Beer Made of Ingredients Entirely from Aroostook County
Gives #drinklocal a New Meaning
BREWER, ME Blank Canvas Brewery has collaborated with John White, Jr., of Blackfly Brewfest to create “Taste of the County”, a beer brewed with all ingredients (the malt, hops, yeast, potatoes, and even water) harvested from Aroostook County, ME.
This idea for “Taste of the County” came from a conversation between John White, Jr and Stephen Genthner. “I was first talking with Stephen and asked him if he had used potatoes in any of his brewing before. I wanted to add some local flavor to our collaboration,” said John White, Jr.
“We love using Maine produced and grown ingredients in our beer,” said Stephen Genthner, Owner and Head Brewer of Blank Canvas Brewery, “All of our hops come from Maine, as well as all of our base grain for all of our beers. We want to support those that have supported us. This beer is for everyone farming and growing in Maine, without them, none of this would be possible. “
John White, Jr. went on to say, “I thought [the beer] was an amazing idea and possibly historic, as I don’t know that it has been done before.”
The malt used was from Maine Malt House, in Mapleton ME, the hops were from Aroostook Hops, in Westfield ME and The Hop Yard, in Fort Fairfield ME, and the flaked oats from Aurora Mills. Mainiacal Brewing Co. and Yeast Lab did a wild yeast capture at last year’s Blackfly Brewfest that they cultured and was used in this beer. The potatoes used were from Nature’s Circle Farm, in New Limerick ME, to add a nice dry finish to the beer. And for the water, John White, Jr., brought down 30 gallons of water from Houlton ME for this limited release 15.5 gallon batch.
Taste of the County will be released at Blackfly Brewfest in Houlton ME on May 19,and at Blank Canvas Brewery in Brewer ME on May 17 (tap house hours Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 4-9PM), and at The Great Lost Bear in Portland ME.
Blank Canvas Brewery 