Foreword

With no end to social distancing and self-quarantining in sight, now is more important than ever to support your local brewery. Good news – Mason’s is making this easy by allowing you to order your favorite brews online. Visit their site to place an order for pickup on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bar Harbor Trippin Continued

A little over an hour after leaving Cushnoc in Augusta, ME we arrived at Masons – located in the aptly named Brewer, Maine, just across the Penobscot River from Bangor. If I lived in a place called Brewer, I’d probably would open my own brewery too.

Masons was actually an unplanned stop. My original destination was Orono Brewing in Bangor – at the recommendation of a friend. Unfortunately, Orono wouldn’t open for another few hours, and we had a strict itinerary to follow. Instead, we stumbled upon Masons, and I’m glad we did.

The Mighty Penobscot

I’m not sure if there’s an unwritten rule in Maine that a brewery has to be located next to a river, but Mason’s was the second brewery of the day with a prime riverfront view.

The brewery itself is very modern, with contemporary furnishing and some nice wood work. It was a good combination between beer hall and light industrial. However, it was the view of the Penobscot that dominated the cavernous space.

We got settled at the bar and take a look at the options. I was happy to learn that yes, I could order a flight. So I built my hipster lineup of brews to sample:

• Brown – First up was a full bodied American Brown Ale that I wish I had to go with the pizza I had an hour earlier.
• Mosaic Hipster Apocalypse – Apparently, this beer tries to capture what its like to believe that its the end of the world before it was cool…but with mosaic hops. Or maybe its a statement of what happens when there’s a shortage of tight jeans, plaid shirts and thick rimmed glasses? At any rate, this flagship beer wasn’t the end of the world. It was a solid IPA with some hints of earthly pine for flavor and citrus, making this a very drinkable IPA.
• Hipster Viking – I’m not sure if hipster vikings only pillage countries you’ve never heard of or only do so ironically, but there’s nothing ironic about this beer. Hipster viking is a solid New England IPA, complete with a bite of hoppy goodness.
• Hoppy Saison – This farmhouse ale brewed with citra hops had a nice spice to it and was a bit on the heavier side. Definitely not your typical saison.

As much as we would have liked to sit by the Penobscot River and be entranced by its calm waters and taste more beer, our final destination – Bar Harbor – was still over an hour away.

Final Verdict

Masons was a pleasant discovery just outside of Bangor, Maine. With a prime riverfront view, outdoor seating, a full kitchen and a set of good brews, its a great detour off the 95 or if you’re visiting Bangor.  

Information
Mason’s Brewing Company
https://masonsbrewingcompany.com/
15 Hardy Street
Brewer, ME 04412