Allagash Brewing Company

"A brewery in Maine where Bixby Chocolate's Kate McAleer met Fishwife CEO Becca Millstein, leading to their collaboration on chocolate sardines." - Stephanie Ganz

"The vibrant craft beer movement in Portland may not exist without Allagash. It's such a power player that the industrial park it calls home has turned into a brewery incubator of sorts, serving as a breeding ground for more than a half dozen Portland breweries , many of which have gone on to great success. The beer that made Allagash famous is its White—founder Rob Tod's version of a Belgian wheat beer—which has become the de facto light beer for IPA lovers around the country. But Allagash does many things well, and whatever your beer proclivities, you'll find something you'll enjoy here." - Alexandra Hall

Winner: Rob Tod, Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Producer

"First impression? Considering the wealth of more centrally located breweries, it's amazing how crowded it is at Allagash, practically on the legal boundary of Portland. Part of that is the blessing of a small city where it takes barely 15 minutes to drive from downtown to the outskirts, but mostly it's that owner Rob Tod is one of the godfathers of beer in the state of Maine. The vibrant craft beer movement that exists in Portland likely would not be if it weren't for Allagash. It's such a power player that the industrial park it's located in has turned into a brewery incubator of sorts, serving as a breeding ground for more than a half dozen Portland breweries , many of which have gone on to great success. But upon walking in, I'm struck at how apparent it is that one of the beer boom's biggest success stories is not resting on its laurels. The tap list, with its collection of fruity experiments and wild ales, will look vast and interesting to anyone who may know Allagash primarily for the omnipresent bottles of Allagash White in grocery stores all over the country. So who’s there? Because of its reputation, Allagash draws its fair share of out-of-towners, but it's a testament to the brewery's consistently good work across a variety of styles that locals come back to hang out again and again. How are the drinks? The beer that made Allagash famous is its White—Tod's version of a Belgian wheat beer—that has become the de facto light beer on many restaurant menus around the country that are primarily stocked with IPAs. But Allagash does many things well, and whatever your beer proclivities, you'll find something that will work for you. If they have bottles stocked from their coolship series (fermented with naturally occurring yeast over the course of years), snap those up. Worth ordering something to eat, too? Lobster rolls from Bite Into Maine are served on the patio. They aren't " the only lobster roll you need to eat in Maine, " but they're quite good and they have a heavy hand with the lobster. Did the staff do you right? Everyone you interact with Allagash will probably seem delighted to work there and, regardless of their job, will know something about beer. In part that's because of a pilot brewing program that lets anyone who is an employee at the brewery develop a recipe and brew it. Wrap it up: What are we coming here for? If you've enjoyed one of the Allagash beers that's widely available out in the world, you should stop at the brewery to see the whole range of what this place can do." - Noah Kaufman

"Provides open-fermentation season experiences with Belgian-inspired spontaneous fermentation techniques and drafts like Coolship Resurgam." - Stasia Brewczynski