I have a friend visiting Maine and New Hampshire for work. He wants to bring me some beer. What suggestions do you have for what is available there that I cant get in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky?
A couple we get in Mass that you may not get out there are Peak Organic and Baxter, both from Maine. We just recently started getting Baxter and I had their Pamola Extra Pale Ale and liked it. I like every Peak Organic I have tried. Spencer Abbey Ale might be available there, I know their recent holiday offering is Mass only. Also, the Maine Brewing Co. makes some nice beers, mostly pricey.
BTW MA= Massachusetts, Maine = ME
Driving or flying?
In NH, Stoneface (Newington), Earth Eagle (Portsmouth), Deciduous (Newmarket), Kelsen’s (Derry)
In Maine, Tributary(Kittery), Bissell Brothers & Foundation (Portland - across the street from allagash), Maine Beer (Freeport - think LL Bean), Marshall Wharf (Belfast but found in a lot of stores).
He did say MA, now that I double checked it, so Massachusetts and New Hampshire, thanks Pete. I never mail anything to either, so I learned something today(that I probably new in grade school, but have long since forgotten)
Also, thanks for the tips
I believe he will be driving for work, thanks for the suggestions. I am passing all of them on to him
If he’s driving through CT, New England Brewing just release Imperial Stout Trooper and G-Bot (formerly Ghandi-bot) on Monday to several counties. There’s also Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine around too…excellent beer! In CT though, you need to ask the stores if they have it and it will be limited (4-pack of SOS, and 1 or 2 cans of G-Bot/IST). Unfortunately, some store owners only save this stuff for their regular costumers (a dick move if you ask me).
Not sure what you can get out your way, but Smuttynose and Moonlight Meadery from NH come to mind. If you can’t get them out your way, I’d definitely search them out.
If he’s going to Boston see if he can score anything from Trillium (Not sure if they sell in stores, I have only had some bought directly from brewery by someone else), also Element, a small brewery in Western Mass that sells statewide. I particularly like Dark Element and Red Giant. And if in Mass he should definitely be able to get Spencer Abbey including their holiday ale (a DBSA). I also like a pilsner (can’t think of it) from 2 Roads in CT. Jack’s Abby in Framingham MA makes all lagers and I like their “Smoke and Dagger”.
Ol’factory Pils from 2 roads, maybe? It’s a dry-hopped pilsner in the style of Pivo Pils from FW, good stuff.
Thanks everyone! I think I have now overloaded him with your great suggestions. I will be seeing him next week and I will let you all know what he found for me/us to try out. Later I will post thoughts on whatever he managed to bring. thanks again
Yep, that’s it Eric.
That Two Roads brewery is impressive…and they have good food trucks outside.
So far, so good. I guess he is there now and will be here next week hit the spoils of his travels. He says he has already picked up an ale from Spencer Abbey, something from Peak Organic, Baxter IPA, and Stoneface pale ale
If it is not too late, then in addition to the brands already mentioned I’d recommend Gritty McDuffs–from Portland, Maine, but available in many places–and, in Western Massachusetts, Berkshire Brewing Company. I’ve never had a disappointing beer from either brewery.
Berkshire has been around so long and is so ubiquitous that I forgot about them. I still see their holiday beer around and I thought it was great. While all their beers are solid I feel they do an especially good job with the draymans porter and coffeehouse porter.
Sorry if I’m repeating anyone here, didn’t see these listed at a glance:
Jack’s Abby Lagers are all amazing
Cambridge Brewing Company
Nightshift
Thanks jtoots, added to the wish list, as well as Berkshire. Thanks alefarmer and Pete again
Just got another text from him. He spent $100 @ Hill Farmstead on 5 growlers of goodness for next Monday or Tuesday night. Can’t wait! Next morning may be a late day into work, maybe we will get lucky with another no snow snow day! Local school district out here in the hills cancelled school Monday and Tuesday due to cold weather and roads too poorly cleared for the busses to operate and a 2 hour delay this morning. Don’t think we ever had snow days with no snow when I was in school; and what the @$!# is a 2 hour delay? Getting soft or I am just getting older and less tolerant?
Getting soft. Definitely.
OK, so here’s a couple pics of his finds, can’t wait to get into these!