Tributary Brewing Company
Microbrewery
in
Kittery,
Maine,
United States 🇺🇸
Associated Venue: Tributary Brewing Company
Established in 2014
Contact
10 Shapleigh Rd, Kittery, ME, 03904, United States
Description
One Tributary Leads to Another… that was the aha! moment when Tod Mott and his wife, Galen came upon the name of their new brewery. Tributary Brewing Company is Tod’s long-held dream of brewing his own beer and having his own place to serve it. Tod has been a master brewer for over two decades, working with some of the region’s most renowned breweries. Most fans know him as New England’s brewing legend, the creator of the original recipe of the highly acclaimed Harpoon IPA, and Portsmouth Brewery’s cult-status, Kate the Great Russian Imperial Stout.
We find the inspiration for Tributary beer in the landscape of Southern Maine, with its winding brooks, salt water marshes, and tidal rivers converging into the mighty Piscataqua River. Tod and Galen are passionate environmentalists and understand the critical importance of good, clean water.
Water is the most vital component in the brewing process; Tributary is our metaphor for the delicate brewing process. Tod’s skill, ingenuity, and creativity, combined with our mission to preserve this way of life, results in small batches of Tod’s favorite recipes for traditional, well-balanced, full-bodied beers — many of them! Tributary’s home is the coastal town of Kittery, Maine. We use only the finest malt and hops in our brews for beer lovers locally and beyond.
We find the inspiration for Tributary beer in the landscape of Southern Maine, with its winding brooks, salt water marshes, and tidal rivers converging into the mighty Piscataqua River. Tod and Galen are passionate environmentalists and understand the critical importance of good, clean water.
Water is the most vital component in the brewing process; Tributary is our metaphor for the delicate brewing process. Tod’s skill, ingenuity, and creativity, combined with our mission to preserve this way of life, results in small batches of Tod’s favorite recipes for traditional, well-balanced, full-bodied beers — many of them! Tributary’s home is the coastal town of Kittery, Maine. We use only the finest malt and hops in our brews for beer lovers locally and beyond.
8.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 10
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
5 oz draft. Aroma of grape, soft brandy, oak. Flavor is grape Madeira forward. A lot of rich Madeira barrel with a mild boozy finish. Body maybe a touch thin but… no matter. I love Madeira so this works for me.
Tried
from Draft
on 15 Dec 2024
at 17:17
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
York River draught, 12/12/24. Clear dark auburn. Small, creamy, mocha head. Port and oak with mild roast, mild chocolate and no sign of booze. Lingering plum, prune, vanilla, juicy grape. Strong roast with light char, light vanilla, lots of bakers chocolate and plum. Juicy port with deep malts and high attenuation. Not syrupy or boozey, yet still amply malty. Doesn't kill you with port, but it's well-done and apparent.
Tried
on 12 Dec 2024
at 18:32
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Brewery draught, 12/12/24. Dark chestnut-maple. Small, dark beige head. Mellow port is big in the nose, alongside mild chocolate, honey, and plentiful dark fruit. Low tannin, no alcohol. Clean. Higher attenuation than the base. But still perfectly malty with a delightful oakiness and mellow port notes. Takes a lot of skill to create a mid-gravity BA beer that is neither too thin nor dominated by the barrel but they've done it here.
Tried
from Draft
at
Tributary Brewing Company
on 12 Dec 2024
at 17:58
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Brewery draught, 12/12/24. Clear, ruby-tinged mahogany. Medium-sized, light tan head. Moderate retention. Deep chocolate and moderate roast. Clean and well-attenuated. Little/no hop. No booze. Light vanilla lingering with low dark fruit. Soft, malty, chocolatey with a creamy, sweet, rich base malt and roasty accents on the finish. Great balance and malt depth. Low dark fruits, moderate roast. Clean, no booze.
Tried
on 12 Dec 2024
at 17:53
8.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
Brewery draught, 12/12/24. Hint of chill haze. Bright golden-blonde. Large, creamy, white head, good retention. Bright, juicy, tropical. No punch or resin. Clean, fruity yeast, snappy, white bread malts and lingering round citrus and kumquat-kiwi. Soft, malty, juicy, satisfying and clean with great attenuation. Tropical fruit, white wine, still properly bittered. Love everything going on here. Bright, clarity of big flavors. Nice and dry and snappy finish.
Tried
from Draft
at
Tributary Brewing Company
on 12 Dec 2024
at 17:37
8.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
Brewery draught, 12/12/24. Clear copper-amber. Big, light beige head, moderate retention. Crisp yeast, spicy hops and nutty, mildly spicy rye with some light bread and biscuit. Clean, very aromatic. Malty-chewy-rye-forward with excellent yeast and hop character and good attenuation. Really clean, nicely-balanced and refreshing with deep, satisfying malts and spicy, zesty hops.
Tried
on 12 Dec 2024
at 17:28
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask, third pint. @Nottingham Beer Festival 2024, Nottingham (England). 12/10/2024 [#7.958 Global - #1.681 United States of America - #1 Tributary Brewing Company (My Brewery #401 from the States)] Pours amber reddish with a small white head. Aroma: berry juice, yeast, wood barrels and phenols. Taste watery berries and yeast. Light bodied. Next one, please!
Tried
from Cask
on 29 Nov 2024
at 11:21
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
On tap at the source with Paul Lightly hazy deep straw bordering on gold with a decent sized bubbly white head that slowly dissipates. Bready crackery maltiness bits of earthy spicy floral hops. Faint stone fruit Pretty tasty.
Tried
from Draft
on 04 May 2024
at 21:35
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
On tap at the source with Paul Dark brown black in color with a decent sized tan head that slowly recedes. Rich roast and creamed coffee and chocolate with its of vanilla and earth.
Tried
from Draft
on 04 May 2024
at 21:32
6.2/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 4
Overall 8
One too many brews this evening. Light gold colored. And sudsy white head. Nose is herbal and some citrus. Tastes of lemon, grass, green onion, coriander. Light bodied.
Tried
on 28 Aug 2023
at 04:48