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.
- The beer must be brewed in Maine
- The beer must be available in Bottles or Cans (Growlers do not count)
- 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