Oxbow (2019)

Was really hoping for Loretta next, but this would be my second pick. Great low abv saison.

 

Novare’s tap list this weekend is insane. Might be one of the most impressive lineups I’ve seen...ever.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=id%3D2649877348390959%3Btype%3Dpost%3Buser%3D132847983427254

 

Yeah I saw that too. Thursday’s was insane as well. Anyone know why? Seems pretty crazy of a lineup but they didn’t announce any kind of special event or occasion.

 

It’s Pils & Love weekend in Portland and all these brewers are attending. Brought some non pils beers to add to the fun.

My wife and I decided to walk down and check it out. Place was busy, but not slammed. Everything was still on as of an hour ago when we left.

 

Ah I didn’t think about that, thanks.

 

I played golf yesterday in Rye with a friend from California. I was thiiiiiisclose to convincing him to make an unscheduled beer trip up to Portland after our round, but damn kids and needing to, like, be an active participant in their lives. We conceded defeat on this.

Then I get home and see this tap list at Novare and really kicked myself. I'd have taken the dog house for some Side Project/Suarez/et al.

 

If only it was still the 70s you could have thrown the kids in the back seat, made them sit in the car while you went to the bar, and of course drank the whole way up and back.

What a time to have been alive.

 

Totally. I mean, the audacity of these kids to want to spend the afternoon at the beach as opposed to in the backseat of a Sorento while dad drank farmhouse ales all afternoon. They have iPads ....

 

Should I be the first to ask...anybody know what is up with the clear glass bottle format?? And then the inevitable next questions, are these available in the tasting room; how are they?

 

Clear glass is a nod to wine makers and the fact that a large part of fermentables in this "beer" are grapes. Not such a worry for light struck character. Drink it up

 

Damn, and I could have amplified that skunked up character if I'd just gotten some and set it out in the 95 degree sun this past weekend...!!

All very interesting, will look forward to see where this goes, and makes complete sense...it actually could be fun to drink clear bottle, and then experiment by blasting the next one in the sun for a week or three, but not at $17 a bottle...

Funny thing about the green bottles - I actually used to like the skunk that Heineken used to give off, and never realized that it was past its date or sun blenched or whatever...then when I finally tried a fresh Heineken years later - I loved it even more. To this day, I actually really love drinking fresh Heinekens.

 

They did extensive QC on this checking to see ifthe clear glass affected the taste in any way. I have seen their staff drinking bottles for months now as they thoroughly check how it is affected
Also it is a 750 and they are charging $20 for it. The recipe has slightly changed and it is no longer the concord grape biomb that was initially brewed though it is still a good beer.

 

I think I'm going to make it up to GFtW (finally) this year. In the past, what's the lodging situation like? Am I better off finding a nearby hotel or trekking it down to Portland for the night? It's likely a tricky Uber situation.

The more insight, the better. Maybe plan for having a DD?

Also, I love that this thread gets love for each new beer or fest post. Can we talk a little about the beers in more detail from those who have had them? I'm making a trip to Portland early next week to load up for an annual getaway with friends. I'd love to know what people liked, didn't like, and what's available to go that might not be readily available.

 

Contact the Maine Brew Bus (I think that’s what it’s called). They run one of those beer tour shuttle bus things around to the different Portland area breweries. In the past, they have run a shuttle from Portland up and back to Newcastle for GFtW. I’d bet they’ll be doing it again this year. It isn’t run through Oxbow, so you would need to reach out to the tour bus company directly.

As far as Uber in and around Newcastle and Damariscotta? I wouldn’t count on it, but who knows.

But enjoy the event. My wife and I attend every year. This year will be our 4th (5th? Can’t remember). It’s a great day.

 

Another suggestion is to look on Airbnb in Newcastle/Damariscotta downtown. It’s a cool area. The Damariscotta river runs right through the middle. Shuck Station is there, King Eiders restaurant, and others. It’s only about 10 minutes from Oxbow. There are a couple of Oyster Farms you can go to. Gliddon Point is down the road in Edgecomb. You can BYOB and eat all the oysters you want for $1.50 a pop (I think). Oxbow, Allagash, MBC and Bissell are typically on draft at the local spots (at least they were last year when we were there). We did a great AirBnB last year for $80 a night. Yes, $80! And it was clean, spacious, well-appointed. We’ve already booked the same spot again for this year. It ain’t Portland by any means, but it’s an option.

 

Their to-go bottle list right now is pretty intense, so much to choose from. Native/Wild is a must. One of the better spontaneously fermented beers being made in the US right now. Of their recent releases I’ve really enjoyed the Cuvée Thierez, Abricot, and Uvalore. Older bottles I’d go for the Newcastle Morning(biere de coupage), Cletus and 3 Barrels Deep (if you’re into deeper/complex oud bruins), and Liquid Swords 18 (First liquid swords to include spontaneous beer in blend). Also, if you haven’t tried Luppolo or Saisontino, they’ve become my new summer beers. Super crushable but interesting enough to keep you coming back for more. Have a blast in Portland!

 

If you leave Blending & Bottling without getting a pour of Birrificio Italianio Tipopils you will have missed out.