In episode 1 of Local Brew, Matt heads to Lewiston, Maine, to visit Baxter Brewing Company. There he meets the owner, Luke Livingston, to talk about craft beer, the mill and his journey from beer fanatic to brewery owner. Then Matt rolls up his sleeves and helps Baxter's head brewer Ben Low make a batch of Stowaway I.P.A. After that it's off to the canning line where Matt gets a lesson is how to can beer and almost smashes his face. Then Luke and Matt head to the tasting room to sample some of Baxter's fine craft beers, including their then un-released, un-tested summer beer, Celsius Summer Ale. After the tasting is done, Matt heads to one of Lewiston's favorite watering holes, DaVinci's Eatery, to talk beer with the people who it best - the locals. There he meets some of Lewiston's finest, hangs out with the crew of Baxter Brewing, steals a nibble of Luke's famous Pamola Pale Ale mussels! Yes it's a about a local micro-brewery, local people, and great craft beer in this episode of Local Brew!
In episode 2 of Local Brew, Matt heads to Portland, Maine, where he catches a ride on one of Maine's coolest tours, The Maine Brew Bus. He chats with co-owner Zach Poole about why he started the bus and where it takes riders. Then it's off to visit Maine Beer Company, where he meets one of the owners, Dan Kleban, to talk about his very hoppy craft beer. Then Matt meets brewery Mark Fulton, who quickly puts him to work loading grain into the grist case, so they can brew a batch of Mean Old Tom. After that, Matt gets down and dirty, cleaning the mash tun from the inside out. Then Dan takes him to the conditioning room where he explains the process of conditioning beer in the bottle. Next they head to the tasting room to sample some of their deliciously hoppy American craft beer, including King Titus (their newest release), Mean Old Tom, and Lunch IPA. After the tasting is done, Matt heads to one of Portland's best beer bars, Novare Res Bier Café, to talk beer with the locals. There he grabs a beer with the owner, Eric Michaud, and learns about his passion for craft beer. Yes it's a about a local brewery, local people, and great craft beer in this episode of Local Brew!
In episode 3 of Local Brew, Matt heads to Walpole, Maine, to visit the guys from the popular Maine podcast, Drink'n Think'n. He talks beer with friends Ben Lizzotte, Ryan Poland and Tony C. and reviews a growler of Funky Bow Brewing's So Folkin' Hoppy IPA. Then he heads to Lyman, Maine, to check out Funky Bow Brewing. There he meets co-owner and brewmaster Abraham Lorrain and helps him brew a batch of their vanilla milk stout. After that Matt heads outside to meet Abraham's father and co-owner of Funky Bow, Paul Lorrain, who shows him around their 23 acre organic salad greens farm. Next they head to the tasting room to sample some delicious Funky Bow beer, including a keg conditioned version of their So Folkin' Hoppy IPA and their porter. After the tasting is done, Matt comes back to Funky Bow to check "Growler Night", where Paul and Abraham make a big announcement. Then he's off to the Little Tap House in Portland, to sample some delicious, locally sourced, organic food and drink some Funky Bow beers. While there he grabs a beer with the owner, Lee Goyette and her daughter Brianna, and learns about their commitment to the farm to table movement and the local craft beer scene. Yes it's a about drinking funky beer in the woods of Maine in this episode of Local Brew!
In episode 4 of Local Brew, Matthew Delamater heads to Bissell Brothers in Portland, Maine, where he fills cans of Bucolia Ale with his bare hands. Then he talks with brothers Noah and Peter Bissell about their flagship beer, a critically acclaimed, dank, highly drinkable IPA that was recently named one of the 100 Best Beers in the World by Men's Journal - The Substance Ale. After that he jumps in the "Green Bastard" with Sniff (yes Sniff) to deliver kegs of Bissell beer to bars around Portland. They make their last stop at The Thirsty Pig where Matt talks with owner Allison Stevens about her delicious handmade sausages and the Bissell Brothers early days.
In our fifth episode, Matt Delamater heads to Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine, where he meets brewer Evan Culver and helps brew a batch of Allagash White. Then brew master Jason Perkins takes him on a behind the scene tour of Allagash, including a special trip their wild barrel aging room, where he shows Matt how they blend Allagash beers. After that Jason shows me their Coolship, a special building used to add wild yeast to their specialty beers. Then his beer tasting knowledge is put to the test on Allagash’s quality control panel. Next he sits down with the founder of Allagash, Rob Tod, to talk about the early days at the brewery. Then we head to one of Maine’s original craft beer bars, The Great Lost Bear, where Matt talks with bar manager Mike Dickson about their connection with Allagash and their commitment to supporting Maine craft beer.
In our sixth episode, Matt Delamater heads to Oxbow Brewing Company in Newcastle Maine, where he gets a tour of their farm and woodlands from head brewer Mike Fava. He takes us to Oxbow’s annual Goods from the Woods event, where the brewery shares their love for beer with the people who love their beer. Then he helps brew a batch of their flagship beer, Farm House Pale Ale. After that he heads to Oxbow's blending and tasting room in Portland, Maine to learn how they blend their beers. He also sits down with Oxbow owner Tim Adams and Italian brewer Giovanni Compari to talk about two collaboration beers they brewed together. All this and more in this episode of Local Brew!
