Some would say that the craft beer brewing industry on the East Coast found it’s birth in Portland with the likes of Geary’s and Shipyard setting up shop in the Old Port over 30 years ago. With well over 50 microbreweries across the state and what seems like a new brewery opening every day, the craft beer industry isn’t just surviving, it is thriving in the Pine Tree State. When it comes to reporting on the latest trends and new brews across the Maine craft beer scene there is only one woman who knows it best. Of course we are talking about “The Beer Babe” herself, the lovely Carla Companion, who writes for TheBeerBabe.com as well as Maine Today and has been reporting on craft beers since 2007.
FTS: What does it take to become a “beer babe” and do you feel your title may be threatened by any up-and-coming hipster ladies?
FTS: In your professional opinion, where does Maine’s craft beer scene rank compared to other states in the country?
CC: To me, Maine represents a really good microcosm of what’s happening across the country in craft beer. We have some of the longest-running craft breweries – Gritty McDuff’s, Geary’s and Shipyard – who have been brewing for over 20, nearly 30 years each – finding success right along-side the middle generation that popped up in the early 2000s and the newest surge of the last 2-3 years. I think that the long history of craft beer in the state has primed the consumers to demand and seek good beer. Other states are lagging a little bit behind us in consumer education because they’ve been dominated by some of the larger non-craft breweries and there’s been little demand for change. I also think that cities like Portland, Kittery and Bangor have also recognized the positive economic impacts of the beer industry, and have been very friendly to beer ventures. Restaurants, too, are very open to working with breweries and finding new ways to bring food and beer together.
FTS: Even with Portland as the epicenter of craft beers in Maine, you are starting to see breweries upon in other areas like SoMe Brewing in York and Todd Mott’s Tributary Brewing in Kittery later this spring. Is there a new non-Portland brewer you would recommend our followers check out?
FTS: Last question that we ask to all of our guests, what are you currently filling your stein with Tonight?
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