Hops for Hunger in Lewiston
Greetings friends and neighbors. Do you like beer? Do you like local, craft beer? Do you like beer made in Lewiston, Maine? Do you like beer in cans? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’ll like Baxter Brewing Co. and their ever-widening array of fine malted beverages.
Their flagship Stowaway I.P.A. is a bold, assertively-hopped, crisp beer that gets its hoppy reputation from five different varieties. Their Pamola Xtra Pale Ale (a Squiddy favorite) is bright, golden ale with a citrusy hop finish. Their seasonal beers include Hayride Autumn Ale, Celsius Summer Ale and, currently, Phantom Punch Winter Stout, brewed in honor of Muhammad Ali’s legendary invisible walloping of Sonny Liston in Lewiston in 1965. It’s a roast, toasty stout with hints of chocolate and enough alcohol by volume to warm you up.
In addition to being a fine brewer of beers, Baxter Brewing Co. is a great neighbor. Founder Luke Livingston and his staff are always looking for ways to give back to their community. They sponsor us every Wednesday night at Bull Feeney’s. They have local bands play at the brewery all the time. They’re often raising funds for local charities. Their commitment to “green” practices is almost legendary.
They’ve purchased American Wind power offsets to power 100% of their electricity usage. Their spent grain and yeast goes to feeding local cattle and the solid waste and discarded hops are sent out to be composted. Baxter’s 6-pack rings are made from #4 recyclable polyurethane and are 100% photodegradable (they break down after prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays). And, of course, they use cans. The aluminum cans are made of 70% post-consumer recycled material; it takes less energy to produce than glass; cans weighs less empty and full; Americans are twice as likely to recycle cans; 75% of all beer bottles in the US end up in landfills.
It’s a company we are proud to be associated with.
Which brings me to the real point of this post. We’re playing at an open house at the brewery in Saturday Feb. 16. It’s also a fund/food raiser for the Good Shepherd Food Bank. They are the folks who supply local food pantries with eats. Here are the details.
WHAT: The Squid Jiggers live at Baxter Brewing Co.‘s open house. Hear some music, enjoy a beverage and get a behind-the-scenes tour of the brewery.
WHERE: Baxter Brewing Co., 130 Mill Street Lewiston, Maine. If you’re following a GPS, use 70 Lincoln Street Lewiston, Maine 04240 instead.
WHEN: Saturday Feb. 16 from 12-5 p.m. The Squids will perform from approximately 1-2 p.m. and 3:30-4:30 p.m.
HOW MCUH: Admission is by a donation of cash or non-perishable food item to the Good Shepherd Food Bank.
WHY: Because it’s fun to hear the Squid Jiggers, get a tour of a way-cool brewery and help hungry people all at the same time.
Many Mainers have been hard hit by the recession. The USDA estimates that 14.7 percent of Maine households, or approximately 200,000 individuals, are food insecure. The number of Mainers who are food insecure has increased significantly in recent years. Maine ranks 18th in the nation and 2nd in New England in terms of food insecurity.The mission of Good Shepherd Food Bank is to provide food for those at risk of hunger by soliciting surplus food and distributing it to non-profit programs throughout Maine.
-TROY.
BAXTER BREWING announces the 2012 Bates Mill Summer Concert Series, presented by DaVinci’s Eatery. The first show of the season features THE SQUID JIGGERS and the JERKS OF GRASS.
