Featured image courtesy of Atlantic Brewing Company’s Facebook page.

ABV: 5.1%

Some people plan their vacations around tropical beaches, ancient ruins or exotic cities. While all of the above are fantastic options, I decided to plan my vacation this year around hiking and beer. This led me to the shocking realization that despite living in Pennsylvania, I’ve never traveled further north than Boston. How could that be?

Just a few short hours northeast of me are some amazing hiking trails leading to gorgeous mountain views along with some of the most beloved breweries in the country. I could go on and on with a list of the breweries found in these states forever. In fact, Vermont has more breweries per capita than any other state. Now, if this is ever a Jeopardy question, you are bound to get it right. Just make sure to phrase it in a question. What is Vermont, Alex? Correct, $500 for you!

I spent a good month crafting the perfect New England road trip to make sure I hit some highlights in each state I was traveling to. The one place that I was most excited to spend time in was Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island in Maine. I ended up securing a camping site for several days inside the park. Hiking, burgers, s’mores, campfires and delicious beers, it couldn’t be more perfect.

As luck would have it, even camping in the woods, a brewery was not too far away. Located in Bar Harbor, the town closest to the park, were stores, restaurants and bars, so you were never too far away from civilization. Also, found in town was the Atlantic Brewing Company. This brewery originally began as Acadia Brewing in 1990. With humble beginnings, having started in a small café with a maximum capacity of one barrel at a time, the demand for the beer began to increase. As a result, the brewery expanded to where they currently reside, on the grounds of a 10 acre Maine farm that employs native vegetation and local stonework.

Atlantic Brewing Company brews five classic, year round beers and a variety of seasonal and small batches. Of course, when in Maine, you must go blueberry. And with that, I chose one of their classics, the Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale.

This beer is a mainstay; brewed since 1993. Years ago, a local farmer stopped by the brewery with the hope of selling a truck full of wild Maine blueberries. The brewery accepted the offer and that year, debuted the ale at the first ever Maine Brewer’s Festival where it was well received.

The Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale pours a hazy amber color. Blueberries are prevalent in the aroma, but are not overpowering. You also get a slight scent of malts, wheat and a touch of hops. It’s crisp and super drinkable to make this beer easy on the palate. It is also well balanced and just complex enough to keep you engaged. What I loved most about the Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale was that it was a berry ale without an intense fruit flavor. Even someone who is generally not a fan of blueberry beers would enjoy this as it’s just a nice, subtle touch of the flavor.

With its low ABV, it’s the perfect beer to enjoy after hiking trails all day or to just enjoy hanging out by a campfire. It is a tasty and well balanced ale for a perfect summer night.

This beer can be found at select distributors and bars throughout Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and New Jersey. It can also be found directly from the source at the brewery.

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