Part 3: Falmouth Grows as a Mast Port

Discussed in this post:

• Colonel Thomas Westbrook

• Captain George Tate

“The Admiralty’s avenues for purchasing ship timber had always been rank with politics, graft, and the costs of private monopoly gained by contractors. The King’s Masts, from North America, were no exception.” The Royal Navy acquired masts from licensed London contractors. Those contractors hired agents in New England. Thus, the New England Mast agents were not government employees, but independent businessmen. Many became wealthy and prominent, for example, Thomas Westbrook at Falmouth, and his successor, George Tate.

At this point, we intended to relate some details of Captain Tate’s life and career, but thought, “what about Thomas Westbrook?”

Read More

Part 2: The Most Prejudicial of Colonies

Discussed in this post

• The “King’s Broad Arrow”

• Property and Profits

• Resistance and Rebellion

This post continues from “Kings Pine.” Together with posts still to come, they are a written version of a talk scheduled for 2/6 at Three of Strong Spirits. The event ticket includes a donation to the Locker Project.

In 1685 a Surveyor of Pines and Timber in Maine was appointed and authorized to blaze and reserve the finest trees for the Royal Navy, beginning an increasingly onerous practice that would eventually drive rebellion.

Read More

Discussed in this Post

• Geaghan Brothers King’s Pine IPA, 6.2% ABV 66 IBU

• Eastern White Pine 

• Mast Trade

We recently had a Geaghan Brothers’ King’s Pine IPA.  The beer is a tasty drinkable American IPA, and the label has an image of a pine tree trunk with three slashes, like this /|\.  In a small box, it briefly explains that “King’s Broad Arrow.” We propose to explain it at more length in the following paragraphs.  If you’re only here for the beer, you can stop reading now, and go try any of the Geaghan Brothers products. If you care to read on, the following pairs well with a King’s Pine IPA or any beer you enjoy.

Read More

Discussed in this post:

• The Tate House Museum

• Mast Landing Brewery

• Emerson “Tad” Baker

Benjamin Franklin is famously quoted as saying that beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy.  Since he fished the public domain like Hemingway fished the Gulf Stream, he probably wasn’t the first to say it.  He certainly wasn’t the last to think it.

We had reason to think about Franklin and colonial-era beer recently at the Tate House’s annual Coloniale event.  We enjoyed a brewing-themed tour of the house, led by docents in period garb, followed by a lecture and tasting event at Mast Landing Brewery. 

Read More

Discussed in this post:

• Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA (non-alcoholic) 0.4% abv, 35 IBU, 3.39 rating

One of Portland’s two foremost beer blogging brothers (Pete) has been suspended by his wife the authorities for 60 days as a result of a positive test for a banned substance

Read More

Discussed in this post:

• Beer names and label information, with examples from

  • Rising TIde

  • Mast Landing

  • Goodfire

  • Bissell Brothers

  • Rowley Farmhouse Ales

A couple friends (who will go nameless since they spoke casually, not for publication) have a financial stake in one of the local breweries.  In discussion they complained about the owner-brewer neglecting commerce in favor of art. “He thinks if he brews good original beer people will just find it, drink it, and like it,” said one.  The other called the investment “a silly way to waste a quarter-million dollars.”

Read More

Discussed in this post:

• Pisces, Rising Tide Brewing Co. Portland, ME. Sour - Gose 3.6% ABV No IBU

• 26.2 Brew, Marathon Brewing Co. USA. Golden Ale 4% ABV No IBU

• Rec League, Harpoon Brewery, Boston, MA. Pale Ale 3.8% ABV 35 IBU

• Glitter and Grit, Austin Street Brewery, Portland, ME. Sour - Gose 5.6% ABV No IBU

• Epiphany, Foundation Brewing Co. Portland, ME. IPA - Imperial/Double 8% ABV 85 IBU

• Surfcasting, Oxbow Brewing Co. Newcastle, ME. Grisette  4.5% ABV No IBU

• Seaquench, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE. Sour - Gose - Fruited  4.9% ABV 10 IBU

After several busy weeks and a long, hot tour day, we got together for a beer. 

Read More

Discussed in this Post:

• Marble Brewing Company Desert Fog IPA

• Differences between New Mexico Tasting Rooms and those I’m used to

• Green chiles

Read More

Discussed in this post:

• Light and Dark/Light and Heavy

• Beer server helpfulness

• Forest Gardens

Read More