Our Maine brewery is mentioned in this month's issue of the widely popular beeriodical - Yankee Brew News. 

In the article, found on page 5 in the section A Word from the Editor and titled Beer and the Great Outdoors, Gregg Glaser comments, "Deep into Maine is the Kennebec River Pub and Brewery, located at Northern Outdoors Adventure Resort in The Forks (a town of about 31 people)."  Glaser comments about the many Maine adventure vacations offered at Northern Outdoors, then goes on to say:

"But there is also beer.  Jim Yearwood, a co-owner, is the member of the Northern Outdoors team responsible for starting the Kennebec River Pub & Brewery in 1997.  Why?  It's the same old story in American craft brewing: he was a home brewer who wanted to brew professionally.  Plus with the remoteness of The Forks, it made sense to Yearwood to offer fresh house-brewed beer to the resort's guests."

Read entire article on page 5 of Yankee Brew News Online

Our Maine brewery has come a long way since 1997 and is now a featured stop on the Maine Beer Trail, which spotlights the high quality and creative diversity of fresh hand-crafted Maine made beer.  Cheers to beer and the great outdoors!

Maine Adventure Vacations
Kennebec River Brewery

Oh yeah!  It's official.  Summer is here and Kennebec River rafting is one thing ya gotta do now that school is out.  Northern Outdoors loves having kids go on the river.  We even have custom paddles and life jackets for just for kids, cause we need kid power to get down the river too!

Rafting with Northern Outdoors on the Kennebec River is a great way to experience a classic Maine adventure vacation.  This river is the perfect introduction to Maine whitewater rafting and a sure bet that the kids will be entertained while staying active.  Just check out our video of the week, these two brave souls sat right in the front of the raft.  Bring on the adventure!

Oh, just in case mom and dad are looking to relax over one of our frothy brews after the river trip, we included a quick intro from our master brewer - Mike McConnell.

Maine Brewery

Our Kennebec River rafting trip is Mother Nature's perfect roller coaster ride.  This Maine whitewater rafting trip starts with a brief gathering in the morning at The Forks Resort Center then its off to the river to experience rapids such as Big Mama, Lower Alleyway and Magic Falls.  If water levels allow, your guide will stop at a place called Dead Stream Falls where you can stand right underneath a waterfall! 

Check out this Kennebec River rafting video of the week to see some of the action!

Whitewater Rafting New England
Maine Adventure Vacations

Northern Outdoors is the perfect destination for adventure weddings, just ask our friends at Love & Lobster who recently interviewed us for their blog titled Rustic Weddings: Northern Outdoors.  Love & Lobster assists creative couples seeking clever online inspiration in planning their wedding along New England’s beautiful coastline.  The site provides insider tips, interviews with local venues and vendors, and photographic eye candy. 

Here's a bit from the Love & Lobster interview regarding adventure weddings at Northern Outdoors:

"If the words “outdoor” or “adventure” describe your wedding plans, there’s a gem of a venue tucked in Maine’s upper reaches that’s well worth the drive.

Northern Outdoors boasts an authentic Maine lodge and scenic location in The Forks, a little town perched at the convergence of the Dead and Kennebec rivers, famous among white-water rafting enthusiasts for their thrilling rapids. We checked in with Stephanie Koetzle, a spokesperson for Northern Outdoors, to learn more about how they blend weddings with the wilderness."

To view photos and read the entire article on adventure weddings click here.
At Northern Outdoors, we love adventure and providing an outdoor destination for folks to create lasting memories. Whether it's adventure weddings or classic New England vacations, we've got ya covered!

Maine Adventure Vacations
Love & Lobster

The most iconic place to experience Maine whitewater rafting is on the mighty Penobscot River.  Mount Katahdin, Maine's highest mountain, stands as the backdrop as you navigate through some of the most technical rapids in the east.  

Check out this video of the week of Maine whitewater rafting on the Penobscot River.  It was awesome high water! You'll find a view from inside the raft as paddlers work together to make it through Class IV and V rapids.

Note the incredible blue skies, sunshine and big smiles that made for the perfect Maine whitewater rafting trip!

Maine Adventure Vacations
Whitewater Rafting New England

This past Memorial Weekend was sure one to remember for those that went Dead River rafting with Northern Outdoors.  Originally, we were scheduled for Kennebec River rafting on Saturday and Dead River rafting on Sunday.  But due to the extreme high water levels, from the previous night's rain, we rafted the Dead River on both Saturday and Sunday.  A chance like this hardly ever happens! 

