Portland, ME Guide

[Brez071]

I need more oxbow in my life, why oh why does it have to be 4 hours away

Soon to be 3 and 13 hours, respectively!

 

[tehzachatak]

Soon to be 3 and 13 hours, respectively!

Amen! That extra hour getting cut off the round trip is going to be niiiiiiiiiiice although I will miss going to Newcastle as often...

 

[Skittle34]

I do like the sounds of that! I'm hoping my schedule in the next couple months opens up. I'd love to make another weekend trip up to Portland

 

[drummermattie021]

Thinking of driving up to Portland tomorrow morning to check out the scene, if anyone is interested in meeting up for a beer... somewhere? Let me know. I don't really have any concrete plans, so suggestions are welcome.

 

[sparged]

Sounds like Oxbow Blending and Bottling opens up to the public tomorrow. Anyone know what Continental is? Saw it was on tap there last night for the soft open.

 

[sparged]

Nevermind, found out Continental is a 5% table beer.

Open now. Not sure what bottles are there. Arboreal sell out?

 

[tehzachatak]

5% table beer? Sounds great. Oxbow kills that kinda stuff. There were photos from tuesday with bottles of arboreal in them, but i don't know if it's actually for sale.

Curious to see how well stocked they can keep the Portland location with bottles..

 

[tehzachatak]

Oh man, Portland open Sundays too? This is going to turn into like a weekly Sunday run for me...

 

[JBP]

First official customer in the new space

Arboreal, Oxtober, Griseta bottles available 2pp.

Space is beautiful!

 

[JBP]

Farm to Face hit retail today too, much more limited quantities sent out than Nancy so don't sleep if you see it!

 

[tehzachatak]

Farm to Face hit retail today too, much more limited quantities sent out than Nancy so don't sleep if you see it!

Damn, really? I was told they made the same amount. Did they save more for retail? Or was I wrong?

 

[JBP]

Damn, really? I was told they made the same amount. Did they save more for retail? Or was I wrong?

Not sure on the reasoning but seems like places around here are getting 1 or maybe 2 cases (of 6) tops. Still at tasting room as well.

 

[JBP]

Damn, really? I was told they made the same amount. Did they save more for retail? Or was I wrong?

Hmm, well Bier Cellar has a 3-bottle limit so either I was wrong or they just got all of it haha. Either way this one is a must-buy.

 

[tehzachatak]

Nevermind, found out Continental is a 5% table beer.

Open now. Not sure what bottles are there. Arboreal sell out?

http://maine.eater.com/2014/11/7/71...r-blending-bottling-tim-adams-quotes-portland

One is called Continental. That's a 5% ABV blond ale that's brewed with entirely European hops. The sister to that beer is called the Domestic, which is basically the exact same beer but with all American hops. We're providing people with those two options and we're also hoping to bring some education into what the difference is between American and European hops. A lot of people don't know, but in my opinion that should be a piece of beer knowledge people have. It's one of the biggest differentiators in terms of flavor profiles.

We're going to have the Continental and the Domestic as our house beers down here

Sounds cool!

 

[Skittle34]

Is Oxbow brewing at their Portland spot, or is it just a tasting room?

 

[tehzachatak]

Is Oxbow brewing at their Portland spot, or is it just a tasting room?

Blending and bottling. And barrel aging. Don't know if there are any non-oak fermentation vessels there. All wort still being brewed in Newcastle as far as I understand it.

 

[JBP]

Arboreal bottles to-go sold out at the Portland spot.

 

[JBP]

Boda Thai has pours of ORVW10 for $12. Just one bottle there.

 

[tehzachatak]

Arboreal bottles to-go sold out at the Portland spot.

Boo hiss

 

[Brez071]

Boda Thai has pours of ORVW10 for $12. Just one bottle there.

Well I guess I know where I'm going after work. Thanks!

 

[JBP]

Next Dinner release is 12/6.

A Saturday.

Morning.

Uuuuuggggggggghhhhhh.

 

[mixylplik4]

Oh boy, let me get my camping chairs!

