Foreword

My visit to Acadia National Park and Foundation Brewing took place in October 2019, well before the pandemic – just in case you were ready to assemble your pitchforks at the thought of breaking shelter in place orders.

Unfortunately, according to the US Park Service, much of Acadia remains closed at the moment. Good news is that if you’re a Maine resident, Foundation is offering beer to go – details at FoundationBrew.com.

Foundation Brewing Company – Portland, ME

After tackling Atlantic Brewing, hiking the Beehive and dining at the postcard-esque Thurston Lobster Pound, the next day I would face my greatest challenge yet.

Once again, I got up earlier than anyone on vacation ever should, and headed to my next hike in Acadia National Park. When I first heard about the Precipice Trail heading up Mt Champlain, I was thrilled – it just sounded like a ton of fun. After reading some blog posts saying that if I found the Beehive easy, the Precipice trail should provide a healthy challenge, I was up for the challenge.

However, nothing would have prepared me for the white knuckle, leg buckling experience of climbing the near vertical Precipice Trail. Being a veteran of hiking nearly two dozen peaks in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, I’ve had my fair share of encountering challenging sections  of technical climbing, requiring nerves of steel. The Precipice Trail took me to my limits. Hiking in the Whites, you might encounter a small section where if you slip or have the wrong footing, you’re likely going to hurt yourself – possibly severely. Those sections tend to be brief and after getting through them, you can continue hiking as normal. However, the Precipice Trail was one harrowing challenge after another, getting gradually more difficult as you near the summit. I don’t think I have been more terrified in my life. The narrow cliffs and sections where the only thing standing between you and falling several hundred feet is your grip on rocks and metal bars anchored in the bedrock.

Ultimately, I was able to conquer my nerves and reached the summit. Not only did a great sense of accomplishment – and relief – await me at the top, the view was stunning. With the adrenaline still pumping through my veins, I took in the view, ready to conquer the world.

Eventually, I made my way back down an easier, less steep trail that gave me a commanding view of the Jackson Laboratory and Bar Harbor in the distance.

A Journey Home

Soon thereafter, we left Acadia, Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island behind us as we made our way back home to Boston.

We stopped by Young’s Lobster Pound in Belfast Maine for an amazing lunch in a quintessential Maine setting. Like Thurston’s the day before, Young’s might as well be eponymous with Maine itself.

The Foundation of Portland

I’ve been to Portland several times now, and I’m pretty sure there is a Maine law out there that states beer lovers must stop there if they’re passing through.

On past adventures, I indulged in the venerable Allagash, the trendy Rising Tide and the up-and-coming Bunker. However, my time was limited and we wanted to get home at a reasonable hour to decompress and prepare for the upcoming workweek. This trip, I decided on a brewery I’ve always wanted to visit – Foundation.

We arrived an hour before closing time and were quickly served with a fantastic flight of beer. Foundation is one of the breweries that lives up to the hype.

• Hansel – This beautifully crafted Helles Lager was the perfect opening act for the rest of my flight.
• Brazen – Some claim its gimicky, others can’t drink it at all without being sick, but I’m in the camp that believes lactose added to beer gives it a nice smoothness that’s hard to replicate otherwise. This double IPA was not only tasty, but also went down easy.
• Epiphany – A well brewed Maine IPA that will satisfy any hop head.
• Guava’s My Jam – Finishing was a Tart Fruit Ale, perfect for desert.

Finishing my flight, it was time for last call. It was difficult to leave Portland with so many great breweries nearby, but I expect there’s going to be multiple trips to one of the great beer capitals of America before I finish this blog.

Final Verdict

With a strong line-up of beers, Foundation is a worthy stop on any Portland beer adventure. With a host of breweries nearby like Allagash, Definitive and Austin Street, this might just be one of the best brewery districts in the country.

Information
Foundation Brewing Company
http://foundationbrew.com
1 Industrial Way #5
Portland, ME 04103