Iconic Maine Brewery Named 11th Best in the Nation

One of Maine's most popular breweries just keeps adding more accolades to its resume.

The popular culinary site Yardbarker recently released a list of the 20 best breweries in the nation. This is a list of the true heavyweights in the craft beer craze. It's a true who's who of beer brilliance.

Coming in as the 11th best brewery in America is a Maine staple that has been at the top of the game for decades, Allagash Brewing.

Located in Portland (aka Maine's craft beer capital), Allagash is a specialty brewery that's been perfecting Belgian-style beers since 1995. It was founded by Rob Todd, who wanted to focus on a style of beer that wasn't readily available or crafted in the United States.

Well, that turned out to be a good idea, because Allagash became a national juggernaut in the Belgian style and craft beer industry. According to Craft Brewing Business, Allagash was the 20th largest craft brewery by sales volume in 2020, and the largest in Maine.

Here is a little from Yardbarker on why Allagash was selected as the 11th best brewery in the nation.

Situated in Portland, Maine, Allagash specializes in Belgian-inspired beers, none more so than its Allagash White. This was the first beer ever produced by Allagash and has been recognized with numerous awards, including nine gold medals across major events like the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup.

It's impossible to discuss Allagash without bringing up the brewery's flagship beer, the White. This award-winning brew is probably one of the most impactful beers to ever come from the state of Maine. It's a wheat beer spiced with coriander and orange peel, giving it just the right amount of sweetness. It's also perfectly hazy to truly make it a unique pour. You can also enjoy a few of them without getting bombed, because the alcohol per volume (APV) is just 5.2%, which is relatively low for craft beer.

You don't have to be a craft beer connoisseur to appreciate it. It's a mild hoppy flavor, so it won't blow away the pallet like an IPA or English pale. But the flavor profile is better than any lager that one is going to come across. It's just a damn good beer. In fact, Testing Table called it the best white ale made in America.

This has been quite a run for Allagash. Not only does it continually receive national attention, but is also typically talking home awards, like when it recently took home numerous honors at the 2023 Great American Beer Festival. Those included Brewery and Brewer of the Year in its respected category, a gold medal for the Tripel, and a silver for, you guessed it, the White.

While Allagash was the only Maine brewery included in the top 20, it was certainly not the only one from New England. You can check those and the rest out on Yardbarker.

Cheers.