Summer time is special in so many different ways, but one of my favorite summer activities is loading up a cooler with a few choice cold ones and having a little beer adventure. With so many local breweries canning their beer now, it has never been easier to load up the Yeti (or in my case the $10 Ocean State Job Lot oversized lunch bag) with some great, fresh local suds.

So, what is in my cooler at the moment? Here’s a quick rundown. 

*blows out candle*

There. We don’t need that anymore. After about five days in the dark, the trees are off the lines and the power is back on at Gneiss Brewing Company. The rogue storm that took out power to more than 300,000 households and businesses across Maine on October 30 affected quite a few breweries as well.

Three Pint Stance presents: An Interview with Gneiss Brewing Company Co-Founder, Tim Bissell.

This week on the Three Pint Stance, we were lucky enough to sit down with Tim Bissell, Co-Founder and Director of Marketing and Sales at Gneiss Brewing Company in Limerick who agreed to chat with 3PS’s own Tim Bissell about their upcoming 4th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday Oct. 7 from noon - 6 p.m.

(Editor’s note: You’re killing me, Bissell. Ah, whatever. You’re just going to do what you want anyway. Happy anniversary, Gneiss.)

I know we haven’t met, but I know who you are. You’ve been drinking craft beer for a few years now, and you have really developed a passion and understanding for good, fresh beer. You’ve done the growler thing, but notice that you fill fewer and fewer growlers. You opt for enjoying your beers out at the pub/brewery or maybe you’re buying more cans/bottles than before. You’ve noticed that sometimes, the beer just tastes better at the bar. 

This past weekend, Gneiss Brewing Company was lucky enough to be invited to pour at BeerAdvocate’s Extreme Beer Festival in Boston. EBF is one of the most well-known festivals this side of the Mississippi, and with good reason. It is a festival where some of the best breweries in the country come together to celebrate beer that pushes boundaries and redefines what a beer can be. 

Most dedicated craft beer fans know what it takes to make beer. Barley, hops, water and yeast, mix it all together and voila, beer! Well, aside from the obvious point - that there is much more to it than that – the thing a lot of people don't realize is that barley isn't the be-all, end-all of brewing grains. Sure, Barley is the most commonly used grain when it comes to making beer, but other grains can bring lots of complex and interesting flavors to your beer. 

Most of the time, drinking beer is a sedentary experience, and for the most part I am OK with that. When you want to drink a beer, usually you want to relax and enjoy it; there is certainly nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, however, you want a little more action with your ale, or perhaps a little stretch with your stout. Luckily, local breweries have caught on to theses desires and are offering a variety of beer-themed activities.

2016 is soon to become the year that was, and now is the time for looking back, reflecting, and making numbered lists about things.

This is a numbered list about beer.

I know what you're probably thinking - 'Another Thanksgiving themed column?! Tim is really milking this holiday for content.'

The most gluttonous holiday of the year is swiftly approaching, and while most of the focus is usually on the side dishes and main courses, I want to talk a bit about the beverage options at the Thanksgiving table.