2 O'Clock Tasting: 
Baxter Brewing Company

Updated on March 29, 2016

Located in the Lewiston/Auburn community in Maine, Baxter Brewing Co. is the first brewery in New England to can all of its beer. With a focus on sustainable brewing Baxter uses 50% post-consumer recycled aluminum cans, wind power for their electricity as well as redistribute their spent grain to feed local cattle and compost their discarded hops.

Since opening it's doors in 2011, Luke Livingston, the owner and founder of Baxter, has been trying to keep up with locals and neighboring states begging for more beer and even landed a spot on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” in the Food and Wine category. The brewery continues to expand within their space at the Bates Mill complex in Lewiston. There you can always find Baxter's year-round brews or seasonal, small batch series at their tap room and in-house retailer. And if you’re in New England (or in the newly distributed to New York) be on the lookout for these colorful cans. Tried these or other Baxter beers? Let us know how you liked them in the comments!

1. Ceremony

   4.2% ABV

   Baxter Brewing Co. celebrates its fourth anniversary with this session IPA. Brewed with matcha green tea and gunpowder green tea, this IPA uses Chinook, Mosaic and Sorachi Ace hops. We took note of its fine carbonation, and transparent straw color. Floral hops mask the green tea on the nose. Delightfully subtle, the green tea flavor comes through on the taste and lingers on the tip of the tongue after taking a sip. With a bit of bitterness and a bit of tannin, this limited edition session IPA has a lovely balance of flavor.

2. Pamola Xtra Pale Ale

   4.9% ABV

   The cold conditioning of this pale ale gives it crystal clarity. With a color of damp straw, this year-round brew from Baxter has a nose to match. It smells like grain and straw, with hints of sour citrus. The taste is malty and almost Pilsner-esque with a bit of bite at the end. Overall it’s very balanced, malt-forward and clean. We could easily see ourselves out on a patio on a warm day throwing back a couple of Pamolas with friends.

3. Stowaway IPA

   6.9% ABV

   With five different hops, this IPA experienced a double-dry-hopping procedure. This brew was also cold conditioned, as are many of Baxter’s beers. The appearance thus has that same clarity and is burnt orange in color (we couldn’t help but think of that distinct comic orange that is Garfield the cat) with an ivory head. With hops at the forefront, the aroma is, of course, hoppy to say the least. But with five different hops involved, it is more difficult to distinguish distinct scents. Small whiffs of tangerine are certainly present, which carries over to the palate. The Stowaway has the bitterness of the white pith of a citrus fruit and is hoppy, astringent and a bit dry.

4. Window Seat

   6.0% ABV

   This American porter brewed with coconut and almonds looks just like a Coca-Cola when poured. And for being a porter, it looks fairly transparent and not too heavy, but light in body. The scents from this beer appear as soon as you open the can. Toasted almond and coconut, the nose is sweet like molasses. Quite simply put, it smells like vacation. We wouldn’t mind sitting at the window seat on the airplane printed on the can, waiting to take us to a beach where we can drink a couple of these brews.

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