PORTLAND, Maine — Entrepreneurs in New England’s booming craft beer industry are gathering this week to slake their thirst for knowledge.
The keynote speaker at the New England Craft Beer Summit at the University of Southern Maine is a Seattle brewer who famously left the company he co-founded after his two partners agreed to sell to Anheuser-Busch in 2014.
Dick Cantwell, formerly of Elysian Brewing Co., spends most of his time these days urging new brewers to pay attention to the quality and consistency of their beer.
Maine’s brewers are still learning. Foundation Brewing Co. didn’t release any of its beer the week of St. Patrick’s Day after a technical problem ruined that week’s batches. Co-owner Joel Mahaffey tells the Portland Press Herald that beer lovers are grateful for the high standards.