HOULTON, Maine — Six months ago, a relative gave Daniel Murphy of Caribou a beer brewing starter kit for his birthday.
It was a hobby that he had always been interested in pursuing, Murphy said on Saturday, but he wasn’t quite sure how to get started or what types of beer that he wanted to make.
That is why he made the 60 mile journey down to Houlton on Saturday for the Black Fly Brewfest, a fete that brought a variety of brewers from around the state to the Shiretown.
Sponsored by the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce with assistance from a number of local businesses, the third annual event was held at the Millar Civic Center in Community Park.
Twenty-seven brewers and two wineries were on hand with nearly 100 beers, ciders and wines to sample.
By the time the doors opened for VIP ticket holders on Saturday, a line stretched from the civic center doors up into the parking lot.
Jeff and Pam Powers were two of the brewers on hand at the event, offering products from Bigelow Brewing Co. in Skowhegan. The couple’s microbrewery manufactures products such as Lying Bastard Pale Ale and Dementia Dog Double IPA.
Jamie Colpoys, the Maine and New Hampshire territory manager for Two Roads Brewing Co. in Connecticut, serves a customer at the Black Fly Brewfest in Houlton on Saturday, May 19, 2018. Sponsored by the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce with assistance from a number of local businesses, the third annual event was held at the Millar Civic Center in Community Park. Twenty-seven brewers and two wineries were on hand with nearly 100 beers, ciders and wines to sample. (Jen Lynds)
“This is the third year we’ve taken part in this event, and we love it,” Jeff Powers said. “It is a nice little festival.”
Powers said that he believes that business has increased because of their participation in the brewfest.
“It really helps to talk to people and explain what is going into the product,” he said. “You get that opportunity here.”
Jamie Colpoys, the Maine and New Hampshire territory manager for Two Roads Brewing Co. in Connecticut, also took part in the event.
“This is our first time taking part,” she said on Saturday. “Our distributor reached out and let us know about it and we decided to drive up and check it out.”
The company offers a number of year-round beers, including Road 2 Ruin Double IPA and Workers Comp Farmhouse Ale, and seasonal beers such as Road Jam Raspberry Wheat and Miles 2 Go Unfiltered Pale Lager.
Colpoys’ station was surrounded by customers who were sampling her products out of glasses designed for the event.
One of them was Carol McAfee of Presque Isle, who attended the festival for the third year in a row with three of her friends.
“We make it a point now not to miss this,” she said on Saturday. “I love sampling the different beers that I normally would not buy off the shelf because you don’t get the chance to sample them first. Some of the microbrews can be expensive, so you don’t want to buy a six pack and then hate the taste of it.”
Reggie Tracey of Sullivan drove up to the festival with his wife, Wendy Tracey. Wendy Tracey used to reside in Linneus.
“This is the second year we’ve come to the brewfest,” said Reggie Tracey. “It really is a nice little event. We like the variety of products that are offered.”
Wendy Tracey agreed.
“You don’t realize all that is out there until you come to something like this,” she said. “Plus, we love to help the local economy by returning to spend some money.”
