Maine Dream Team Six Pack

A while back I was reading a blog post on www.billybrew.com that was titled “What’s your state’s dream team six pack?” and I had to stop and ask myself the question, what would be in my Maine dream team six pack? I picked up a pen and started jotting down my favorite Maine beers and the list was way longer than six. This isn’t an easy question, there are some pretty amazing beers brewed in Maine, so I laid out some rules.

  1. The beer must be brewed in Maine
  2. The beer must be available in Bottles or Cans (Growlers do not count)
  3. The beer must be available off site (brewery only releases do not count)

I felt that to be fair a true six pack would have to be something that is or was available in a store and as awesome as a sixer of growlers would be it just didn’t work. With the rules in place I started over and came up with my Dream Team six pack for Maine.

Rising Tide – Daymark

Marshall Wharf – Cant Dog

Maine Beer Co. – Lunch

Atlantic Brewing – S.O.B (Special Old Bitter)

Bull Jagger – Crimson Lager

Sebago – Barrel Aged Lake Trout Stout

This is the six pack I would put together if I was visiting someone who had never had Maine craft beer, I would show up with this six pack and feel like I was showing off some of the best beers in the state. Then I asked myself another question, what do other people think? What would other beer people from around the state list as their Maine dream team six pack? So I asked and I got some great responses.

Gene Beck, owner of Nocturnem Draft Haus in Downtown Bangor

Rising Tide – Polaris

Allagash – Odyssey

Marshall Wharf – Cant Dog

Maine Beer Co. – Lunch

Allagash – Resurgam

Geary’s – Summer Ale

Greg Norton, owner of the Bier Cellar in Portland

Allagash – Confluence

Allagash – Coolship Red

Maine Beer Co. – MO

Oxbow – Arboreal

Rising Tide/Allagash/Maine Beer Co. – Prince Tuesday

Marshall Wharf – Cant Dog

Shahin “The Persian” Khojastehzad, from Novare Res Bier Café in Portland

Marshall Wharf – Cant Dog

Maine Beer Co. – Lunch

Allagash – Victor Francenstein

Oxbow – Barrel Aged FPA

Rising Tide – Zephyr

Bull Jagger – Baltic Porter

Eric Mihan, owner of Bangor Wine and Cheese in Bangor

Marshall Wharf – Cant Dog

Rising Tide – Polaris (2011)

Sebago – Frye’s Leap IPA

Atlantic Brewing – Brother Adams Braggot (2007)

Maine Beer Co. – Zoe

Allagash – FV 13

Joe Corridoni, from Tully’s Beer & Wine in Wells

Marshall Wharf – Cant Dog

Gritty McDuff’s – Halloween Ale

Maine Beer Co. – Lil One

Rising Tide – Ursa Minor

Baxter Brewing – Stowaway IPA

Bar Harbor Brewing – Thunderhole Ale

The clear favorite across the board is Marshall Wharf Cant Dog Imperial Pale Ale, which really didn’t surprise me, these 16oz cans are packed with fresh hops flavor. I was really impressed with everyone’s selections; Rising Tide, Allagash and Maine Beer Co. made everyone’s list but we didn’t all pick the same beer, and across six dream six packs there were 12 different breweries, I think that speaks volumes to the quality of the beer being produced, these breweries have impressive line ups and there is something there for everyone.

So now I ask you, what is in YOUR Maine dream team six pack? And if you’re not from Maine Tell me your dream team six pack for your state so I can add them to my wishlist. I’d love to hear what you think, comment on this blog post or on my Facebook page with your picks.

I’d like to thank everyone who participated in this; these are the people from around the state that I buy my beer from. I respect their opinions and I appreciate them sharing those opinions with me.

Cheers!

Chaddah

 

Brewery Links:                                   Twitter:                                   Facebook:

Allagash Brewing                     @AllagashBrewing                                Allagash

Atlantic Brewing                        @AtlanticBrewing                                Atlantic

Bar Harbor Brewing                 @BarHarborBrewin 

Baxter Brewing                         @BaxterBrewing                                 Baxter

Bull Jagger Brewing                 @BullJagger                                       Bull Jagger

D.L. Geary Brewing                  @GearyBrewing                                Geary’s

Gritty McDuff’s  Brewing           @Grittys                                            Gritty’s

Maine Beer Co.                        @MaineBeerCo                                   MBC

Marshall Wharf Brewing        @MarshallWharf                               Marshall Wharf

Oxbow Brewing                        @OxbowBeer                                     Oxbow

Rising Tide Brewing                 @RisingTideBeer                             Rising Tide

Sebago Brewing                      @SebagoBrewing                              Sebago

Chad Lothian

About Chad Lothian

Chad Lothian lives in Old Town, Maine. He is a craft beer enthusiast and homebrewer. Chad has travelled to brewpubs, breweries and brewfests all over New England.