Typically the Dead River releases are scheduled for about eight runs a year.  This is due to the low volume of Flagstaff Lake, the lake behind the Dead River.  After heavy rains though, the gates of Long Falls Dam can only hold back so much water, and in this case, lucky for us!  We had the chance to go Dead River rafting two days in a row! 

Adventurous souls that went on the Dead River Saturday experienced an unexpected 13,500CFS (cubic feet per second) of water.  On Sunday, what was supposed to be 5,500CFS, was a whopping 12,500CFS.  Woot woot!  Check out the video of the week!

Maine whitewater rafting
Maine adventure vacations

Maine adventure vacations come in all shapes and sizes, and many folks that come to Northern Outdoors get here by ATV (all terrain vehicle).  We love it!  But due to the fragile nature of the trails this time of year, the connector trails leading to our Maine ATV trails and resort are closed for another several weeks or so.  The ground is still pretty muddy and wet behind our lodge, and we need a bit more time for the trails to dry.

We understand you still want to ride though cause we do too!  For the time being, our recommendation is to stick to more durable surfaces such as rail trail riding.  A rail trail is characterized as a disused railway that has been converted into a multi-use trail.  The good thing is that Maine's ATV rail trails tend to be flat, long and frequently running through historical areas.

If you plan to experience our Maine ATV trails and resort in the next few weeks, here's our rail trail recommendation:

After arriving at Northern Outdoors, trailer to the Moxie Lake Boat Landing and head to Greenville.  This is an old rail line!  Go straight down the Shirley Tote road and into Shirley.  Then take the railroad bed into Greenville Junction.

The age old saying is "know before you go" so for the latest ATV trail info, just give us a call or check out www.atvmaine.org .

Maine ATV Trails and Resort
Maine Adventure Vacations
ATV Maine




 

The 4th annual American Craft Beer Fest (ACBF) is the east coast's largest celebration of American beer, featuring over 100 American brewers and over 400 beers!  The ACBF is hosted by Beer Advocate and Harpoon Brewery and rounds out the Boston Beer Week: A 10-day celebration of craft beer from Boston and beyond. 

Our very own Kennebec River Brewery will be in attendance offering tastings of the following hand-crafted Maine brewery ales:

Kennebec River India Pale Ale --- American IPA, 5.9%
Kennebec Summer Ale --- American Pale Ale (APA), 5.3%
Whitewater Wheat --- Witbier, 5.5%

Venue:
Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd. in Boston, MA

Date/Time:
Friday Session, June 3 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday Session One, June 4 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday Session Two, June 4 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

We highly recommend purchasing tickets in advance either online or at ticket outlets in the Boston area.  Tickets can be purchased at the door, but they are first come first serve.  Click here for advance ticket information.

Maine is widely known for its award-winning craft beer, and we're proud of the fact that our Maine brewery is on the Maine Beer Trail.  Come celebrate Boston Beer Week with us by attending the American Craft Beer Fest on June 3 and 4.  Guaranteed to be a tasty good time!

The flooding of the town of Flagstaff, in the fall of 1949, created Maine's largest man-made lake and contributed to turning the area into a destination for Maine adventure vacations. 

One of those well-known adventures is Dead River rafting with Northern Outdoors.  The first Dead River rafting trip of the season was Saturday, May 7th, the second one was May 14th.  Which means there's only 6 more high water releases to catch this year!  This 15-mile trip offers a day of paddling through heart-pounding Class III, IV, and V whitewater and avid rafters say that "you haven't rafted Maine until you have been on all three rivers - Dead, Kennebec and Penobscot".

So come join us on the river and experience the excitement of the Dead River!

2011 Dead River Rafting Releases:
Saturday, May 7 = 7,000+ cfs (HUGE water)

Saturday, May 14 = 7,000+ cfs (HUGE water)

Sunday, May 29 (Memorial Weekend) = 5,000+ cfs

Saturday, June 4 = 5,000+ cfs (SOLD OUT)

Saturday, June 11 = 3,500+ cfs (Diablo Sport Rafts)

Sunday, Sept. 4 (Labor Day Weekend) = 5,500+ cfs

Saturday, Sept. 17 = 3,500+ cfs (Diablo Sport Rafts)


This is a three part blog so be sure to read Dead River Rafting Part 1 and Dead River Rafting Part 2.

