Wrapping up the beer report of my trip to Maine…

We spent our summer vacation based in Belfast, Maine, just 50 miles away from one of my favorite places in the world — Mount Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park and the resort town of Bar Harbor.

We got an early start on our day trip and spent the morning touring and hiking around Acadia. It was a perfect day, and highlights included a hike around Jordan Pond, a trek up and down the South Bubble, and amazing views from the top of Cadillac Mountain.

We worked up an appetite and headed into Bar Harbor for lunch and a beer. We ate on the outdoor waterfront deck of Stewman’s Lobster Pound, where I enjoyed a Stewman’s Downtown Brown, brewed by Shipyard Brewing Company, and Thunder Hole Ale, brewed by Bar Harbor Brewing Company.

Speaking of which, no trip to downtown Bar Harbor is complete without a visit to the Bar Harbor Brewing Company tasting room.

I sampled Bar Harbor’s three regular offerings:

• Thunder Hole Ale, an excellent sessionable Brown Ale
• Cadillac Mountain Stout, a full-bodied smooth Stout
• True Blue Ale, a crisp Blueberry Wheat Ale with a wonderful blueberry aroma but subtle blueberry flavor

I brought home a mixed six pack of Bar Harbor brews – three each of Thunder Hole Ale and Cadillac Mountain Stout.

Bar Harbor Brewing Company owns another Mount Desert Island-based brewery, Atlantic Brewing Company, and sells the brand out of the tasting room. So I put together a mixed six-pack of different Atlantic brews, and sampled them at home last weekend.

• Bar Harbor Real Ale, a smooth Nutbrown Ale
• Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale, made with Maine wild blueberries
• New Guy IPA, well-hopped, balanced, and smooth
• Mount Desert Island Ginger, a wheat beer spiced with ginger root
• Coal Porter, a sessionable Porter
• Bar Harbor Summer Ale, a light, refreshing ale

I love the line-up from Atlantic Brewing Company, especially the unique Island Ginger, described as a delicately spiced brew with an exotic flavor profile.

The day trip to Mount Desert Island was awesome, with its combination of natural beauty and local craft beer. And the take-home 12-pack was a nice bonus.

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