Welcome to the next installment in
the continuing saga of my farewell tour in Maine. Whilst traveling from the
coast to central Maine, after consuming not less than six pounds of lobster, I
began searching for breweries. Alas, Belfast Bay Brewing is along my route. Yes
Please. As my “Navigator" researched the route I wondered aloud why I had never
visited the brewery, or even sampled their beer during my many trips to Maine.
A quick phone call to the brewery revealed the reason why. Belfast Bay does not
have a taproom, and tours are by appointment only. Not the best business plan,
in my humble opinion. We pressed on.
Approximately
30 miles north of Belfast is the town of Winterport, home to Penobscot Bay
Brewing. Apparently it’s a big bay, hence so many “Bay” breweries. As I enter
the brewery my first thought is “This is not my kind of place". Penobscot Bay
originally started as a winery, expanding to beer a couple of years ago. Bottles
of wine adorn the walls, with a small “Sampling” bar on the far wall. The
atmosphere is a cross between a museum and a library. We are the only
customers. With 10 days of facial hair
and a shirt stained in lobster juice and lobster remnants I look and smell
like a lobsterman that was lost at sea for years! The “Taproom” manager looks at me
apprehensively, as if a three-headed Sasquatch had just walked in. He nervously
asks if I would like to sample some beer. I grunt in approval. I am quickly
rewarded with a” Mountain Man” DIPA. How appropriate.
At 9.5% ABV this beer I surprisingly well
balanced, with only a hint of bitterness and hops out the wazoo. I eagerly suck
it down. The manager then asks if I would like to try “Humble B”, a Honey Wheat
Ginger beer, more grunting. I have had several beers of this type but this one
is by far the best I have ever had. “Humble B” is the ultimate easy drinking
“Lawnmower” beer.
Fortunately Penobscot Bay Brewing
distributes locally, making it less awkward for all the three-headed sasquatches
like myself. While their taproom draws low marks I do give them credit for at least
offering samples. That being said, it’s painfully obvious that they remain
focused on wine. While I don’t recommend visiting the “Brewery” I do recommend
picking up a couple bottles of their beer at the local grocery. You won’t be disappointed.Stay Crafty
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