Kennebec River rafting is always fun.  Throw a little extra water into the mix and the trip becomes down right AWESOME!  The standard water level for Kennebec River rafting is 4,800CFS (cubic feet per second), and this past weekend we rafted on 8,500CFS of water.  When the river is this high, waves like Big Mama, normally a 12 foot roller coaster-like wave, turns into a 22 foot even Bigger Mama!

So check out this quick video of the week.  It's of Kennebec River rafting with Northern Outdoors at the bonus level of 8,500CFS.  Some pretty heroic Maine whitewater rafting!

Maine whitewater rafting in the spring is pretty epic, just check out our video clip of the week from this past weekend.  Early season high water makes for an exciting and adrenaline pumping day on the river.  Follow this up with a BBQ lunch and other lodge amenities like a giant hot tub and Maine brewery...and well, let's just say "Life is Good"!

Epic high water conditions, over 9,000CFS on the Dead River, and over 10,000CFS on the Kennebec River this past weekend! Yee-haw!

Here's what folks were treated to while Dead River Rafting on Saturday and Kennebec River Rafting on Sunday with Northern Outdoors.

Dead River rafting would not exist without the creation of Maine's largest man-made lake - Flagstaff Lake.  In the fall of 1949, the Dead River was diverted, and as a consequence, the towns of Flagstaff and Dead River were flooded.  The State of Maine believed that the flooding of the towns was critical for two reasons: to help meet the increasing demand of the state's electrical power needs and as a measure to maintain flood control of the lower Kennebec River.

For many folks, Flagstaff Lake is a sign of progress and viewed as the place where the old Maine and the new Maine came together.  The Dead River Area Historical Society maintains a memorial room, which shares the lineage and artifacts of several native families, to honor the lost towns of Flagstaff and Dead River.  At the time of flooding, residents of the two towns were forced to relocate so the lake could be made by the newly constructed dam.  Many homes, barns and community buildings can still be found deep within the lake.

The Long Falls Dam, where water is now released for us to enjoy Dead River rafting, impounds the waters of Flagstaff Lake.  The Dead River Area Historical Society and the towns of Eustis and Stratton encourage visitors to experience the wonders of Flagstaff Lake and the stories of the valley below.

Find this to be interesting?  This is a three part blog so be sure to read Dead River Rafting Part 2 and Dead River Rafting Part 3, coming up in subsequent posts.

Dead River Area Historical Society
Northern Outdoors

We're thrilled! Yankee Magazine rates Penobscot River Rafting one of Maine's Best Adventures in 2011 and recommends Northern Outdoors. 

Here's what Yankee has to say about Maine whitewater rafting on the Penobscot River:

BEST RIVER RAFTING
Penobscot River
Moments after boarding your raft and going over your first major rapid, dubbed "Exterminator," you immediately realize that this 14-mile stretch of the Penobscot is a serious joyride that will have you shrieking with abandonment. Go with a reputable outfitter such as Northern Outdoors, which ran its first trip down the Penobscot in 1976. 1771 U.S. Route 201. 800-765-7238, 207-663-4466; northernoutdoors.com

Link to Yankee Magazine Listing
New England Vacations
Penobscot River Rafting with Northern Outdoors
(We run a classic, top-to-bottom river trip on the Penobscot - Upper Penobscot, lunch riverside, then Lower Penobscot. We don't run the Lower first, then drive back up for the Upper. We think our trip makes for a better, uninterrupted river experience that way.)

We have started a new weekly video project here at Northern Outdoors and we are stoked to be bringing you a fresh look at our Maine river rafting scene every week this season. YOU could be in one of these videos!  Here's the first one, Dead River rafting at an awesome 8000CFS. Thanks to Zach for putting this together.




Visit our Northern Outdoors YouTube Channel here.

Slaid Cleaves and Nicole St. Pierre, with photos contributed by the Dead River Area Historical Society, produced this song and video titled "Below" which chronicles the 1940's flooding of Flagstaff and Dead River in Maine. 

Maine whitewater rafting is a popular activity on the Dead, Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers.  Dead River rafting would not be made possible without the construction of Long Falls Dam and the creation of Flagstaff Lake.

The Dead River Area Historical Society, located in Eustis Maine, is open weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during July and August. On display are artifacts, manuscripts, and photographs. Thanks to this non-profit organization for bringing together the history of this area and for permission to link to their video online here.

