239. Sebago Brewing Trekker Pale Ale

Thanks to Kevin @ Sebago Brewing I was able to pickup 2 bottles of Trekker Pale Ale last week and enjoyed one on Sunday afternoon. This is the beer that I "helped" to brew during Sebago's Brewing for a Cause day back in April. If you have not been to this read my blog post here. This was a great event and if you are at all interested in craft beer, the brew process or simply hanging out with others that enjoy good beer I highly recommend you attend next year. If you do I am sure to see you there as this is going to be an annual event for me.


The Trekker Pale Ale from Sebago is a great example of the style and probably my second favorite pale ale in the 230+ beers I have had. My favorite so far is Edward by Hill Farmstead and that hardly qualifies as a pale ale as it is hoppier than many IPAs. If you had to sit someone down and give them an example of a quality pale ale Trekker would be my choice. Color is a nice orange with a slight white head. Aroma is nicely balanced with some hops and malts both apparent. Taste follows the nose with malts up front and the hops kick in late and linger a bit. The beer is very easy to drink, refreshing and leaves you wanting another even after a 22 oz bottle. Really enjoyed this beer and glad I have another to share with friends over the Memorial Day weekend. 
Pros: Good representation of the style

Cons: Available for a very limited time as it sells out quickly  

Alcohol Content: 6.1% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Sebago Brewing

Brewers Description: Trekker Pale Ale was brewed at Brewing For A Cause, a fundraiser for the Trek Across Maine - a 3-day, 180 mile bike ride in support of the mission of the American Lung Association. This beer was our fastest selling Single Batch Series beer in 2011 and we've brewed a double batch this year for all our thirsty guests! Trekker Pale Ale (6.1% ABV) is a classic American pale ale. It is light bronze in color, with a moderate malt character up front that gives way to an increasing hop aroma with a clean dry finish. Available starting Friday May 11th on draft and in 22oz bottles.

Sebago Brewing - Brewing for a Cause (4/21/2012)

Each year since 2010 Sebago Brewing Company has opened its doors on a Saturday for a limited number of people to participate in their Brewing for a Cause benefit. Sebago has a team of riders in the Trek Across Maine (click the link to donate) and for a $100 donation you are given the opportunity to "work" in the brewery with the brew staff making their delicious Trekker Pale Ale. I convinced my wife this would be the perfect early Father's Day present for me and signed up just in time as the event sold out (actually slightly over sold).

Yesterday morning I woke at 5:30 and prepared to head to Sebago's brew facility located on Sanford Drive in Gorham, Maine. I arrived shortly after 7:30 and the parking lot quickly filled up with other eager participants. For most it was their first time but there were at least a couple that were returning from prior years. We were all encouraged to bring home brew for others to sample however I have not yet tried brewing my own beer so I arrived empty handed.  Shortly before 8:00 we all ventured into the brew facility and found Barnabas and Kevin already hard at work getting the first batch of Trekker in the mash tun.  The Trekker Pale Ale sold out very quickly in 2011 so this year they brewed a double batch.

50,000 lbs silo

Jon Clegg - Brewer / Packaging Manager and host for the day arrived shortly after and gathered us all for a short safety meeting. Everyone was required to wear safety glasses and closed toe shoes. After we all passed the safety check we went to find Barnabas and Kevin to see how things were progressing. The first batch of Trekker Pale Ale was in the mash tun so we went to the grain room to start prepping for the second batch. Sebago has a 50,000 pound grain silo filled with 2-row malt. In addition to the 2-row they use 4 or 5 other varieties of malt for the Trekker Pale Ale and several attendees were able to help pour the additional malts into the hopper. (See more after the break)

210. Sebago Brewing Runabout Red Ale

If you have been following my blog for some time you know I have been searching for a truly exception red ale. This is a style of beer i really enjoy however almost all red/amber ales seem to taste almost identical. I know there is only so much you can do with the various malt characters that dominate the palate on red ales but there should be something that sets one apart. 


I was hopeful when I found the Runabout Red from Sebago Brewing as they make very good beer. Color is nice red which thin head that disappeared quickly. Aroma has lots of caramel malts and the taste follows. Lots of caramel and toffee malts and very slight hop finish. Easy to drink and enjoyable but again very similar to other reds. 
Pros: Lots of malt

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 4.2% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 4.75
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Sebago Brewing

Brewers Description: Our Red Ale is Deep Amber in color and is very well balanced with a malty yet clean finish.
Runabout Red Ale is a classic! Our Red Ale has a malty sweet taste that comes from 3 different types of caramel malt. It is a clean, well-balanced beer that started as seasonal ale that we only brewed from March until July. It was so popular with our regulars that we started brewing it year round in 2002. Our red ale is made with only two hop additions to the kettle as opposed to three in most of our other brews and the malt character shows this. Please enjoy our staff favorite!

Pairing Suggestions: Shellfish, grilled
vegetables & salads

The name and logo for our Runabout Red Ale invokes the image of lake life in Maine. The antique wooden boat symbolizes quality craftsmanship, art, history and design as does our beer. The woman on the label is Elsie Whidden. Elsie has a passion for Maine lake life and antique wooden boats. In honor of Elsie, a lifelong Maine teacher living with Parkinson’s, we donate $1 to the Maine Parkinson Society for every case of Runabout Red Ale sold.

