Marshall Wharf closes?

Interesting:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/bangor...deal-that-could-reopen-three-tides-by-spring/

 

Potentially great news -- love that spot. Sounds like a shitload of work to be done though...

 

Good luck to the new owners. A few years ago, we spent a week in Belfast at Front Street Shipyard and visited often. My wife says they better have the hard boiled eggs on the bar like they used to.

 

That is no joke to get the building above the floodplain. I wonder the ease of jacking up the building like they plan on, rather than demolishing the first floor and reinforcing the existing columns, then expanding outward for an expanded second story. I've never been and maybe the brewing equipment needs the full 2 stories, but man that building must be delicate at its age and subjected to salt water from time to time. It could fall apart while jacking it up if they're not careful.

 

Historic structures are jacked up and moved all the time. Paying for it is the bigger issue.

 

Apparently just reopened under the new ownership
https://bangordailynews.com/2020/08...terfront-brewery-reopens-under-new-ownership/

In other ME brewery news it appears Brewery Extrava in Portland is for sale
https://www.bizbuysell.com/Business-Opportunity/Turnkey-Brewery-in-Portland-Maine/1780193/

 

That was quick, yeesh.

 

Yikes, the August/Sept Yankee Brew News features Extrava.

 

The place just opened like a year ago...the listing says the reason for sale is owners with “diverging” interests or something like that.

 

I was wondering exactly what that meant when I read it. Are the interests diverging between them or are their collective interests diverging away from a brewery? Did they realize that creating a non IPA based brewery is harder than they thought? I wish I had $750K and knew how to brew beer

 

Im a strong proponent of companies that want to exist outside of the norm and create (or fill) a niche, but Portland with Allagash and Oxbow already scratching this Belgian/Farmhouse niche? That’s a tough sell.

It’s too bad. I actually have wanted to check them out.

 

They make a dark Saison which might be right up your alley

 

I was able to try their Saison and Quad. Both tasty but nothing mind-blowing. I wasn't a fan of their branding or that they canned everything they made. I love that Oxbow and Allagash started canning options that would have previously been draft only, but there's still something very romantic and special about pouring a belgian/wild beer from a bottle. Cans almost cheapen the experience?

Not to derail the thread but what are your thoughts on cans vs. bottled belgians?

 

I’m indifferent on generic farmhouse/saison/grisette in a can v bottle. A beer like Grizzaca or the beautiful saison I had from Amory’s Tomb last weekend didn’t suffer at all from the packaging choice.

That said, I love the bigger bottle format (whether 500mL or 750) for barrel aged or mixed ferm stuff. Presentation is a nice part of the deal.

As far as I know, too, the style of glassware matters for refermentation as well. Having clear bottles and green bottles make tangible differences that (for obvious reasons) cans cannot make.

 

Marshal Wharf posted on Instagram. Five beers currently pouring. Good for them. One of the best places to hang out and have a pint or two (or more). It's great to see them open again.

 

In general I agree with @mrmattosgood that packaging doesn't matter. I do prefer quads in bottles but that's more because I think cans don't age as well. There is also something about having a beer from a bottle with a cage and cork. If I'm buying a big beer and its a bit more expensive its a better overall experience. Does it add anything? No but if you drop $15-20+ on a nice quad the little touches matter. It's more romantic and special as you say.

Allagash White is a great example of cans vs bottles, I had some cans of White recently that were a good 6-8 months old. They were fantastic and just as good as any bottle I've had. Comparatively when I had Mystic Table beer in bottle vs in can I felt they were different. The bottles were bottle conditioned but I'm not sure if the cans were. Regardless, like anything, the bottling vs canning really comes down to the quality of the brewery. Allagash is able to do their canning with the same level of quality as their bottling, including from a conditioning standpoint. Either Mystic did not can condition or if they did it didn't have the same quality that Allagash is able to reach, IMHO. There's also the argument of whether can/bottle conditioning is better, personally I think it does add something. I'd be interested to know if Amory's Tomb's beers are can conditioned, my guess is yes because Satellite Architect had quite the head.

The other side as mymattosgood mentions is that bottles have the ability to intentionally add light through green or clear bottles. Generally this is a bad thing except in a few styles such as Saisons where it can be beneficial or at least different in a good way. Mystic played around with that quite a bit with Saison Renaud bottle releases as well as their can release of Saison Dutronc. Dutronc was Renaud which was light struck prior to canning. Dutronc had a controlled amount of light whereas the bottles don't which in itself is pretty interesting. I'd love to see breweries play around a bit more with Saison's and light as Mystic did, Bryan Greenhagen wrote a bit about it here on Beer Advocate a few years back.

 

Love the blossoming bromance @mrmattosgood and @matthewp - who spoons who?

 

I can make myself pretty small

 

I thought @mrmattosgood was my guy! I should have paid closer attention. The warning signs were there.