Comments on: Thunder Hole Ale – Bar Harbor Brewing Co

By: Scott-TheBrewClub

Scott-TheBrewClub — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:09:53 +0000

@twr – thanks for the background. Many small brewers start in much the same way as you describe – in the basement, or perhaps the garage, and then grow as the product takes off. While I thought this particular beer was pretty bad, their Cadillac Mountain Stout was wonderful!

As far as the beers being different when new people take over, that too seems quite common, sometimes better and sometimes for the worse.

By: twr

twr — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:48:54 +0000

First off, I don’t touch, beer, ale or a few other things so I can’t give a taste evaluation. But maybe I can give you some history/explanation. Bar Harbor Brewing was a husband and wife microbrewery located down the road a few miles in Otter Creek. It was actually in the basement of their home and was about as hand-crafted as you can get. They brewed, bottled, labeled and distributed it themselves. I’m not sure when they started but I first knew them in the early to mid 90s. These are the ales that won all the awards (I believe there were several). A few years back, they sold the business to a competing larger brewer in Bar Harbor, not sure of the name. I think it was similar, Bar Harbor something, but it may have been Atlantic. From what I hear, it’s just not the same stuff.

By: Scott-TheBrewClub

Scott-TheBrewClub — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:10:10 +0000

@k3vo – nice assessment, and thanks for commenting! Unlike the Thunder Hole here, I truly enjoyed the Cadillac Mtn Stout. Great beer that I wish I could get more of!

By: k3v0

k3v0 — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:53:36 +0000

i haven’t had the thunder hole but the bomber of cadillac mtn stout i have is good. it’s a nice middle ground stout, heavier than an irish but lighter than an imperial. good balance between the maltiness and the hops.

By: Scott-TheBrewClub

Scott-TheBrewClub — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:28:52 +0000

Well, I cant check the bottle of Thunder Hole, but my unopened bottle of Bar Harbor 'Cadillac Mountain Stout' (12 oz) says "Brewed and Bottled by Bar Harbor Brewing Company Bar Harbor, Me." So, it seems this stuff is not contracted out. Hmmm. .-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Legbiter Ale – Strangford Lough Brewing Company =-.

By: Scott-TheBrewClub

Scott-TheBrewClub — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:09:54 +0000

@Jim – you got me! I’m just not sure which one is my thunderhole?

@Royce – I didn’t think much of the name as I know its named after a place in Maine on the coastline. It wasn’t until nate came along that the name changed in my mind altogether! Actually, I’d love to try a 22oz or have it on tap if I get up to Maine again to taste the difference.

@Melissa – I know you read all this, so its not a dig against you! Keep the beer coming!!!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..What’s Your Favorite Summer Beer =-.

By: Royce

Royce — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:46:29 +0000

Agree with nate that the name Thunder Hole is amazing / terrifying. Also thanks to Jeff for pointing out the contract brewing ways of this brewery and beer. Needless to say I will not be sampling Thunder Hole anytime soon (hey-oh). .-= Royce´s last blog ..Tech Thursday- Windows Phone 7 Review by Wired =-.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:00:11 +0000

You’re just talking out yer thunder hole, Scott!

By: Scott-TheBrewClub

Scott-TheBrewClub — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:53:57 +0000

@Jeff – THANKS! I’ll check my bottle of Cadillac Mountain Stout when I get home to see if this is the deal, and it makes a lot of sense actually. I had a bottle of Blueberry Ale made by Atlantic last year that was rather weak too.

Here it is…
http://thebrewclub.com/2009/05/31/blueberry-beer-review-bar-harbor-blueberry-ale/
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Thunder Hole Ale – Bar Harbor Brewing Co =-.

By: Jeff from DrinkCraftBeer.com

Jeff from DrinkCraftBeer.com — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:50:01 +0000

Hey Scott, I’m fairly certain that Bar Harbor hasn’t brewed their own 12 oz bottled beer in a while. I think this is being made out of Shipyard now, which would explain the difference from Charlie Papazian’s review and the current product.

Bar Harbor was bought by Atlantic Brewing Co. a little while ago and now, like I said, the bottle production is contracted out. The bombers are supposedly more like the original as their brewed either at Bar Harbor or Atlantic Brewing (saw some evidence both ways and didn’t have time to dig in).

If you look at the label, there should be language somewhere in the line of “Brew for XYZ company by XYZ Brewing Company.” That usually helps answer who is doing the contract brewing.