Search
Resorts & LodgesVacation RentalsDeals & PackagesTravel Guides
List Your Property

Black Fly Brewfest: Maine’s Top Up and Coming Craft Beer Festival

Situated in beautiful Eastern Maine, right on the Canadian border, Houlton, Maine, is the ideal location for your next getaway. The history of Houlton dates back to 1805, when the Houlton (town's namesake) and Putnam families first settled in the area. In 1828, the Hancock Barracks were established by the Army, and by 1831 the barracks helped the town grow to the point where it needed to be incorporated. As the years passed, the town became a hub for agriculture, logging and commerce. The local economy flourished and it continued on that pace until the beginning of WWI. In 1927, the first transatlantic phone line was established by AT&T and the receiving station was placed just a couple miles outside of downtown, introducing more people into the growing city.

 

As WWII began to ramp up in Europe, the U.S. Army moved back into town. In 1941 and they built the Houlton Army Airbase. The airbase was only open until 1944, but it served an important role in advancing the war effort and protecting Maine and Southeast Canada from potential attacks. The rest of the century saw Houlton grow into an important center for farming and manufacturing. The city now has over 6,100 residents and is the county seat for Aroostook County.

 

Things to do in Houlton are numerous and will appeal to a wide spectrum of fun seekers. Outdoor enthusiasts will instantly fall in love with the lush surroundings, scenic parks and the sheer amount of outdoor activities, some of which include: ATV riding, camping, hiking, taking nature photographs, watching wildlife, biking and much more. If you're looking for some indoor activities, Houlton has some great boutique shops to check out, great dining options, live entertainment venues, as well as a fun and educational museum. A great time to visit this tight knit community is during one of their events or festivals, like the brand new Black Fly Brewfest.

 

Even though this is the first year of the Black Fly Brewfest, it's already making an impression on the community and building a following. In fact, during this first event they are expecting over 1,200 people in attendance. Held at the John A. Millar Civic Center, this 21+ event will showcase around 30 breweries and some of the best craft beer creations in Maine. Aside from the delicious brews, there will be a wide selection of food being sold by a multitude of different vendors. If you're looking for a unique experience, in a friendly and fun community, head to Houlton for the Black Fly Brewfest; it’s shaping up to be a premier craft beer experience! ResortsandLodges.com got the chance to interview Jane Torres of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce, to talk about this fun event.

 

RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.

JT: This is a first year Brewfest that has completely exploded through social media and word of mouth. The Chamber of Commerce has wanted to sponsor an adult-based event for a couple of years and due to the growing popularity of Craft Brewers in Maine, we thought it would be a perfect fit.

 

Aroostook County is the largest county in Maine and possibly the least explored. We are certainly a hidden treasure with beautiful farm land, great outdoor sports and excellent community ties. Fishing, skiing, ATV riding, snow sledding, bike trails -- you name it and we’ve got it. If you like to be out in nature, Houlton is a great place to explore.

 

RAL: What makes the event unique?

JT: Years ago we were known as “The Garden of Maine” and we certainly have something to offer the craft brewers. Potatoes have been our main crop, but now farms are sprouting up that grow malting barley and hops for the Craft Brew Industry. Malting Barley can be grown as a cover crop, processed, and sold as a beer ingredient.

 

RAL: Tell me about what people will find at the festival.

JT: The Maine Brewers Guild has partnered with the Chamber for the event to encourage more brewers to make the trip. Our food vendors include Blaze Restaurant’s Blazin’ Wagon, where wood fired ovens will be cooking up some awesome food. There will be a vendor selling lobster rolls and two other vendors cooking their speciality dishes.   

 

This year’s event will feature over 30 craft brewers, two wineries, Maine Malt House, a store that sells beer making supplies, food vendors, and numerous others that will add to the festivities of the day. We expect between 1,200 and 1,500 tickets to be sold, not only to locals but to our friends from Canada, and beyond!

 

When the doors open at noon on May 14th, VIP ticket holders will be welcomed with an event t-shirt along and a sampling glass emblazoned with the official Black Fly Brewfest logo. The difficult part will be choosing what beers they want to sample! Each brewer will have two or three different beers, and with over 60 samples to choose from the crowd will not be disappointed.

 

For the VIP’s there will be some hors d’oeuvres and a few special brews that will not be offered to the general admission folks, who are not allowed in until 1:30pm. When they come in the door, they will also receive an event sampling glass. (We are waiting for liquor enforcement to tell us how many samples the General admission folks can have.  We’re guessing this number will be 12-18, but we aren’t sure at this point). The event concludes at 5:00pm.

 

RAL: Tell me about the local lodging situation.

JT: Our official lodging provider is the Shiretown Inn and Suites, where our vendors will be staying, but there are lots of other rooms available there and at two other local motels. We are hoping to make this an annual event, and judging by the huge response to our Facebook page, we won’t be disappointed!

 

RAL: What does this event meant to the community.

Nothing like this has been done in Houlton before. We know how enthusiastic our community is about new events, and to have all of these brewers say they want to come to Aroostook County is huge. We look forward to showing everyone what a great place this is!


For more information about the Black Fly Brewfest, please visit their website.