Baxter Brewing Company

Let me be abrupt and upfront with everyone who reads this blog: Abby and I love beer. If you know us, then you know we like to try as many beers as we possibly can. I remember back in late 2010 and early 2011, I heard about a new beer company starting up in Lewiston. Baxter Brewing bought a part of the old Bates Mill Complex, rebuilt it, and started up a brewery. Some of you may be asking, what makes Baxter so special? It all comes down to one word: cans! Cans block sunlight from entering and ruining the great taste of beer. Their cans are airtight, so the flavors never weaken from sun exposure. Plus, they are very portable for outdoors activities, and more eco-friendly, as people are more likely to recycle aluminum.

Currently, Baxter has five beers: Pamola Extra Pale Ale, Stowaway IPA, Amber Road, Celsius (their summer ale), and Autumn Hay Ride. Recently, they announced a sixth beer, which will be a winter stout called Phantom Punch. Abby and I both agree that the Stowaway IPA is their best beer. Don't get me wrong; all of the other ales are great, but they just cannot beat the India Pale Ale. The beer is quite bitter, coming in at 69 IBU, or international bitter units. The beer starts off crisp with hints of citrus, followed by a hint of fruit at the end.

Recently, Baxter Brewing announced that they will be expanding beginning early next year because they cannot keep up with demand. They also have opened a tap room where you can go in grab a beer and a soft pretzel. Many people will overlook this great brewery because it is not located in Portland. Hop in your car (see what I did there?) and check out Baxter Brewing Company. They give amazing tours and at the end they will let you sample each one of their beers. At times, you can be a test subject for any future flavors they may have.

So all in all, go check out Baxter Brewing in Lewiston. It is a great young brewery, making great beers and offering a fun tour for all you beer fans!

Cheers!

Friday Picture Delight

George's Pizza

It wouldn't truly be Lewiston/Auburn week if we didn't cover George's Pizza. The place has an almost unbeatable reputation in the area, and consistently wins taste tests in the area (and is ranked #1!). They have also recently been named one of the best pizza places in Maine by Maine magazine. One bite of their pizza would give you a good idea as to why that is.

Now, I would like to make one disclaimer before you read any further: I am not very biased when it comes to pizza. I pretty much love it all. I dream about it. If I could eat pizza every day while still remaining healthy, I would do it in a heartbeat. With that said, I have also eaten my fair share of pizza, and I have a pretty discerning pizza nose.

Ok, end of disclaimer.

I can remember the first time I ate George's Pizza. Sean and I were visiting the area for the afternoon, and we stopped in for lunch. It was warm and cozy inside, and we sat in a red vinyl booth as we waited for our pizzas. Cars drove past the huge windows overlooking busy Center Street.

Then, our pizza arrived; warm, gooey, cheesy, with just the right amount of zest. The crust is one of the sturdiest I've ever experienced, which is great because you can pick up a slice and it won't flop down and dribble sauce and grease down your hand. It has a very satisfying sound when you tap the bottom as well, which you will of course want to do immediately (if you're me). The cheese is perfectly melted with beautiful brown spots bubbling on the surface. Really, what is better than golden brown, bubbly cheese? My favorite thing about George's pizza is that some of the cheese has made its way to the edge of the crust, and crust and cheese have fused into a deliciously crunchy bite.

George's provides you with a typical Maine pizza experience; it is very similar to a lot of our House of Pizza joints that are sprinkled throughout our towns, but in my opinion it is constructed a lot better. The interior of George's Pizza is, admittedly, not the most spectacular sight, but it gets the job done. George's also offers dinner baskets, pasta, and Italians (another uniquely Maine experience), but to be absolutely honest I have never tried any of them because the pizza is just too good. They do also offer a pizza buffet every Monday - Wednesday for only $6.80, and they have a great website where you can find their menu and coupons for special deals.

We are only on this planet for a very brief space of time. So really, get out there and start eating more pizza. Especially George's. What are you waiting for?

L/A River Walk

The Lewiston/Auburn river walk may not seem like your first destination in the area. But trust us when we say, rethink where you go first. The river walk is located behind Gritty's Brewpub and snakes along the bank of the Androscoggin River. It crosses the old Maine Central Railroad Bridge into Lewiston, and to fine establishments such as Fishbones and DaVinci's. A family could easily finish the riverwalk in under an hour. But check out the playground before crossing the bridge or bring a soccer ball to one of the parks.

