Mould's Beer Blog

Thanks to Vin from Bier Battered  for the idea of a "Throwback Thursday" post where we write on our introduction to craft beer and the first microbrews we remember drinking.  Enjoy, and feel free to share your story! If there is one thing beer nerds like to do, its to recount their craft beer origins.  Swapping stories about their first Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, or their first Anchor Steam, or perhaps their first Pete's Wicked Ale.  For me, it wasn't any of these.  Rather, I found my way into craft beers in Maine, and the first craft beers I discovered were from Atlantic Brewing , Bar Harbor Brewing , Shipyard and Maine Coast Brewing . It was on vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine where I happened upon these beers, probably around 2004. In this bustling tourist town, with lobsters and clam chowder aplenty, Maine beer was sold everywhere.  And more important, it was good!  Much better than the standard light lager I was used to drinking. Atlantic Brewing Co. You kn

This is a post in a long running series where I take a look into each category of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP).  Scroll to the bottom for links to other categories I have covered. The BJCP divides stouts into 6 sub-categories: Dry Stout (13A) Sweet Stout (13B) Oatmeal Stout (13C) Foreign Extra Stout (13D) American Stout (13E) Russian Imperial Stout (13F) It should be fairly simple to pick out a dry stout and Russian imperial stout in a tasting, but it may not be so easy for the other 4 sub-categories of stout.  Just take a look at what the BJCP gives as to what their "overall impression" is for each of these styles.  Dry Stout:   "A very dark, roasty, bitter, creamy ale." Sweet Stout:   "A very dark, sweet, full bodied, slightly roasty ale.  Often tastes like sweetened espresso." Oatmeal Stout:   "A very dark, full bodied, roasty, malty ale with a complementary oatmeal flavor." Foreign Extra Stout:   "A very da

Visiting Atlantic Brewing Company during our visit to Bar Harbor, Maine was a must-do.  We chose a day that was supposed to have a higher chance of rain, just because there is so many outdoor things to do in the Bar Harbor area.  A few miles driving down Rte 3 from our hotel and we were there... We parked in the gravel lot behind the small building that holds the brewery.  The grounds of Atlantic Brewing Company are pretty awesome.  In the picture to the left, you can see the gift shop, which is actually where they hold the beer tastings after the brewery tour.  They also sell all of their bottled beers there, and other swag like pint glasses, shirts, stickers, and mustard made with their beer. We met our tour guide in the gift shop, and walked outside to the second building, which housed the brewery.  Check out the pictures we took below! Atlantic Brewing Company makes several year-round brews, as well as seasonal and specialties.  Their year-r