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| The Great Lost Bear celebrates their 30th anniversary this week. Photo: greatlostbear.com |
Last week, What's On Tap visited Portland, Ore., one of America's top craft beer cities. But there's another Portland on the opposite coast of the country that deserves recognition, in the great state of Maine. Despite a population that ranks 40th in the nation, the state manages to hold its own in the suds department, and is home to such well-known craft brewers as Allagash, Atlantic, Sea Dog and Shipyard.
Boasting more than 60 taps from more than 40 different brewers nationwide, perhaps the most recognizable brew-focused Portland watering hole is the Great Lost Bear. This week, on Sunday, June 28, the pub will be celebrating its 30th anniversary.
"We started adding micro brews in 1986. At that point we only had six beers on draft," says president and co-owner Dave Evans, explaining the transition to a focus on craft beers. The pub broke the 60 tap barrier about six months ago after adding some dedicated Allagash lines.
Evans insists that the Bear is more about having a great bar than about just having great beers. "We also have PBR in cans," he says. "We try to get every beer patron in the world, and we still sell more food than beer."
The Great Lost Bear also supports its local community.
"We all have to work together," Evans says about stocking the merchandise of other brewpubs in town. But working together goes beyond simply supporting the city.
"It's a family affair," says Evans, who has co-owned the bar since it opened. "Every one of us have had kids who worked here at one point or another." He looks forward to Sunday's celebration, when generations of patrons and employees "touch base with people who haven't seen each other in awhile."
Can't make the 30th anniversary party? Here are all 71(!) draft beers available from the Great Lost Bear reprinted from its Web site (current as of June 17)...
- Long Trail Ale (Vt.)
- Chimay Triple
- Delirium Tremens
- Houblon Chouffe Tripel
- Duchesse De Bourgogne
- Kwak
- Stella Artois
- Val-Dieu Grand Cru
- Witkap-Pater Singel Ale
- ALLAGASH BURNHAM ROAD
- ALLAGASH CONFLUENCE
- ALLAGASH DUBBEL
- ALLAGASH TRIPEL
- ALLAGASH VICTOR ALE
- ALLAGASH WHITE BEER
- HUNIBROUE BLANCHE DE CHAMBLY
- HARPOON HELLES BLOND BOCK (Mass.)
- ATLANTIC BAR HARBOR REAL ALE
- NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE (UK)
- SHIPYARD EXPORT ALE
- ALLAGASH BLACK
- GEARY OAK-CONDITIONED H.S.A.
- SHEEPSCOT BOOTHBAY BITTER
- SHIPYARD OLD THUMPER EX. SPEC. ALE
- WOODCHUCK CIDER (Vt.)
- SHIPYARD OLD THUMPER EX. SPEC. ALE
- LONG TRAIL BLACKBEARY WHEAT (Vt.)
- MAGIC HAT #9 NOT QUITE PALE (Vt.)
- SEA DOG BLUEBERRY WHEAT ALE
- DOGFISH HEAD 60 MINUTE IPA (Md.)
- GEARY'S IMPERIAL IPA
- HARPOON IPA (Mass.)
- MARSHALL WHARF BIG TWITCH IPA
- RUN OF THE MILL IMPACT PALE ALE
- SEBAGO FRYE'S LEAP IPA
- STONE INDIA PALE ALE (Calif.)
- VICTORY HOPDEVIL IPA (Penn.)
- BROOKLYN LAGER (N.Y.)
- CAPE ANN FISHERMAN'S BREW (Mass.)
- NORTH COAST SCRIMSHAW PILS (Calif.)
- SAMUEL ADAMS BOSTON LAGER (Mass.)
- STELLA ARTOIS (BELGIUM)
- ANCHOR LIBERTY ALE (Calif.)
- ANDREW'S OLD ENGLISH ALE
- GEARY'S PALE ALE
- KONA FIRE ROCK PALE ALE (Hawaii)
- SIERRA NEVADA PALE ALE (Calif.)
- SMUTTYNOSE SHOALS PALE ALE (N.H.)
- GEARY'S LONDON STYLE PORTER
- THIRSTY DOG OLD LEGHUMPER (Ohio)
- SEBAGO RUNABOUT RED ALE
- SMITHWICK'S IRISH ALE (IRELAND)
- SCOTTISH ALE
- SHEEPSCOT VALLEY PEMAQUID ALE
- GEARY'S SUMMER ALE
- GRITTY MCDUFF'S VACATIONLAND
- HARPOON SUMMER BEER (Mass.)
- MAGIC HAT SUMMER WACKO (Vt.)
- REDHOOK SUNRYE SUMMER ALE (N.H.)
- SAMUEL ADAMS SUMMER ALE (Mass.)
- SMUTTYNOSE SUMMER WEIZEN (N.H.)
- SHIPYARD SUMMER ALE
- GRITTY MCDUFF'S BLACK FLY STOUT
- GUINNESS STOUT (IRELAND)
- GEARY'S HAMPSHIRE SPECIAL ALE
- ALLAGASH WHITE BEER
- REDHOOK SUNRYE SUMMER ALE (N.H.)
- SAMUEL ADAMS SUMMER ALE (Mass.)
- SHIPYARD SUMMER ALE
- SMUTTYNOSE SUMMER WEIZEN (N.H.)
- VICTORY SUNRISE WEISSBIER (Penn.)
- WIDMER HEFE-WEIZEN (Ore.)