 

[JBP]

Glad Maine Beer Co finally figured out that they shouldn't be doing samples, draught pours, and flights at the same time as releasing bottles to 300+ people in a 30'x30' tasting room. This release it will be strictly buy your bottles and head out. Hopefully won't take 2 hours to move 100 yards in line this time...

 

[apatrick17]

This thread is great. My wife and I will be visiting Portland for a couple days right after Christmas and neither of us have ever been to Portland. Skimmed over most of this thread and will definitely be referring back to it.

 

[tehzachatak]

See anyone at Oxbow Blending Friday night? Think I will be driving up after work to get some of that sweet nectar... Wonder how crazy this is going to be given that it's the first real "thing" at the new space, right?

 

[JBP]

See anyone at Oxbow Blending Friday night? Think I will be driving up after work to get some of that sweet nectar... Wonder how crazy this is going to be given that it's the first real "thing" at the new space, right?

I'll prob swing by at lunch to grab bottles specifically to avoid a crowd, not sure if I'll be back that night since I am being an idiot and planning to get up early for Dinner. I don't imagine it would be too crazy based simply on their location. Kind of off the path for the First Friday Art Walk crowd. I haven't been on a Fri or Sat night at all yet though, so can't really say. The Infinite Darkness Black Friday event was crowded (all tables full) but not crazy.

I personally kind of like how the location seems to keep it from turning into another over-crowded downtown spot. Novare on a Fri/Sat I can't even...

 

[jwazzy]

I'll be swinging up tomorrow. I'm hoping the Alchemist truck sale and Fiddlehead Second Fiddle released take some of the sting out of the Dinner release. Not serving samplers and pints should help too. Probably going to hit up Bissell and Allagash afterwards. Should be fun.

 

[tehzachatak]

Small part of Team Boston banged out Portland yesterday. I love the Oxbow space. Also enjoyed the maple syrup brown ale at Rising Tide more than I expected. Had a truly, truly terrible Infinit'i "sour" at Novare ("The Killing") - although it looked beautiful. Did not particularly like the new Bissell Bros beer either, although Munjoi was pretty good!

And had some at least interesting beers at Hidden Cove on the way home - nothing was really great, but a lot of interesting concepts. Not sure that I think they're definitely going to go great places, but there is some potential, at least!

 

[jwazzy]

Small part of Team Boston banged out Portland yesterday. I love the Oxbow space. Also enjoyed the maple syrup brown ale at Rising Tide more than I expected. Had a truly, truly terrible Infinit'i "sour" at Novare ("The Killing") - although it looked beautiful. Did not particularly like the new Bissell Bros beer either, although Munjoi was pretty good!

And had some at least interesting beers at Hidden Cove on the way home - nothing was really great, but a lot of interesting concepts. Not sure that I think they're definitely going to go great places, but there is some potential, at least!

I also had "The Killing" and didn't find it to be any good. Wasn't big on Bissell Angels with Filthy souls either despite having an awesome name. The substance and Munjoi were nice though. I also stopped by Allagash, Austin Street (Nice pale ale and milk stout, and bought the wild saison), and Foundation (nice lineup of pretty good beers). All worth the visit if in the area.

Dinner release seemed to go off without any issues other than there being way more people than beer. This batch is awesome. Great time can't wait to head back. Got my hands on the Alchemist beers for some dinner as well. Good weekend overall.

 

[tehzachatak]

I also had "The Killing" and didn't find it to be any good. Wasn't big on Bissell Angels with Filthy souls either despite having an awesome name. The substance and Munjoi were nice though. I also stopped by Allagash, Austin Street (Nice pale ale and milk stout, and bought the wild saison), and Foundation (nice lineup of pretty good beers). All worth the visit if in the area.

Dinner release seemed to go off without any issues other than there being way more people than beer. This batch is awesome. Great time can't wait to head back. Got my hands on the Alchemist beers for some dinner as well. Good weekend overall.

That Austin St. pale is pretty good. I had it really really fresh the first time I had it (Jake said it was like 15 minutes after he had kegged it) and I thought it was one of the best pale ales I've ever had, up there with HF stuff, but I have realized that it seemed to be a totally freshness driven thing. The past couple of times I've had it it's been quite good but nothing like that first time.