You Had Me At Beer...

Guten Haben Peeps!

Well it was quite a weekend! Lee and Tammy got back from seeing the latest Fabbricatore on the planet (check out the Fabs blog for more info on that) and told me we were going to.... wait for it..... Beerfest.... I KNOW! That's what I said!! So I did a little HCD (Happy Chicken Dance)!!

Here's the dealio, we drove to Augusta and walked into the Civic Center from the pleasantly full parking lot (everyone seemed happy to see me as usual). As we approached the building the bi-peds had their ID checked (I know right? Lee getting carded BAAAWK). The dude checking IDs said something like "I don't even want to ask about the Chicken" I assume he was too shy to ask for an Autograph.. oh well, his loss.

We then entered the building and oh the smell! I assume that is what heaven smells like (or @ least for we Party Chickens anyway). Say it with me BEEEEEEEERRRR! Yeah Baby!!

There were quite a few people here as you can see




They give you a commemorative glass with 10 tickets each and get this.... you trade these tickets for BEER! Oh Happy Days!


With one of two bands (State Street Traditional Jazz Band) playing in the background, first up was an old favorite to get the taste buds working. Shipyard! Brewers of Pumkinhead Ale (one of the best things about fall in Maine)! Pumkinhead is out of season, but the very tasty Summer is in! They had these T-Shirts hanging behind the Taps



Here is Tammy sharing her Shipyard Summer with me


The longest lines of the night seemed to be in front of Oak Pond Brewing



but the line moved pretty quickly and @ the end we were awarded with some fine beverages!

I had the Nut Brown Ale and it was very good (one of my favorites as it turned out). It was so good I didn't even get a picture of it before it was gone!



I will be making a trip to Skowheagan to follow up on this fine brew.

Next up was a favorite establishment of Central Maine, The Liberal Cup.


The line was also quite long here


But we were, once again, rewarded for our wait and this time with a BRAND NEW BREW called Dunkel John's Brew


Now, Peeps let me tell you, there were many a fine brew here this night, but only one earned two of my tickets and it was this one. It is a dark wheat ale that will be a regular for me when I travel to Hallowell and is worth the trip for you to do so, too!



While I enjoyed this new favorite, Tammy made her way over to Atlantic Brewing Company


to have a little of their world famous Blueberry Ale. She liked it, but it is not a fav of mine since I do not like blueberries anyway.

I then made it over to Allagash Brewing Company and tried their recommended White Ale, which was good, but a bit to much clove taste for me. I was OK with it until Tammy mentioned the clove thing and I kept thinking of a bad ham dinner from years past and it was ruined for me!



On to Peak Organic Brewing Company to try their IPA



This was also pretty good, but a little hoppy and I prefer a little more citrus tastes.



On to the Kennebec River Brewery to sample some of their offerings




The place had quite a few party animals running around, besides me. At some point in the night this guy thought I was a snack! I guess I do NOT taste like chicken after all!


One of the last brews was from one of favorite establishments in Southern Maine Sebago Brewing Company who served up their fine Runabout Red Ale







Good stuff!!

The second band was now in full swing. Strauss and Company was playing some good bluesy rockabilly. Check them out if you get a chance.



We then tried the Sunday River Brewing 420 IPA



After that we used our last ticket on second serving of the Dunkel John's Brew from the Liberal Cup. You gotta try this beer!

I may have missed a few things that happened or beers I had, but what do you want from a Rubber Chicken?!

Support your local brewers no matter where you are!

Gotta fly!

-Chester