If you start your walk near Gritty's, be prepared to see a few dozen ducks milling about around the bank of the river as you can see below.  As you progress further along the trail you can see remnants of the canal system used by many of the old mills in Lewiston. The trail perfectly blends together nature elements and art deco architecture from the turn of the century.

Ducks

A few more ducks

My favorite feature of the trail is the old Maine Central Railroad trestle that has been converted into a walking path. Although the railroad is gone now, it is a reminder for future generations that Lewiston/Auburn was once a rail hub of Central and Western Maine. Throughout the trail you will see sprinklings of railroad history. So be sure to check it out if you are a history buff!

Former railroad trestle

Last night, Abby and I took a walk at dusk and boy, was it worth it. The last vestiages of fall foliage were charming and in some cases still vibrant. We stopped on the railroad bridge and Abby took some lovely shots of the sunset and one of me because she was sneaky.

The L/A river walk is used quite a bit by locals, primarily as a site for exercising, crossing between the two cities, or just for the nice change of scenery and a break from everyday life. But as you can see from our pictures, it's a great spot for visitors to view the two cities from afar while also enjoying the outdoors. So don't forget about this hidden gem for your next visit!

The Bread Shack

A visit to the Bread Shack on Center Street in Auburn is an absolute must if you are ever in the area. Their small but cozy location offers up a variety of freshly baked breads and pastries, coffee, and sandwiches. Their baked goods are pleasantly tempting behind the glass cases, and their small yet inviting tables are the perfect spot to spend an afternoon with a good book.

I have visited the Bread Shack multiple times, and they have never let me down. Their baguettes are perfect, crusty and brown on the outside with a light, fluffy crumb. I would highly recommend their homemade English muffins to take home with you. Toasted with a little butter and a mug of warm coffee? Unbeatable. The croissants are large, flaky, and buttery, and in the summer, their lemonade is so fresh that it's almost as if you're sticking your straw in a (lightly) sugared lemon. 

I have been the Bread Shack only once to sample their lunch items, and the Caprese sandwich that I ordered was very satisfying; the mozzarella was incredibly light and fresh, and the pesto added a nice complement. I was very happy to learn that any sandwich you order at the Bread Shack comes with 2 cookies. On my visit, I picked the chocolate chip, which were small, buttery, and crunchy. The perfect (and unexpected) accompaniment to my meal.

I have sampled quite a few other items that the Bread Shack offers, but my absolute favorite is their chocolate-raspberry croissant. The dark chocolate croissant envelops a rich cream cheese filling dotted with fresh raspberries that burst in your mouth when you take a bite. Sadly, it is not available on every visit (which I can only attribute to the fact that it is amazing and mouth-watering and you'd be crazy not to buy it), so be sure to check it out if it's there. I would say with absolute certainty that any item you choose on your visit will be fresh, delicious, and decently priced. The service there has always been quick and pleasant; in other words, there is no excuse for you not to visit the Bread Shack the next time you are in the L/A area!

If you'd like to visit their website for more information and menus, it can be found here.

Lewiston/Auburn Week

A year ago, the Maine Adventurers packed their belongings up into the back of a Uhaul, leaving small college-town life behind for the big city: L/A!

Well, ok, not that L/A, but rather the twin cities of Lewiston/Auburn, ME. It's hard to believe that it has already been a year, and yet already we have a few regular haunts that we would like to share with all of you.

While the area definitely has its fair share of problems, there are a number of local restaurants and businesses that are worth a visit. That's why, in honor of our one-year moving anniversary, we are loading up our website with reviews of places to go in Lewiston and Auburn. 

As always, thanks for reading, and we hope that you will enjoy Lewiston/Auburn week with the Maine Adventurers!

Happy Friday!

Every Friday, we will be posting from our collection of random pictures of Maine. Here they are, for your viewing pleasure!

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Somewhere in New Gloucester...

Today Sean and I decided to take a detour through New Gloucester. It was a beautiful fall day, and the foliage was vibrant. Fall is definitely one of my favorite seasons, and today we took full advantage of the perks that the season brings.

