Maine Brewers Pay Tribute to Irish Stout with "Sláinte"

Choose to celebrate St. Patrick's Day locally.

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, you can opt for the locally brewed Lone Pine's Irish Stout, Liquid Riot's Irish Goodbye, or Foundations Mahaffey's Finest. Check out the photo captured by Caitlin Enz.

In case you're tired of consuming Guinness during St. Patrick's Day, there's great news for you. A few breweries in Maine produce their own rendition of Irish stouts, and one of them is even debuting this year.

Portland and Gorham's Lone Pine Brewing Co. recently launched their take on the traditional Irish Stout. This beer, simply named Irish Stout, has a higher alcohol content of 5.1% compared to the average range of stouts that usually measure between 4-4.5%. Additionally, it has a noticeable bitterness that I take note of when sampling stouts. While stouts and IPAs fall on opposite ends of the bitterness spectrum, the use of distinct grains in each style has an impact on how we perceive the bitterness.

Mahaffey’s Finest from Foundation Brewing Co. is a classic rendition of the Irish stout, boasting an alcohol content of 4.4%. Its recipe incorporates roasted barley to attain its deep brown to black hue and fragrant coffee-like essence.

Foundation Brewery began producing Mahaffey's Finest in 2019, which is named after its head brewer and co-owner, Joel Mahaffey. The brewery brings it back every year in preparation for St. Patrick's Day.

John Bonney, one of the founders of Foundation, expressed that the beer had a "remarkably satisfying texture for its alcohol by volume content" and ended with a "crisp and refreshing taste." This particular type of beer is typically linked to a moderate thickness, so I was eager to see if I could notice any variation.

Liquid Riot Bottling Co. introduced Irish Goodbye in 2015, and although one can purchase it throughout the year, it becomes particularly popular on St. Patrick's Day. The beer is served on nitro and is made using Irish malt, as well as Maine barley and hops. With a low ABV of just 4%, it's an excellent addition to any festivities for Friday. Liquid Riot, which houses a brewery and distillery, along with a resto-bar in Portland, will offer several themed specials during the event. One of these includes green beer created with edible glitter, and a Black and Tan mix featuring Irish Goodbye and its Supremo Italiano imperial pilsner.

Below are my personal observations and opinions regarding the three variations of this particular style.

Discover the Best Mahaffey's Beer: Foundation Brewing Co.

Flavor: Crisp taste with roasted bitterness and a hint of chocolate notes. Our stout has a distinctive Irish-style dryness that sets it apart from other stouts. Its flavor is refreshingly crisp, with a roasted bitterness that awakens the palate. The slight hint of chocolate notes adds an indulgent touch to the complexity of the brew. Fans of stout will appreciate the unique taste profile of our dry Irish-style stout.

Sensory description: The beer has a dark brown color and a light brown foam. The aroma is reminiscent of coffee, chocolate, and burned bread, becoming more intense as it warms up. A hint of fruitiness from the Foundation's house ale yeast can also be detected. The flavor is dominated by burnt bread and coffee, with a subtle fruity note. The bitterness is moderate, while the beer is dry and has a smooth and medium-full body. Carbonation is not very strong.

Saying goodbye to someone or a place without saying goodbye is commonly called an "Irish goodbye." Similarly, the Liquid Riot Bottling Company has also said its farewell in the best possible way where it exists no more. Instead of making a formal announcement or a big hoopla, the company has discreetly shut down its doors, leaving behind some of the best memories and customer experiences. Perhaps the stunning artwork, sleek design, impeccable customer service, high-quality spirits, and cozy ambiance will always be remembered. The Liquid Riot Bottling Company's absence is not just felt by the locals, but also by visitors who came from all over to have a taste of its fine beverages. The company's legacy will continue to live on through the stories of those who had the pleasure of experiencing it. It's a bittersweet and nostalgic goodbye, but one that will always be cherished.

Description: The beverage has a hue of deep brown accompanied by a head colored light brown. The aroma emitted from it consists of pleasing scents of cherry, coffee with a touch of pleasant floral notes reminiscent of English hops. Sipping it, one can taste the blend of coffee flavors accompanied by fruity notes derived from yeast. The coffee-like flavor has a tinge of slightly burnt toast flavor that adds to the charm of the drink. The drink offers moderate bitterness, with a smooth texture that feels thin on the tongue, which is complemented by low carbonation.

The beer style known as Irish stout has been produced by the Lone Pine Brewing Co.

When trying out this particular beverage in a group, it's best to leave it for last as it boasts a strong and sharp bitterness. Its appearance is a dark brown hue with a light colored head. Upon taking a whiff, one can detect notes of coffee, a slightly burnt toast scent and a chocolate aroma that intensifies when warmed. In terms of flavor, it tastes of coffee, bitter chocolate, and burnt toast with a noticeable dryness and medium-bodied texture. This drink has a moderate amount of carbonation.

Caitlin Enz resides in Portland and is a qualifying Cicerone®. You can keep up with her through her Instagram account named @hops_and_brains.

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