EXPLORING PORTLAND TRAILS

Last year we rented bikes in Wyoming to try bike riding as an additional form of fitness. In the fall we purchased "comfort bikes" and rode them a few times in both Gainesville and Sarasota. We brought our bikes along to Maine so we could explore some of the unique trails in the Portland area. Today was the day we were going to use them for exploring. Unfortunately, when we uncovered the bikes we found one of the tires was flat. After filling it with air, you could hear the air escaping, so repairs were needed.

The day wasn't a total loss, though.  There wis a nice 3.5 mile loop around Back Cove, a large sheltered body of water off Casco Bay in Portland that could either be biked or walked. It was also near the bike shop where the tire tube was being replaced. Part of the route took us past the B & M Baked Beans factory. As we walked, we could smell the aroma of freshly baked beans - difficult to resist, since it was hours since we had breakfast. An eight-lane interstate highway kept us from seeing if they had a factory tour with samples.

We did walk past some stately homes overlooking the cove with a fabulous view of the Portland skyline.

Next on our agenda was a stop at the Allagash Brewing Company for their tour and a tasting. Allagash brews Belgian style beer as opposed to German style or British style beers. Allagash Brewing Co. was founded in 1995 by Rob Tod after he recognized the need for craft beers in New England.

The bar in the tasting room was made from old barn timbers and looked very antique-like yet modern. Our samples were served in miniature glass brandy snifters set in a rack.  Our tour guide said that the use of this unusual glassware was to take advantage of the aroma as a component of the beer tasting experience.

There was a unique candelabra hanging over the beer taps. Yes, the lights are inside 22 ounce beer bottles arranged in an artistic design.

The factory has recently been expanded and was very clean and modern looking. One of the Allagash motivational sayings is shown painted on a large stainless steel tank in the new brewing room. This saying, "Passion: Loving beer and doing what we love", gives you an idea of the motivation for craft brewers. 

One of the Allagash beers, Curieux, is aged in oak barrels that where once used for storing Jim Beam bourbon. This was one of the beers we tasted and yes, you could certainly taste a hint of the bourbon just after swallowing the beer. Paul is shown in the chilled storage room for this and some other more experimental brews. You can see the beer types and date of kegging on the barrel in white chalk.

Allagash used the moose in a cartoon ad to draw attention to its flagship beer, Allagash White. We also sampled the White. It tasted like a summer ale with hints of a fruity after-taste. In case the photo below is difficult to read it says "I know I stashed the Allagash in here somewhere."

All in all, a day that started out as a bit of a disappointment, turned into another great day of sightseeing. We will save the first bike ride for another time.