Catching A Game At Hadlock Field Just Got A Little Better.

A day spent at the ballpark isn't always about hits, runs, and errors. For many folks who love to follow the Portland Sea Dogs up close, there's much more to it. There's the smell of the grass, that satisfying "pop" of the ball captured in a leather mitt, and of course the crack of the bat, (especially during batting practice when the boys get to show off a bit.) Some might also include the unique taste of a ballpark frank chased by an ice cold beer.

Let's face it. Having a cold one at the ballgame is as much a tradition as the seventh inning stretch. We're particularly fortunate that Hadlock, (unlike many big league parks), offers more than just the usual humongous brands. With a tip of the cap to Maine's craft brewing industry, there's always been a fabulous selection of local brews to chase that dog, and the choices just got better.

Introduced this season at the local ballyard, Shipyard Brewing Company's new Wheat Ale and Sea Dog Brewing Company's Blueberry Wheat Ale, Blue Paw! These selections are being added to an already impressive menu that includes Shipyard Export, Summer, and Chamberlain Ales to name a few. So, buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks, and while you're at it...

Summer Kickoff With Shipyard At The Pier On Old Orchard Beach.

Get in the summertime groove with live music by Sli Chi and DJ Yo Adrien mixing it up on The Pier at Old Orchard!

It all happens on June, 23rd from 6:00pm - Midnight.

There will be munchies, and specials on all your favorite varieties of Shipyard Ale. Also available Sea Dog Blueberry and Virgin Islands Tropical Mango hand crafted locally by Shipyard for St. John Brewers.

Come on down and party on the water, (literally) and kick your summer off right.

July 4: The brewers are coming, the brewers are coming...to England...

This Fourth of July, Shipyard Brewing Company’s master brewer Alan Pugsley will bring a bit of Maine back to his home country of England. Starting July 4th, Marston’s Beer Company will feature Shipyard Independence Ale as a special collaborative guest beer at more than 500 of its English pubs.

Shipyard Independence Ale is a blonde best bitter with a good hop bite and 4.2% alcohol by volume.

On June 15th, Pugsley will travel to Marston’s Brewery in Wolverhampton, England to brew Shipyard Independence Pale Ale. As the fireworks are being lit in the United States on July 4th, more than 250 UK barrels (300 US barrels) of Independence Pale Ale will be simultaneously tapped on cask at over 500 Marston’s pubs.

Stateside, the brewers at Kennebunkport Brewing Company will brew the same beer to be served during the month of July exclusively at Federal Jack’s Restaurant and Brew Pub in Kennebunk where Shipyard first began.

The idea for this collaborate beer stemmed out of Shipyard Brewing Company’s relationship with Marston’s. Pugsley, who is originally from Hampshire, England, moved to Maine in 1986 after working with Peter Austin at the world-famous Ringwood Brewery. Marston’s Beer Company now owns Ringwood and the brewery’s Old Thumper Extra Special Ale is brewed in the United States solely by Shipyard.

Shipyard Brewing Company was established in 1994 and is located on the historic waterfront in Portland, Maine. Shipyard produces 15 varieties of award-winning English style and seasonal beers. Its products are distributed in over 35 states.

Capt'n Eli Soda: Love at first Fizz!

The writer at the blog AMARANTHIAN has found a "new friend" in Capt'n Eli's Soda. She did a great write up about the soda line produced by Shipyard Brewing Company and the comic book series created by Jay Piscopo!

Check it out HERE!

East Coast meets West Coast

Hamilton’s Tavern and Shipyard Brewing Company are teaming up once again to bring a taste of Maine out to San Diego, California! On Friday May 28, Hamilton’s Tavern is hosting a Maine Lobster Bake, California Style. The lobsters will be halved, soaked in champagne, then smothered in garlic butter and grilled Baja Style.

As a special treat people will be able to try for the first time the beer Hamilton’s Tavern specially developed with Shipyard Brewing, Hamilton’s Smooth Ale. Dennis Borlek, general manager of Hamilton’s, travelled to Kennebunk to brew the ale along side the brewers from Shipyard.

The event starts at 4:00 PM, but if you were there last year you know to get there early! The line wrapped around the block and the lobster will be given out on a first come first serve basis. Shipyard owner Fred Forsley as well as Shipyard’s California representative Jeff Gray will be in attendance.

Hamilton’s Smooth Ale is a traditional “nitrogenated” English Ale using Amarillo Hops to give it a West Coast hops characteristic.

Along with the Hamilton’s Smooth Ale, there will be 11 other varieties of Shipyard Ale to help quench your thirst while enjoying the lobster.

Check out the photos from last year’s event here.

Hamilton's Tavern is located at 1521 30th St. in San Diego, CA.

