E-Malt.com News article: USA, ME: Baxter Brewing Co. releases its first seasonal beer

Baxter Brewing Co. is selling its first seasonal beer, Celsius Summer Ale, The Portland Press Herald reported on April, 26.

The beer is on tap at the brewery in Lewiston, and probably at some other pubs around the state.

"We decided at the end of last year after meeting with our distributors and also the drinking public that they were calling for us to have seasonal beers," said Luke Livingston, founder and president of Baxter.

He said seasonals are the hottest thing in brewing right now, and the Celsius will be followed by fall and winter beers.

Livingston said the beer was created by Ben Low, Baxter's interim head brewer.

Livingston first described Celsius, which is 4.7 percent alcohol, as Baxter's first unfiltered offering in addition to being the company's first beer with nontraditional ingredients.

Livingston said that the previous head brewer, Michael LaCharite, left the brewery last November. Low, who previously worked at Gritty's, came in.

"We are calling the title 'interim,' but we are certainly in no hurry to have him leave," Livingston said. "He has some other plans that he wants to work on, but we are not sure how long he will be here at this point."

Livingston said the response to Amber Road, the brewery's third full-time offering, has been very good.

"It is my personal favorite of our three beers," he said. "It is not as hop-centric as the other two; a little more malt forward."


27 April, 2012