Yankee Brew News Archive

New Maine Microbrewery Targets Inland Market

Originally Published: Sum/93

By: Brett Peruzzi

While coastal Maine is rapidly developing an "amber necklace" of brewpubs and microbreweries stretching from Kennebunk to Bar Harbor, the inland area, including cities such as Bangor and Augusta, has been largely bypassed by Maine's brewing renaissance. With the exception of Andrew's Brewing Company of Lincolnville, and the Sunday River Brewing Company of Bethel, until now Maine craft brew has been primarily a seaside phenomenon.

Dan McGovern and Kellin Thames, the founders of the Lake Saint George Brewing Company, hope to change that. They plan to start commercially brewing at their 7-barrel all-grain micro by the end of May, barring any last-minute licensing delays, and distributing their beer to inland cities and towns.

Based in the town of Liberty, about 30 miles inland from Camden and between Bangor and Augusta, the brewery plans to introduce its first product, Dirigo Ale, to the tourist-filled mid-coast area in addition to inland Maine . Named after the state motto, meaning "I lead," Dirigo Ale is described as a British-style brown ale similar to Newcastle.

"Everybody seems to start out making a pale ale," asserted co-owner Dan McGovern, who, like his partner, is yet another homebrewer realizing the dream of going commercial. "We wanted to do something a little different. Also," he said, "we did some research in the area, and found brown ale to be a popular style."

Hopped with Willamette and Kent Goldings, and fermented with a British ale yeast strain, Dirigo Ale will be introduced on draught. McGovern estimates the brewery will produce about 700 barrels a year. As to the origin of the brewery's name, McGovern replied proudly, "That's easy. I live on the shore of Lake Saint George."