Learn more: Maine Parkinsons Society

190. Sebago Brewing Elegans Saison

This was the last beer of last weekend and what a great way to finish. Beautiful sunny Sunday with a nice Saison. Many people are not familiar with the style but it seems to be making a comeback in Maine and other parts of the US. I have not had many Saisons but this one seems to be a good example of the style. Beautiful hazy orange color, complex taste with some fruit flavors and a fair amount of sweetness. Finishes slightly bitter (in a good way) and dry. The description below from Sebago is excellent. A really nice looking beer, easy to drink and at just over 6% ABV the 22 oz bottle was just enough. 
Pros: Complex, color

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 6.1% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Sebago Brewing

Brewers Description: Saison is a classic Belgian beer style traditionally brewed by farms to refresh the many seasonal workers. This style is renowned for its complex fruitiness and aroma. Elegans Saison (6.1% ABV) is a smooth ruby red colored winter version brewed with Pineapple Sage, an herb from the mountains of Central America long used as a tension reliever. Pineapple sage (salvia elegans) imparts delicate fragrances of lemongrass and tangerine to compliment the bready malt aroma and caramelized sugar flavors. A balanced bitterness ends each sip and cleanses the palate, leaving you thirsty for more. Elegans Saison is a limited-release Single Batch Series beer, available beginning February 17th on draft at all Sebago Brewing Company locations and in 22oz bottles at better beer stores throughout New England.

189. Sebago Brewing Saddleback Ale

Had this one on Friday night after a very good beer tasting event at The Vault in Lewiston. Since I had already had a variety of beer from Allagash and Penobscot Bay Brewing I decided to keep it light. After a week of drinking imperial and double IPAs with ABV%s in the 8-11% range a 4.1% session beer seemed weak. Color is a pale  yellow with small white head. Aroma has some malt and floral aspects but nothing overwhelming. Taste is light and crisp, Sebago describes this as the perfect session beer and they are right. Grab a 6-pack when you are headed to a family gathering and enjoy. 
Pros: Easy drinking

Cons: Not a lot of flavor

Alcohol Content: 4.1% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 20
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Sebago Brewing

Brewers Description: Saddleback Ale is a crisp light all malt beer with roots from an Eastern European lager. The Czech hops balance the pale malt, revealing balance and natural drinkability. Saddleback Ale is the perfect session beer.

188. Sebago Brewing Full Throttle Double IPA

After a  week of drinking some very good west coast IPAs it was good to come back to a Maine brewer and try another Double IPA. This one is from Sebago Brewing and is available on tap and in 4-packs at selected retailers. Their website says this will be available in March and April but I hope they keep it around. Everyone that I know that has tried it really enjoyed it. Color is typical of a double IPA orange with a single finger white head. Aroma of citrus and pine hops, no alcohol which is great as that can turn off some that are not used to the high ABV of double IPAs. Taste is exactly what I look for in a double IPA. Lots of citrus hops that kick in after some initial caramel malts. Beer is slightly bitter and medium bodied. Finishes clean and dry making you want more almost immediately. Very easy to drink and something that I will probably include in future trades and the Beer it Forward I am part of. Also need to make my way to a Sebago Brewing location so I can try it on tap. Anyone want to join me??
Pros: Hop flavor, well balanced, local and fresh

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 8.2% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 85
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Sebago Brewing

Brewers Description: Big juicy American hops burst from this unfiltered deep amber ale. The caramel sweetness takes a backseat only to the abundance of citrusy, piney flavors and aromas. Dominated by Cascade, Centennial, Chinook and Falconer's Flight hops, our double IPA has been dry-hopped for over a month.

148. Sebago Brewing Lake Trout Stout

This is another of my purchases from Trader Joe's in Portland. Beer pours a great inky black with minimal tan head. Aroma has plenty of malt and a bit of coffee. Taste is what I expect from a stout however I am often disappointed. This one does not disappoint with the taste following the dark color with lots of malt, light coffee and chocolate tones. Smooth finish and reasonable ABV make this one easy to drink and enjoyable. I really enjoy brews by Sebago Brewing and if you like dark stouts please give this one a try. 
Pros: Black color, easy to drink

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 5.8% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 32
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Sebago Brewing

Brewers Description: Lake Trout Stout is midnight black with a thick and creamy head. It is a full bodied stout brewed with oatmeal and plenty of hops to balance the roasted barley. Our stout is an experience. It tastes the same way it looks - dark and rich. It is named after the famous deep water Sebago Lake Togue or Lake Trout which inhabit the depths of Maine's deepest lake. Enjoy.

137. Sebago Brewing Midnight Porter

This is a very good example of an American porter. The beer pours an almost black color with tan head that sticks around. Aroma has lots of roasted malt and taste is what I would expect from a porter. Well balanced and easy to drink. Overall another quality offering from Sebago Brewing. 

Pros: Color, aroma

Cons: A little thin for a porter

Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 35.8
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Sebago Brewing

Brewers Description: A dark ale with ruby red hue and dry chocolate finish. Midnight Porter is a blend of Old World style and New World flavor. Our Porter is based on the traditional English style that was designed to be lighter than a stout and more drinkable at any time of day. It was popular among the laborers of the early 1800s and derives its name from this group of people. Caramel malts give this ale body and Black patent and chocolate malts provide its rich, chocolate-like flavor and ruby hue.

115. Sebago Brewing Slick Nick Winter Ale

This one is very similar to the Samuel Adams Winter Ale. Great dark color and thin head, smells of spice and malt. Taste seems slightly watered down and not what I expected from what is listed as a Stong Ale. I was hoping for something a bit bigger in taste and higher ABV but overall this is a good beer with a great name and very nice art work on the bottle. 
Pros: Color, easy to drink

Cons: Feels watered down

Alcohol Content: 6.2% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 38.8
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Sebago Brewing

Brewers Description: Slick Nick Winter Ale is our most popular seasonal ale. The caramel and black malts we use to brew Slick Nick gives it the deep amber color. This insidious brew is best enjoyed during New England's freezing winter months. Slick Nick himself is pictured on our label casing out the Victoria Mansion in Portland Maine on a blustery night. Warm up with one of Maine's best winter offerings.