Benjamin Moore is a craft beer blogger based in Southern Maine, his blog Active Beer Geek is dedicated to craft beer and fitness. Ben is a communications student at USM and VP of USM Enactus, Host of #BeerChat every Thursday night at 9pm EST on Twitter, a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, long distance running, kilt wearing member of the Novare Res Uprising.
Question 1: What is your all Maine brewery dream team-up? And why?
Oxbow Brewing Company and Bissell Brothers Brewing Company for sure! I also think this collaboration will actually happen one day as well. Both Bissell and Oxbow are fantastic breweries that attract a very similar drinking clientele. I can see the release party now: skateboarding contests, ridiculously awesome food, live graffiti, live DJ, and everyone sating.
Question 2: What would your Maine + U.S Brewery Team-up look like?
I want to see someone big in the US to collaborate with a small brewery in Maine. This will make Maine stand out in the states as the brewing giant it’s becoming. I can see Full Sail Brewing Company from Hood River, Oregon with Rising Tide in Portland, Maine. They will probably make a beer that tastes so good that is so nautical it hurts.
Question 3: What would your Maine + International Brewery team up look like?
I would like to see Kulmbacher Brauerei come to Maine and find Tom Bull and make an awesome but different Lager or Pilsner. Tom Bull was the brewing half of former brewery Bull Jagger Brewing Company. He made some great beers in the traditional German lagering sense. Bull Jagger produced lagers, pilsners, a porter/lager, and an amber lager. But Tom Doesn’t have any equipment to speak of in terms of commercial brewing. This is when Rising Tide Brewing Company steps in and lends Tom and Kulmbacher their equipment and expertise for this purpose. I think if Kulmbacher Brauerei comes to Maine and brews something with Tom and Rising Tide it will remind Mainers that lagers can be crafty too.
Question 4: Free for all! Anything goes here as long as there is 1 Maine brewery involved.
I think Oxbow and Dogfish Head should put their crazy minds together and come up with some crazy saison that’s never been done before. Sam Calagione is crazy awesome for brewing things like their ancient ale series, Urkontinent, and World Wide Stout. I think he needs to bring in ingredients that are off the charts and combine them with the creativity of Tim & Geoff from Oxbow. Something will happen and it could be delicious.
Maine Dream Team-Up Project Participants:
Day 1: Chad Lothian – If My Coaster Could Talk
Day 2: Mark Stevens – Maine Beer Tours
Day 3: Shahin Khojastehzad – Novare Res Bier Café
Day 4: Eric Mihan – Bangor Wine and Cheese
Day 5: James Sanborn – Insurance Guys Beer Blog
Day 6: Ben Lizzotte/Ryan Poland/ Tony C – Drink’n Think’n Podcast
Day 7: Tom Madden – Madden Beverage
Day 8: Gene Beck – Nocturnem Draft Haus
Day 9: Josh Christie – Maine Beer Author
Day 10: Greg Norton – Bier Cellar
Day 11: Matt Delamater – Local Brew TV
Day 12: Benjamin Moore – Active Beer Geek
Day 13: Richard England – Hogan Road Deli