Interested in learning more?  This is a three part blog so be sure to check out Dead River Rafting Part 1 and Dead River Rafting Part 3.

Northern Outdoors

Calling all adventure junkies!  At Northern Outdoors, we're gearing up for rafting while still enjoying great spring skiing conditions at Sugarloaf USA.  So we thought, let's put together a Ski/Ride N Raft Package during the first two weekends of May.  Big water, plenty of mountain snow, great weather - so why not? 

Sugarloaf USA has the most spring skiing in the east and Northern Outdoors offers the best big water Kennebec River Rafting and Dead River Rafting trips in New England.  With only about an hour of drive time between the two resorts, we think this package ranks high on the scale of cool Maine Adventure Vacations.

Suggested Maine whitewater rafting and Sugarloaf skiing/riding weekend:

Friday:  Check-in at Northern Outdoors, enjoy the lodge amenities and Maine brewery
Saturday: Dead River Rafting followed by a night of live music
Sunday: Check out and head to Sugarloaf USA for a day on the slopes
OR:
Ski or Ride Saturday at Sugarloaf
Saturday night: Check in at Northern Outdoors, enjoy the Kennebec River Brewery and live music
Sunday: Go rafting on the Kennebec River

The Ski/Ride N Raft Package will be offered the weekends of May 7-8 and May 14-15.  Oh, and it's only $99! 
Note: Dead River Rafting is only available on Saturday May 7th or Saturday May 14th. Kennebec River Rafting trips are available on Sunday May 8th,  Saturday, May 13th, and Sunday May 14th.
Kennebec River Rafting
Dead River Rafting
Sugarloaf USA

Ever think of planning a Maine whitewater rafting vacation that involves some hiking too?  Our Dead River Hike and Raft Package is geared for those who love Maine adventure vacations.  Northern Outdoors has teamed up with Maine Huts & Trails to offer back country hiking, a night stay in the eco-friendly Grand Falls Hut and a day of Dead River rafting.    

Here's the trip at a glance:

Day 1
Park at the Big Eddy trail head and hike 8+ miles along the scenic upper Dead River.  Arrive at the hut and enjoy a home cooked dinner, perhaps an evening stroll to the river and the quiet comfort of the hut. 

Day 2
Wake up to a hearty breakfast.  Your whitewater raft guide will meet you at the hut and outfit you for your day of Dead River rafting. Then it's on the river you go to raft 14 miles of heart pumping Class IV whitewater. After rafting, you’ll feast on a bar-b-que cookout at Northern Outdoors in The Forks.  A bit of relaxing, then you'll hop on a return shuttle to the trail head where your vehicle is parked (approximately 90-minutes).

You can also choose to add an extra night of lodging at Northern Outdoors to enjoy the giant outdoor hot tub, on-site Maine brewery and live music.

Maine adventure vacations comprised of hiking and rafting...check.

Full details on the Dead River Hike and Raft Package
Dead River Rafting with Northern Outdoors
Hut to Hut Hiking Trips
Maine Huts and Trails

Wanna win Mom over this Mother's Day?  Our unique Mother’s Day Gift is a cool way to say "I love you Mom" and is easy on the pocket book too.  On May 8, Mom's can enjoy a free day of Kennebec River rafting with Northern Outdoors.  The thrill of Maine whitewater rafting is guaranteed to be time well spent with Mom!

The experience of Maine whitewater rafting is a great way for families to connect while having fun on the river. This spring, we invite you to bring your Mom for a free day of Kennebec River rafting.  Stay for the weekend and take advantage of our value season lodging and rafting deals for the entire family.

Kennebec River rafting, it just might put the "Wow Factor" into your Mother's Day Gift this year!

Looking forward to the weekend?  We sure are 'cause we're taking our Maine brewery on the road to the Boston Beer Summit.  Known for the best beer, good people and live music. 

Beer Summit Essentials:

Where: Park Plaza Castle in Boston, MA

When: April 15-16, 2011
        
           Session 1: Fri Night 5:30- 9pm
           Session 2: Sat Day 12:30- 4pm
           Session 3: Sat Night 5:30- 9pm SOLD OUT

Purchase tickets for Session 1
Purchase tickets for Session 2

Stop by the Kennebec River Brewery booth, sample some tasty brews, and pick up a voucher for 20% off Kennebec River Rafting, Dead River Rafting and Penobscot River Rafting in May and June with Northern Outdoors.

Cheers and see ya at the summit!