Ten years ago, we sent our employees their first Best Places to Work in Maine questionnaire. Spanning all aspects of our business—from emotional support to physical workspace to compensation and benefits—and all departments of our company, the questionnaire gave us an accurate picture of how employees felt about working at Allagash.

It’s 1993 and Rob Tod had recently graduated from Middlebury College. While deciding whether to go back to school for geology or do something else, he takes a temporary job as a keg washer at Otter Creek brewing. Two days later, he knows that his time in brewing won’t be so temporary.

To say the important part first: if you have a bottle or can of Allagash White, we recommend that you flip it upside down, gently swirl for about ten seconds, and then flip it back over before enjoying it. This quick process is what we call “rousing the beer’s yeast” and it ensures you have the best possible experience with your Allagash White.

Beer styles are meant to give you an idea of what you’re going to experience, before you experience it. Think of it like a genre of movie, but for beer. In the same way that you know, generally, what to expect when you hear action movie, rom-com, or drama, beer enthusiasts know what to expect when they hear biére de garde, California common, or wee heavy.