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Ishmael Copper Ale Rising Tide Brewing Co. | Portland, Maine

Ishmael [ish-mey-uhl] (n)—narrator and protagonist of the Herman Melville novel Moby Dick.

From Rising Tide Brewing Company—the independent, family-owned brewery anchoring Portland, Maine's vibrant East Bayside neighborhood—comes Ishmael, a richly-flavored American copper ale that embodies the thoughtful craftsmanship and Maine-grown ingredients that define this beloved New England brewery. Founded in 2010 by husband and wife team Nathan and Heather Sanborn, Rising Tide has built its reputation on creative flavors, quality, consistency, and a deep love for the Maine coast and outdoors.

Ishmael represents Rising Tide's American interpretation of the classic altbiers of Düsseldorf, but with a distinctly New World character. Brewed with continental Munich malt for depth, American-grown hops for brightness, and a clean-fermenting ale yeast, this copper ale strikes a beautiful balance between Old World tradition and contemporary American brewing. The result is a slightly sweet and malty beer balanced by firm bitterness—a genuine classic that may just spark a new obsession.

Beer Profile:

At 4.9% ABV, Ishmael pours a beautiful copper color with perfect clarity and a tight, fine-bubbled head that displays excellent retention and leaves chunky lacing down the glass. The nose is clean and inviting, revealing rich malty sweetness with aromas of bread crust, caramel, molasses, and a pinch of brown cocoa. Faint earthy notes mingle with pleasant, oily grassy hops and a hint of herbal spice.

On the palate, Ishmael is clean, malty, and medium-bodied—everything you want in a dinner companion. The flavor opens with sweet, bready malt and caramel notes, followed by layers of toasted grain, molasses, and nutty complexity. The hops are more assertive than you might expect, bringing earthy bitterness, herbal spice, black pepper, and even a subtle suggestion of grapefruit rind. The finish is crisp and slightly dry with lingering toasty grain and earthy hop bitterness.

The mouthfeel is decisively medium-bodied with a full, firm, and almost chewy texture, lifted by lively carbonation that provides refreshing scrubbing action. This is beer that's smooth yet structured—approachable enough for everyday drinking but complex enough to keep things interesting.

Pairing Suggestions: Ishmael's clean, malty character makes it the perfect companion for juicy burgers, barbecue, hearty sandwiches, roasted meats, or your favorite pub fare.

You could call it an altbier or an amber. We call it a copper ale. We call it Ishmael.