7/26/2018 Boothbay Craft Brewery, 301 Adams Pond Road, Boothbay, ME 04537 phone: #207-633-3411   website: BoothbayCraftBrewery.com
Hours: OPEN 9am-4pm Tuesday - Saturday | CLOSED Sunday

Experience before you go . . .

Well our Maine vacation was well on its way with a couple Light Houses, the Maine Botanical Gardens, butter with a couple lobsters and of course we had the Boothbay Craft Brewery on the radar but hadn't figured out when, and then we drove right by it....did someone say beer?

Very nice setting, stand alone building with ample parking and a country, artsy type of feel to it that's very welcoming. Outside sign selfie and once again we didn't break the camera and we head for the door. Once inside I immediately smell the malts and fermentation that I've grown accustom to and in front of us was a family with a 12 year old boy, plugging his nose and asking his mom "What's that smell", she answered "Beer", and the boy said "How can you drink that, it stinks"! And I'm thinking "Wait until you go to college son, it won't stink then"! We walk straight through, pass some tables as if it's a restaurant but it looks like they're not serving any food, and back on the right is the bar. All the bar stools are taken but there's a small table to the left and Kat and I get comfortable. Sharon the bartender greets us and I hand her a card with a short HBT intro and you guessed it....Bing, Bang, Boom the Hoppin' Brewery Tour strikes again.

"If you can find the entrance to the speakeasy I'll make sure you get a tour" Sharon tells me as she's pouring our Boothbay flight of the 5 brews they have on tap. Well I found the entrance and it's a secret not passed on lightly but only experienced in person upon your visit. I could tell by looking at all the custom woodwork, attention to detail and surprises around every corner that this place has been a labor of love for someone. In walks Win, the owner and boy has it been a journey. Win started home brewing many years ago which is not uncommon for many of these craft breweries. But Win and his wife Laurie started out low and slow by not over extending and building the business based on demand, not the build it and they will come method you find so often today with start ups. Win being a talented carpenter built most of the bar/restaurant and speak easy by himself and as far as the production area I believe he built that as well. It's an American success story built on blood, sweat and tears and it's fabulous when you stumble upon one and you meet the passion behind it.

Sharon slides over the flight just as two bar stools open up at the end of the bar. First up we have Engine No. 2 - German Style Pils (4.9%, 27 IBU) clean, light body brewed with German malts and Tettnaug hops for a floral spicy nose....refreshing. Next we're sipping 10 LEWIS -Sèssion IPA (5.0%, 35 IBU) very low alcohol % because of the 2 row barley and red wheat, along with Citra and Falconers Flight hops gives this a wonderful aroma and drinkability. Followed by Ken Brown - Ale ( 5.6%, 28 IBU) dark, balanced with a rich malt backbone. Up next is the 633 Boothbay Pale Ale (6.33%, 32 IBU) signature pale ale with ABV equal to the Boothbay telephone exchange. Bringing up the rear we have Dexter Rippa - Red IPA (6.8%, 63 IBU) named after the wood handled fishing knife in all commercial fishing vessels around these parts, this IPA hits home with the hoppy!

Kat and I had a fabulous time at Boothbay Craft Brewery! Great beer, great people and who knows maybe you'll find that secret passage!

Until next time and remember.........

Go get'cha one!!