Northeastern: Atlantic Brewing Company

As a new member of the North Carolina community one of the things I have come to love about "The South" is the availability of decent pork barbecue restaurants. While in Maine we came across a Brewery/BBQ joint that rivals anything I have tried in or around Raleigh.

The Atlantic Brewing Company is located in Bar Harbor, Maine just a few minutes from Acadia National Park. After a long hike up a mountain we stopped by this place for an all-you-can-eat barbecue buffet. AMAZING. FANTASTIC. My perception could have been tainted by how hungry I was, or it could have just been that wonderful. Ribs, chicken, sausage, pulled pork, cole slaw, baked beans, and potato salad were all on the menu. At $15 a piece, this was obviously the best deal on this super-expensive tourist trap of an island.

We also had the chance to sample a few beers during our meal. I would recommend trying any of the following beers if they are available in your area.

Coal Porter
A superb porter, hearty & dark. This one is a staff favorite, made with pale, crystal, Munich, chocolate, and black malts. The darker malts give Coal its color and rich flavor. We use Target and Willamette hops to yield a very subtle hop flavor in this porter. We cellar this beer for close to six months before releasing it on the thirsty throngs of fans.

Island Ginger
A refreshing wheat beer spiced with fresh ginger root. The process of making this wheat beer has been nicknamed "special ginger tea", due to the fact that we add over 20 lbs. of fresh ground ginger root into the boil. We use pale malt, and wheat, as well as Target and Whitbread Goldings Variation hops to flavor this light, summer ale. Island Ginger is particularly popular during the warmer summer months, though thanks to the ginger kick it has, it would also be warming in the cold winter months.

Special Old Bitter
This strongly hopped, crisp ale, is the clear choice for the hop enthusiast. We use pale, crystal, black and Munich malts, and a veritable boatload of Northdown bittering hops for this ale. Like the Island Ginger, it is quite popular in the warm weather, as hops yield a clean, crisp bitter that is rather refreshing.