Brewing for A Cause – Sebago Trekker Pale Ale

What beer geek or home brewer wouldn’t jump at the chance to be brewer for a day at a major brewery? Sebago Brewing Company offered just that chance on Saturday for a lucky few people at their annual “Brewing for a Cause.”

A handful of participants – ranging from avid home brewers to craft beer drinkers looking for something fun to do together – bought tickets to spend the day at Sebago, with the proceeds donated to the American Lung Association via Team Sebago and the Trek Across Maine.

The Trek Across Maine is an annual fund raising bike ride benefiting the American Lung Association. The 180 mile trip starts at Sunday River and finishes three days later at the Steamboat Landing in Belfast. Registered riders collect pledges and donations in support of the American Lung Association. This year’s Trek takes place on June 14-16 and includes three 60-mile legs.

As a fundraiser for Team Sebago and to raise awareness for the Trek Across Maine, Sebago Brewing is on its third year of brewing a special beer for the event. Brewing for a Cause participants got to take place in brewing two batches of Trekker Pale Ale (and as a bonus also get to take home a case of it when it is released in May).

I got a chance to try Trekker last year when it was released, and it was a flavorful and hoppy beer. It has a slightly orange color and has a really nice finish to it. A great pale ale to try when you see it around town, and I’m looking forward to its release in a few weeks.

When I arrived, participants were already hard at work milling in and taking turns clearing spent grain from the mash.

Brewer Jon Clegg lead most of the morning’s activities, giving his perspective on his time at Sebago and the joys (and challenges) of brewing beer.

Check out a slideshow of photos from the day here:

Sebago “Brewing for a Cause” 04/20/13

Throughout the day, folks chatted with Sebago staff while they took part in each step of the brewing process, including cleanup.

As an additional treat, lunch was provided, along with some samples of Sebago Brewing Company beer. Samples of BUB, their Black IPA and Smalls, a “small beer” which is brewed from the second runnings of their Barleywine. A still-in-development rye based beer was on hand as well. The biggest thrill for me, however, was to get a taste of the hefeweizen, straight from the tank. It doesn’t get any fresher and more delicious than that moment.

Trekker Pale Ale will be ready in a few weeks, after the yeast kicks into gear. I hope that you have as much fun drinking it and supporting the American Lung Association as the participants did brewing it!