Wowza, scorching hot last week and summer thunder this week… just perfect for all of Maine’s great summer ales! Which is your favorite? I'm partial to cask-conditioned ales, so it was a summertime treat to have a fresh Gritty's Vacationland Ale from the cask at the bar in Portland last week. The Gritty's team is also hard at work to make this weekend’s Up North Music and Art Festival a raging success… beer, oysters, camping, music… book your ticket now!
Summertime is lobster time, so I've recently snagged a couple of Belfast Bay’s Lobster Ales. Imagine my surprise when I found Lobster Ale in Exeter, New Hampshire, on draft at the Tavern at River’s Edge! Pat Mullen and his team from Lincolnville are doing a great job of brewing and of marketing, as their distinctive lobster claw tap was looking right at home between the Newcastle and Bass taps. Pat reports fast sales for kegs of Lobster Ale in Maine and in more and more other states.

Beer geeks and fans of the Maine brewing industry should check out the updates on our website about the Friday Night Dinner With the Brewers event at Portland’s Clarion Hotel, featuring a great discussion between expert brewmasters from Allagash, Shipyard, Atlantic, and Gritty's. Live music, a dinner menu chosen by the brewers, a brewer at each table, a cool mug, and Beer Wisdom will all be yours if you Learn Your Beer at this great first-time ever event… buy your tickets now, or upgrade to include this event if you already bought the traditional Festival-only Saturday ticket!

Hot weather makes for hot ticket sales, and we’re off to a roaring start! We’re only selling tickets and tee shirts from this website right now, and we’ve already sold more than normal for midsummer. For the hundreds of you who already guaranteed your fun, we say “Thanks, and cheers!” If you or your friends have not ordered yet, buy your tickets now, or go to Gritty's or RSVP starting Friday, August 15th.