Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Sixteen Counties, a Belgian-style Golden Ale made with 100% Maine-grown and processed grain, in January 2020.

Conceptualized in 2015 to be a rotating release that brings attention to “the rich tradition of farming in the sixteen counties of Maine,” the 2020 iteration of Sixteen Counties is a Belgian-style Golden Ale featuring “2-Row Malted Barley from Maine Malt House and Blue Ox Malthouse, Raw Wheat from Maine Grains, Oats from Aurora Mills & Farm, and Local Aroostook Hops for bittering.”  Clocking in at 6.5% ABV, Sixteen Counties “offers a balanced citrusy, lightly hopped flavor on a bed of subtle malt character.”

“It’s important to us to help propel the movement that’s building out the sustainability of local grain here in Maine,” said Rob Tod, Founder, Allagash. “Maine grain shines in Sixteen Counties and we’re excited to offer even more ways to enjoy this beer with the launch of cans.”

 

“This beer’s flavor is meant to showcase the quality farming in Maine,” added Jason Perkins, Brewmaster/VP of Brewing Operations, Allagash. “We’re honored to partner with small family farms that, like us, value sustainability so that we can continue to develop Maine-grown beers that give back to the community—and state—that has supported us from the start.”

Sixteen Counties is scheduled to release in January 2020 and will hang around as long as supplies last.  You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans (a new packaging format for 2020) in Maine “and on draft to Allagash’s entire distribution footprint in limited amounts.” Prost!

Vital Information for Sixteen Counties from Allagash Brewing Company

Release – Limited; January 2020
Style – Belgian-style Golden Ale
ABV – 6.5%
Featured Malts – 2-Row Malted Barley from Maine Malt House and Blue Ox Malthouse, Raw Wheat from Maine Grains, Oats from Aurora Mills & Farm
Fun Fact – “As champions of local agriculture in Maine, Allagash began its One Million Pounds of Local Grain initiative to increase their usage of local grain. Since the initiative began in 2017, Allagash has used a total of nearly one million pounds of Maine-grown and processed grain. In 2020 they plan to use 850,000 pounds that year alone and pledged to utilize one million pounds of local Maine grain, per year, by 2021.”
Availability – 4-packs of 16 oz. cans (Maine only) & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.allagash.com/locator/