A little salty, a little sour, Oxbow Brewing Co.’s Surfcasting captures the essence of the seasoned shore-bound striper fisherman in a light, easy-drinking grisette-style beer.
Matt Haeffner and I had a chance to tip back a few Surfcastings last week at the Plugs and Mugs event held at Oxbow Blending and Bottling in Portland, Maine. It was the first surf fishing show in Maine, and came together thanks to the efforts of Owen Wagner, owner of Vacationland Bait and Tackle, Tim Adams of Oxbow Beer, with help from surf fishermen throughout Northern New England.
The event brought together custom plug builders like ME Fishing Co, 247 Lures, Striper Maine-iac, Gremlin Lures, and Captain Tying Knots, while Frank Goncalves displayed the latest Lamiglas surf rods. Renowned fly-tyer Ben Whalley was there spinning up teasers and hookless flags, and donating the proceeds to striped bass conservation. It was a great event, and I had a blast talking with the surfcasters who catch the stripers at the northernmost part of their migration.
From the Oxbow Brewing Website:
“Oxbow is a small farmhouse brewery located in rural Newcastle, Maine. The brewery is nestled in an enchanted forest amongst rolling farmlands and winding tidal rivers, of which the ebb and flow provide a constant reminder that the coast is near.
The name Oxbow is inspired by the bends in these rivers, the Dyer in particular, which features stunning horseshoe-shaped oxbows where the river covers tremendous ground to travel what could otherwise be a very short linear distance. We employ a similar approach when crafting our beers, taking months or years to create a beverage that is commonly produced in a matter of days.”
Tim Adams, founder of Oxbow Brewing Company is an avid angler and throws one hell of a party, whether it’s at the Oxbow Blending and Bottling in Portland or the Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford.
Unsurprisingly, Surfcasting seemed to be the most popular beverage at Mugs and Plugs. Oxbow describes it as a “farmhouse ale with sea salt and lime.” The result is light and refreshing, an ideal summertime beer, best enjoyed with a surfside view, or at least outdoors while plotting the following morning’s surfcasting trip.
Next summer, I can’t wait to get back to Maine for a few more Surfcasting ales and to look for my first ever surf striper in Vacationland.
Have a suggestion for a Fish Beer Review? Let us know in the comments, or email Matt at mhaeffner@onthewater.com