Shipyard beers include:

Hamilton’s Smooth Ale
Pugsley’s Signature Series Barley Wine
Prelude Winter Ale
Brewer’s Brown Ale
Summer Ale
Pugsley’s Signature Series Imperial Porter
Pugsley’s Signature Series XXXX IPA
Fuggles IPA
Export Ale
Old Thumper
Bluefin Stout
Pugsley’s Signature Series Smashed Pumpkin

St. John Brewers comes to Maine and New Hampshire

Picture two college grads working odd jobs so they could continue living the dream on the tropical island of St. John. One problem: the local beer was getting old and the boys had a desire for fresh brew.

Thus began the story of St. John Brewers and ultimately their relationship with Shipyard Brewing Company's master brewer Alan Pugsley. Alan saw something he liked in these two entrepreneurs, (namely Chirag Vayas from Rhode Island and his classmate at the University of Vermont, Kevin Chipman). Not long afterwards a new brew was born. Today, Shipyard is the exclusive brewer and bottler of Virgin Island Pale Ale and Island Hoppin' IPA. Please click on the St. John Brewers link above to read the whole story. It's a good one....

Which brings us to June 2010, when their tropical brews become available in Maine and New Hampshire for the first time.

You won't want to miss these release parties at some of your favorite beer bars. The two varieties that will be showcased for your pleasure are as follows:

Tropical Mango Pale Ale, (the company's flagship beer is a light pale ale with tropical fruit essence) and Island Hoppin' IPA, (copper in color with a citrus hop aroma and dry finish), both will be available at the following locations.

In New Hampshire

Tuesday June 1st, 5-7pm Strange Brew Tavern 88 Market St. Manchester, NH

In Greater Portland, Maine

Wednesday June 2nd, 5-8pm Jimmy The Greeks 215 Saco Ave., Old Orchard Beach

Thursday June 3rd, 5-9pm Great Lost Bear 540 Forest Ave., Portland

Friday June 4th, 5-8pm Three Dollar Deweys 241 Commercial St., Portland

This just in, The owners, (Chirag & Kevin) will be in attendance at all the above mentioned events!!!

Shipyard Wheat Ale Release Party; RiRa in Portland, Maine

Last night, Shipyard Brewing Company released its new Shipyard Wheat Ale at RiRa in Portland, Maine.

Check out photos at this link.

Party goers were the first to taste this crisp, refreshing, American wheat ale and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. People were drawn to the iconic mermaid illustration on the packaging and loved the taste of the beer.

Immediately upon opening the bottle you smell the hop characteristics, which is a little unexpected in a wheat beer and is one of the qualities that sets this beer apart.

This filtered wheat beer has 4.5% alcohol by volume and is made with 60% Malted Wheat and 30% Pale Ale Malt. There are touches of Light Munich and Caramunich Malts and a hint of Crystal Malt.

This beer is subtly hopped with Glacier and Hallertau Hops and an exciting new aroma hop called 04-188. Grown in the Pacific Northwest, this experimental hop is a hybrid of Cascade and Fuggles and is also used in dry hopping to give this beer a pleasing, earthy aroma.

Read the full press release at this link.

Cheers!

Shipyard's Wheat Ale Release Party Is Thursday May,13th At Ri Ra.

Shipyard's world class brewers have done it again. Their latest creation, Shipyard Wheat Ale is a crisp and refreshing American style wheat Ale with a soft golden color and pleasing earthy aroma. In a word, fantastic!

Why not come out and join us as we welcome "The Wheat" to our family of handcrafted ales?

The party starts at 6:00pm.

RiRa is located at 72 Commercial street

in Portland.

Be sure to tell your friends, and we'll see you there...

A "Run" On Shipyard & Sea Dog Ales in San Diego, CA.

The City Beat Festival of Beer, is one of the largest festivals of its kind on the west coast. Held each spring in San Diego, CA., and featuring live music, international foods, and of course, you can't have a beer festival without beer. This May 1st event showcased over 3000 of them!

Thousands attend and this year the folks were given a chance to sample some fine ales from "downeast".

Our west coast reps are proud to report that in their section, so popular were they, " We were one of the first to run out". Little wonder for they were pouring some heavyweights, XXXX IPA, IMPERIAL PORTER, and

SEA DOG BLUEBERRY, to be exact. Check out the City Beat link above for a slide show of the day's activities.

Beer America TV review of XXXX IPA

The guys over at Beer America TV have a great video review of the Pugsley's Signature Series XXXX IPA from Shipyard Brewing Company. Check it out below or HERE:

XXXX IPA is a non-traditional American IPA with a brilliant copper color and the classic citrus nose of Cascade Hops. This beer demonstrates a unique balance of malt-inspired, delicate red grapefruit sweetness and lingering hop dryness. In 2009, XXXX IPA won Silver Awards at the United States Open Beer Championships and Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival. This beer pairs well with Cajun dishes, blackened fish, and BBQ.

Summer on Katahdin

A Shipyard Summer Ale fan sent this photos into us last week. Two bottles of Shipyard Summer Ale with Mount Katahdin in the background...is there anything more picturesque?