Our quick detour took us through to Pineland Farms. I didn't know a whole lot about Pineland Farms before the trip, other than the fact that we have bought their smoked cheddar in the past and loved it. As it turns out, there is an entire campus in New Gloucester that houses various small businesses and organizations. Our first stop was to check out the sheep out grazing in a field beside the road.

They were pretty much only interested in eating, but they were entertaining nonetheless. 

I love sheep!

Next, we stopped by the market to check out what they had for sale. Their market looks almost brand new and houses almost every sort of local goodie that you could imagine, while of course selling primarily Pineland Farms products. As fortune would have it, they had laid out some samples of their cheese from the Pineland Farms creamery. They had a café area as well, selling sandwiches, pastries, and coffee. We decided to pick up some snacks for ourselves, and headed out with our local goods.

Pineland Farms Market

The smoked cheddar was definitely my favorite cheese of the day. We've found it in markets in the past, and absolutely love its flavor and creaminess. The smoky cheese definitely packs a punch when you first bite into it, but as it melts in your mouth the flavors mellows into a nice, rich cheddar. We also picked up some cranberry apple cidar, which was surprisingly tangy with just a hint of cranberry. The cidar was made in Turner, ME. I also picked up a nice-looking delicata squash for later.

The Pineland Farms campus is very scenic, and is definitely worth the detour if you are ever in the area. The market pretty much has every product you would ever need-including candy, soap, even paper products and cleaning supplies! The farm also hosts a variety of activities, including beer tastings, cheese making classes, and a whole host of activities for children. If you are at all interested, I'd also check out the Pineland Farms website, as it lists their events and even has an online shop for ordering their products.

Old Speck- Grafton Notch

I have lived in Maine my entire life and have been spoiled by its beauty. Hiking in my family has always been a very important tradition. We would hike Tumbledown Mountain every single year during the peak of fall foliage season. I remember one day when my father told me about his spectral experience when hiking Old Speck Mountain in Grafton Notch. My parents were with friends on a chilly fall day. My father had been hiking ahead out of view of my mother. As my mother rounded the bend she found my father as white as a ghost. He had been visibly shaken. The story goes that he had seen a hooded figure in all black that told him to turn back. If you knew my father, you would have known that he was not easily shaken. Needless to say, my parents and their friends turned around and high-tailed it back down the mountain. As they neared the end of the trail a fierce snow storm began. Had they continued on, they may not have made it back down.

Hopefully this story has not made you scared in any way because hiking Old Speck is well worth it. As the third highest mountain in the state of Maine, it measures in at a respectable 4,170 ft. I finally had the privilege of hiking Old Speck in September. One of my best friends invited me to climb it with her. I must admit that I was a little scared after my parents' story, but I knew I could not pass this opportunity up.

The day arrived and I was decked out in my typical hiking gear and backpack ready for the 5 hour round and 8 mile trip to the summit and back. Let me just add this is not a hike for anyone who has just started hiking. If you plan on hiking Old Speck, try Table Rock across the road or Tumbledown Mountain in Weld. One needs to build up to Old Speck, because if you do not your muscles will hate you for a week. The best way to describe the trail is a series of switch backs and short to medium bursts of rigorous uphill climbs. At one point I felt as though my thigh muscles were going to give out on me. If you take this mountain at a slow and deliberate pace, the views are just to die for. 

Summit of Old Speck Mountain

As I was hiking I thought back to the story that you read about at the top of this post. Taking in my surroundings, I started to get a clearer picture as to why it seemed like spooky mountain. Certain spots have thick brush that you only see in horror movies. While other sections of trail are just continuous rows of pine trees, and everyone knows pine forests can be scary!

Nearing the top, it became at least 6 degrees colder, so bring a wind jacket or sweater to keep you warm. At the top, one is greeted by a fantastic view of Grafton Notch and, on a clear day, Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Also at the top, you can climb up a former fire tower that has been converted into an observation deck. On the day we were up, we were able to see newly constructed wind turbines in Roxbury, Maine. On a side note, I think the wind turbines truly look gorgeous against the land scape in the picture below.

Wind Turbines in Roxbury, Maine

 If you want to join the 4000 footer club then Old Speck mountain is a great place to start!

Bald Plate Mountain

Observation tower at summit

Signing Off