Great Lost Bear Industrial Park Challenge

Any of you in the Greater Maine area tomorrow make your way to the Great Lost Bear for their INDUSTRIAL PARK CHALLENGE 2017.  Who will challenge Foundation Brewing Company for the trophy? Allagash Brewing Company , DL Geary Brewing , Austin Street Brewery , Rising Tide Brewing Company , Lone Pine Brewing Company , Oxbow Blending & Bottling , or One Eye Open?   One beer, One vote.  Eight breweries. One night. All the bragging rights.

The Great Lost Bear on Forest Avenue in Portland has been a steadfast supporter of Maine craft beer since pouring some of the very first pints to roll out of D.L. Geary Brewing Company in the late 1980s. It seems only fitting that the bar – which has one of the largest selections of Maine beer available in the state – would be the host of a friendly brewery vs. brewery competition.

Eight competing breweries will offer one beer on draught for $2.99, and whichever sells the most by 9 p.m. wins the challenge cup. Because it’s purely a popularity contest, getting fans to show up and drink beer is the way to success. Last year, the title (and the awesome bear trophy) were snagged by Foundation – Epiphany: If you haven’t seen this around yet, this might be your chance to try Foundation’s first real full-on IPA, Epiphany. I like this one for a lot of the same reasons I like Bisell Brothers The Substance (2015 Winner); tons of flavor without wrecking your palate. This morning, there’s been a little flinging back and forth of friendly trash talking between several of the competing breweries on their respective social media pages.

If you ask me which I’ll be voting for, the answer is several of these. Best of luck to all the entrants!