Iconic Maine Brewery Name One of the 20 Best in the US

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

The popular culinary site Tasting Table 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 5th 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.

What really helps is the fact that the beer is delicious. You can find all sorts of innovative styles and flavors, including a billion different ales, stouts, Saisons, barrel-aged brews, lagers, IPAs, and many Belgian styles that I can't pronounce. Even the pickiest beer fan will find something at Allagash, and probably accept that it's one of the best things they ever drank.

Of course, 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 ever to come from the state of Maine. It's a wheat beer that is 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.

Allagash White is a great choice for this, because it's universally well-liked. 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 Tasting Table's website.

Congrats to Allagash for more well-deserved national accolades. Here's to many more years of delicious libations from the brewmasters.