Schwarzbier (4.7%)
A style originating from Germany, schwarzbiers are known for their opaque, black color, roasty aromas, and very low bitterness. Black Bellamy is dry, dark, and irresistibly crisp, with roasted and mildly malty aromas and flavors, and an incredibly light and effervescent mouthfeel.
Foundation Brewing Company
1 Industrial Way #5, Portland
Forge, Russian Imperial Stout (10%)
Stout season is finally upon us, which means it’s time for the annual release of Forge, Foundation’s Russian imperial stout. Brimming with rich, roasted malt and chocolate flavors, this jet black brew is what we look forward to each year as the mercury drops. And at a monstrous 10% ABV, Forge is a real bear of a beer.
Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Company
396 Fore St., Portland; 187 Lower Main St., Freeport; and 68 Main St., Auburn
Grim RIPA (6.66%)
This amber IPA is certified tasty with hints of sweet caramel and an overall citrusy flavor. At 6.66% ABV, we won’t tell you who had a hand in the brewing of the Grim RIPA, but let’s just say he opened up the gates of hell in exchange for a couple pints. We also hear he’s a fan of Peeps (don’t even get us started).
Mast Landing Brewing Company
920 Main St., Westbrook and 200 Lower Main St., Freeport
Fourteen Forty Four, Double Dry Hopped IPA (6.7%); Certain Things, Pilsner (4.8%); & A Beer Named Duck, New England Pale Ale (5.2%)
The Tampa Bay Brewing Co. team traveled 1,444 miles from their brewery to Mast Landing to celebrate the distance both their breweries have come (metaphorically) since they started working together. Not-so coincidentally, the two teamed up to brew Fourteen Forty Four.
Few things are certain, and we find comfort in those that are. The joyful refreshment of a classic pilsner will always inject warmth between the shadow and the soul. Certain Things is hopped with Tettnaang and Saaz for snappy floral notes and citrusy effervescence, with a soft drinkability that will certainly have you returning to the glass.
A Beer Named Duck is an easy-drinking New England pale ale that proves that exceptional qualities can come in unassuming forms. Simcoe, Centennial, and Cascade hops flock together to bring crisp notes of citrus and floral brightness.
Orono Brewing Company
61 Margin St., Orono and 26 State St., Bangor
Totally Tubular, Double IPA (8.5%)
The double version of Orono’s flagship Tubular IPA, Totally Tubular is triple dry-hopped with a whole lot of Strata, El Dorado, Citra, and Topaz.
Sebago Brewing
Multiple locations
Slick Nick Wicked Winter Ale
Slick Nick Wicked Winter Ale is a classic Sebago seasonal that’s been rocking us through long Maine winters since 1998. Slick Nick’s full body offers toasty, malty warmth with a touch of hop character. Available on draft and in 16 oz. cans at all Sebago Brewing locations.
Maine Beer in the News
Before we dive into the deadlines, we have some bittersweet news to share. Blank Canvas Brewing recently announced that this will be their final month operating out of their current location at 46 Betton Street in Brewer. However, the good news is that they’ll be back in the future at a new location. So, stay tuned!
Danny McGovern on 30 Years in Maine Craft Beer
The Lake St. George Brewing Company founder on the state’s explosive suds sector.
Tap Lines: Can’t get enough milk stouts? This year, there’s even s’more
New releases from Maine breweries join the perennial favorites.
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Maine Beer This Week! If you own a brewery or other beer business and would like to be featured in upcoming issues, please email or call us to learn more at beerthisweek@gmail.com (207) 209-2094
