Last fall I went to Portland, Maine courtesy of Allagash Brewing. It was my first trip to trip to Maine and my first trip to New England. The whole weekend was absolutely amazing. I was able to tour the brewery, explore the town, and eat lots and lots of seafood! Here are some of the highlights.
Allagash Brewing Company
I am a big fan of beer, and one of my favorite things to do with my husband is tour a brewery and enjoy a tasting of their offerings. Allagash White is one of my all time favorite beers, so I was extra excited to learn more about the company, explore the brewery and taste some of their other beers. We got to see the brewing in action, meet their Brewmaster Jason Perkins, and learn about the culture of the company. I had already liked the company, but now I am in love.
Oyster Shucking and Lobster Rolls with Eventide Oyster Co.
During the trip, we had a very special opportunity to learn how to shuck oysters with the owners of Eventide Oyster Co. while standing in low tide in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I’ve never had more delicious oysters in my life! Following the oyster tutorial, they made us brown butter lobster rolls. It couldn’t have been a more perfect experience! If you go to Maine, I highly suggest you visit their restaurant.
Sunset Ride on a Lobster Boat
I’m a big fan of lobster. It’s one of my all time favorite foods. Because of this, I was most excited about the ride on a lobster boat with Lucky Catch Cruises to learn more about the industry. I found out that they drop cages and let the lobsters walk in themselves. Then, when they go to retrieve them, they only keep the ones that measure longer than a certain length. They also do not keep the lobsters that are marked as breeders. One of the lobsters in the cage they pulled up was even carrying eggs! While on the boat, we got to enjoy incredibly fresh sushi from Mr. Tuna. The tuna was caught close to Portland! It was some of the best sushi of my life. Together with Allagash beers, a cruise around the harbor looking at beautiful homes and lighthouses, and a gorgeous sunset, this was a huge highlight of the trip.
Stroll Around Portland
On our last day in Portland, my husband Ian and I took a stroll around the city and tried to check out more local spots rather than the touristy area. I didn’t take many photos because I was soaking it all in, but I will say that it is an amazing place and I can’t wait to go back and visit!
