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.

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7.2
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Sampled at the brewery. Deep ruby color. Aroma is estary yeast, bubblegum, citrus, and spice. Malt gives this a chewy / beefy texture. Leans on full body with a spicy pepper to help balance. Quite lovely as it warms. Yet, the booze does show.

Tried on 17 Jan 2019 at 17:14


6.9
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Taster at the brewery. Deep reddish color. Aroma shows all yeast, toasted green, and light molasses. Flavor has earthy European malts, brown bread, and the lagered yeast. Body and texture are correct for the style. Spot on the style.

Tried on 17 Jan 2019 at 17:04


7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Draught at Black Birch, 8/10/18.
Minimally hazy-to-clear, peach-blonde-brass. White head atop is small and wispy, fading steadily to a ring.
Pine, grapefruit, marmalade, lemon pepper and other of the C-hop usual suspects fill the nose, though it's not terribly aggressive nor full of twangy resin or alcohol. Some yellow fruit with biscuit, cracker and moderate honey-like malts balance, while leaving a strong emphasis on the hops, particularly orange and graepfruit. No alcohol or flaw.
In the mouth it's moderately bitter with strong lemon, pine and grapefruit. A West Coast IPA that attempts a good balance, which it mostly achieves, though it dries heavily on the end and the lemon and grapefruit is quite strong and bitter. Still, the texture is malty and it's well-attenuated and tightly carbonated. Clean and no alcohol.

Tried on 13 Sep 2018 at 14:20


7
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

4 oz. drat at York River Landing. Amber in color, mild carbonated bubbles. Aroma and flavor are the same. Yeast is subtle, mild grains, a slightly spicy finish. Clove notes, lighter body. No Alcohol noticed. Feels lighter than the gravity.

Tried on 05 Jul 2018 at 09:38



7.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Draught at Ginger Man, 11/9/17.
Dark ebony with deep magenta highlights on the edges, good clarity and a light tan head atop showing moderate retention.
Strong ashy-char in the nose showcases the roasted barley and black malt fully. Light vanilla, soy, bitter chocolate and light caramel signify it should be quite dry in the mouth. No alcohol or flaw.
Dry indeed, but with a soft, velvety, milk chocolate redolent texture with just enough malt sweetness. Salty char takes over, leading to prunes, vinousness and more dark chocolate on the end. Low but engaging carbonation, good attenuation, no alcohol or flaw. Very flavorful and well-done.

Tried on 22 Mar 2018 at 15:35


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Draught at Ginger Man, 11/9/17.
Amber with light chestnut and opposite to that, bronze hues and a small white head atop showing moderately-low retention. Good clarity, exhibiting a bit of chill haze, only.
Strong caramel-biscuit up front with light pepper character in the background, but pretty low on both hop or phenolic. Light red fruits (strawberry, apple) enter in to the mix, but it remains very heavily malt-dominated to the point of monotony.
Thankfully, the flavor comes out much better, with a strongly malty texture that is nonetheless well-attenuated and light spiciness (can't tell if from hop or phenol). Initially I get some odd, almost sour bile character, but it fully passes as the beer breathes and it has floral, spice and biscuity, caramel-heavy malts lingering on the finish. I'd certainly prefer it with far less specialty malt character, but it's well-done otherwise.

Tried from Can on 21 Mar 2018 at 21:01


7
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Cask (gravity) @ GBBF 2016, [ Great British Beer Festival 2016 ], London Olympia, Hammersmith Road, London, England W14 8UX. [ As Tributary O.O. Stout ].Clear dark black brown colour with a small, fizzy, virtually none lacing, fully diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, roasted, dark malt, chocolate, light plum. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a long duration, sweet malt, chocolate, dark malt, plum - dark fruit. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is flat. [20160809] 7-2-8-3-15

Tried from Cask on 13 Mar 2018 at 16:04


7.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Tap at Ginger Man, Boston. Colour is clear brown with small white head. Aromas and flavors: Chocolate, bread, dryness, some coffee and roasted malts. Some hints of smoke too. Pretty good clean dark lager.

Tried from Draft on 13 Feb 2018 at 17:38


8.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5

Imported from my RateBeer account as Tributary Mott the Lesser (by Tributary Brewing Company):
Aroma: 8/10, Appearance: 4/5, Taste: 9/10, Palate: 5/5, Overall: 17/20, MyTotalScore: 4.3/5

19/XI/17 - 1Pt. 0.9Fl. Oz. bottle from a trade, shared @ home - BB: n/a, spring 2015 vintage (2017-1890) Thanks to Amy for the trade!

Clear dark brown beer, big irregular creamy beige head, pretty stable, bit adhesive. Aroma: lovely stuff, sweetish, lots and lots of chocolate, some caramel, cocoa powder. MF: soft carbon, medium to full body. Taste: lots of chocolate, alcohol, cocoa powder, sweetish, malty, some molasses, spicy touch. Aftertaste: chocolate, malty, mocha, vanilla, caramel, soft bitterness from the hops. Nice stuff!

Tried from Bottle on 19 Nov 2017 at 18:14


Brewery Stats
Score 6.93
Beers81
Ticks171