Mainebiz: Business is Brewing

| Posted in Beer

Mainebiz has published a feature article on Maine’s rapidly expanding brewing industry.

A study released earlier this year by the Maine Brewers’ Guild, the state’s trade group, found that at 2013’s 35 breweries, production was expected to increase by 36% this year and double by 2018, figures that sound a little conservative now, considering this year’s boom.

“Now we’re making up for lost time,” says the Maine Brew Bus tour guide on that fall afternoon, referring to Maine’s Prohibition era, led by “Father of Prohibition” Neal Dow, who must surely be spinning in his grave now.

This Week’s Events: Blind IPA Tasting, Terry Theise, Champagne Tasting, Pocket Brunch Game Dinner

| Posted in Events

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Monday — Allagash is releasing Farm to Face, a pale ale fermented in stainless with pediococcus and lactobacillus added along with 3lbs of peaches per gallon, and Portland Beer Week continues until Friday.

Tuesday — The Thirsty Pig is holding a Blind IPA Tasting; correctly name all 10 and win a $500 prize.

Wednesday — Bill Murray themed beers will be on tap at bars across the city, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.

Thursday — award-winning wine expert Terry Theise will be the special guest at Hugo’s for a 5-course wine dinner, and there will be a beer and cheese tasting at the Public Market House.

Friday — Terry Theise and Rosemont are collaborating on a champagne tasting featuring “special, rare, and never-before-available-in-Maine grower-produced Champagnes”, and Bite into Maine will be featured in an episode of Eat Street at 8pm on the Cooking Channel.

Saturday — Pocket Brunch and Family Feast are working together on a Game Dinner (tickets), and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

Dinner Review of Artemisia Cafe

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed the dinner service at Artemisia Cafe.

You can’t go wrong at this relaxed eatery where evening chef Guy Frenette specializes in classic dishes – many Italian inspired – that are big on flavor and fresh, local ingredients. Groups of up to four will enjoy booths lining the walls of the simple dining room; large parties are seated at central tables. The wait staff is welcoming and responsive and quick to answer questions (agrodolce is an Italian sweet and sour sauce) or accommodate special requests. Go hungry and take a friend so you can try a small appetizer, a shared plate of pasta such as pumpkin ravioli, and seasonal entrees – rich braises like pork osso bucco in fall and winter, lighter fare in warmer months.

The new MST restaurant reviewer is James Schwartz. According to the bio in the paper Schwartz,

Schwartz has covered food, travel and architecture for The Washington Post, Downeast, Coastal Living and Southern Living magazines for more than 30 years. Long a commuter between Portland and Washington, D.C., he retired from his job as vice president at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2013 and relocated to Maine. He lives in Cape Elizabeth and Brooklin.

Under Construction: Studio 55

| Posted in Under Construction

A new night club and music venue called Studio 55 Mixology Show Lounge is under development on Market Street in the location that formerly housed the Big Easy. According to the cover letter supplied with the lounge’s liquor license they plan on serving a creative cocktail program,

“With a wall full of containers of unique products from fresh herbs, dried herbs, flowers, exotic fresh fruits and an amazing mixologist on our side why just get a plain old cocktail these days.

Studio 55 is owned by Joseph Richards and managed by Marcus Verrill who run Styxx as well as restaurants in Sanford (Fresco Mexican Grill) and Ongunquit (Let’s Get Bacon).

Studio 55 plan to open in November.

Portland Beer Week Starts Today

| Posted in Events

pbwToday is the official start of Portland Beer Week. You can find a detailed schedule on the Portland Beer Week website. Here are a few events that look especially interesting:

  • On Saturday Austin Street is releasing their new beer called Grist Mill, an “interpretation of a classic saison. Brewed with a blend of grains, hopped with Sterling and fermented with a blend of saison yeast and brettanomyces, this beer features a rustic malt base complimented by a spicy hop character and earthy brett funk”
  • On Sunday is holding Freshmen Orientation, an event to celebrate the new class of brewers that opened in 2014, and the Maine Brew Bus is leading the 2nd Annual Home Brew Tour.
  • On Monday Oxbow will be at Novare Res for a special bottle tasting of their beer.
  • On Tuesday there will be a blind IPA tasting with a $500 prize for whomever can name all ten correctly.
  • On Wednesday Bill Murray themed beers will be on tap throughout the city. Proceeds will be going to a charity of Bill Murray’s choosing.

Review of Dock Fore

| Posted in Reviews

Drink Up and Get Happy has reviewed Dock Fore.

The day we chose to go to Dock Fore was cloudy and chilly so it was a great choice to cozy up to the bar and enjoy some $1.95 Shipyard Pumpkinheads. The atmosphere inside is that of a neighborhood bar. As a staple of the Portland bar scene it’s a great place to go and get away from the more touristy hot spots.

Under Construction: Ebb & Flow

| Posted in Under Construction

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Maine Today, Urban Eye and Eater Maine have all published photos and background details on Ebb & Flow.

D’Auvray’s partner is Angelo Ciocca, longtime proprietor of Nova Seafood, a Portland-based wholesaler who has supplied D’Auvray’s previous restaurants for years. Most recently, D’Auvray was the chef at Thasos Greek Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A native of Los Angeles, he helmed kitchens in Raleigh, North Carolina, including two of his own — the seafood restaurant Fins and the international street food eatery bu.ku — before moving to Florida. In 2008, Fins was named one of the 10 best seafood restaurants in the country by Bon Appetit. [Maine Today]