Ten rare beers to be poured at Allagash Event in May

Last April I collaborated with beer minded folks from around the state of Maine in The Maine Dream Team-up Project. I asked each participant four questions about who they would like to see in a brewery collaboration, question four was “Free for all! Anything goes here as long as there is 1 Maine brewery involved.” Shahin Khojastehzad from Novare Res Bier Cafe started his answer with “Well, it’s already happening! Cantillon, Russian River and Allagash are blending each of their lambics (1,2,3 yr. old) to make a Gueuze. These are some of the best who are doing it right now, all are very particular about their sour beers and all have a huge respect for tradition. Never letting demand overshadow quality and doing it the right way.”

Allagash Brewing Company, Russian River Brewing and Cantillon Brewery is definitely a dream team collaboration and Wild Friendship Blend is the result of this dream team-up.

Wild Friendship Blend is a blend of spontaneously fermented beer produced in three different locations – Maine, California and Belgium – then brought together and blended to create the final beer. Each component of the beer was brewed then allowed to cool in some form of traditional coolship to allow wild yeast to inoculate the wort and then fermented and aged in oak barrels for roughly two years.

Wild Friendship Blend bottles. Photo Courtesy of Allagash Brewing Company

Wild Friendship Blend bottles. Photo Courtesy of Allagash Brewing Company

Wild Friendship Blend is a small batch beer – 1500 bottles produced – the brewers all agreed that this beer would never be sold individually and would only be served at special events.

Beer geeks have a chance to try Wild Friendship Blend in May at Allagash Brewing Company. People who are interested in trying the beer can go to WildFriendshipBlend.com by March 23, 2015 and submit their email address for a chance to buy tickets.

Tickets are $100 each. Only 350 tickets will be sold. People will be chosen at random and emailed, they will have the opportunity to purchase two tickets.

The Event on May 9, 2015 will be held in two sessions: 1-4pm and 5-8pm.

Attendees will receive a souvenir tasting glass and 4 ounces of each of the 10 beers being poured at the event. This includes Wild Friendship Blend and 3 rare beers from each of the breweries. Admission also includes food from three prominent local restaurants/caterers. Jean Van Roy of Cantillon, Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River and Rob Tod of Allagash will all be in attendance.

A portion of the proceeds from the Wild Friendship Blend event will go to “Full Plates Full Potential” a statewide initiative to end child hunger in Maine.

Cheers,

Chaddah

Chad Lothian

About Chad Lothian

Chad Lothian lives in Old Town, Maine. He is a craft beer enthusiast and homebrewer. Chad has travelled to brewpubs, breweries and brewfests all over New England.