By Carol McCracken  (Post # 1,436)

“This is our first time in Maine and hopefully there will be opportunties to return,” said Robert Merryman several weeks ago as he was meeting with a bar tender and a beer supplier on site at Portland Yacht Services, 58 Fore Street, Portland.  Merryman, of Shelton Brothers, a Massachusetts company that organizes imported beer festivals in the northeast, said he was in Portland for the last time before The Festival arrives on Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22, 2013.

There will be three sessions that weekend.  The first and only one on Friday, the 21st runs from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm.  Ths second and third sessions are on Saturday, the 22nd.  The first session runs from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and the second from 6:30 pm until 10:30 pm.

With each ticket sold you get a sample glass, 48 tickets for 1 oz samples (that’s the law in Maine) of over 200 of the best beers, ciders and meads from all over the world.  You can use 1 or 2 tickets per pour. You will have the opportunity to meet more than 70 of the best beer, cider and mead makers in the world according to their website.

“This is an opportunity to sample a variety of beers from all over the world,” said Joanna Sprague recently.  “It’s  not an opportunity for people to get drunk.  This is part of a national movement and we are pleased to be part of it.”  Sprague and her husband Phineas own the Portland Complex on which the Festival will be held later this month.

The Festival is presented by 12% Imports and Shelton Brothers.  $2. from each ticket wikll be donated to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland.

Tickets are available at Eventrbrite. com.  Visit www.the-festival.us for more information.