Iceland recently crossed the Atlantic to make an appearance in Maine for the annual Summer Session Beer Festival! The festival served several types of Icelandic beers as well as a new flavor from Iceland’s very own brewer, Sturlaugur Jon Bjornsson, as part of the beer exchange between Iceland and Maine.
Hosted by the Maine Brewers’ Guild, Summer Session is the only brewfest run by and in support of the Maine craft beer industry; however, recently the festival has opened its doors to an invitational format so breweries around the world could participate as well.
Held at the beautiful location of Thompson’s Point in Portland, the festival featured some of the best live music in New England along with food trucks, cornhole games and, of course, hundreds of beer samples to try. Attendees could even participate in a “beer classes” and learn from professional brewers in short, discussion-based lectures.
This festival took place a month after Maine brewers had shipped kegs to Iceland for a June beer festival in Reykjavik. In exchange, Iceland shipped some of its own beers that were served from the Maine Beer Box, a unique refrigerated shipping container. The festival also offered a chance for creative collaboration between Bjornsson, head brewer of Borg Brugghus, and Portland brewer Greg Abbott of Liquid Riot. Together, the two brewers created a new flavorful beer with sea salt and heather that will be served on tap at Liquid Riot and at Novare Res, a nearby Portland beer bar.
“The collaboration is about exchanging ideas and expertise as well as making a name for Maine beer around the world,” said Sean Sullivan, executive director of the Maine Brewers’ Guild. “A hands-on brew day with Borg and Liquid Riot is exactly the type of thing we hoped would come out of this brewers’ trade effort.”
Have you tried Iceland’s beers in Maine, or Maine’s beers in Iceland? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us @IcelandNatural!
Comments
event Next
event