Which Beers are in the Soap? - Part 1
If you’re here, you probably already know I design luxury soaps from Maine beer.
If you’re new to this concept, I talk about the benefits of beer soap in another blog post that you can check out. When I introduce beer soap at local markets, some common follow ups are, “Which beers do you use? Do you have anything from my favorite brewery?! Do you have any that are gluten-free?” So, here's the not-so-quick and not-so-dirty of how I choose my beers.
When I was first honing my craft and learning to make beer soap 5 years ago, I used almost entirely Geary’s Pale Ale from Geary's Brewing Co. It's a quintessential “dad beer” and is easy to find in stores. A bit malty, a bit bitter, and a bit sweet, this classic pale is a solid choice. I am grateful for being able to learn my trade with their beer.
However, I knew as I started building my brand that I would eventually want to diversify to represent a wider variety of smaller, craft breweries. My goal was always to support and cross-promote Maine breweries collectively rather than be exclusive to any one brand. So, I started branching out! While beer does not impart any scent to my soaps, I do try to match the theme and notes of the beer with the theme and scents in my soaps.
Since starting my business in 2020 to now in 2024, I have used 18 different beers from 12 different Maine breweries to create over 22 variations of soap.
As I refined my product line, some of those beers and soaps have come and gone. To date, these are the tried-and-true soaps that I keep in stock all year round...
(Adam Doering Photography)
MAINE WOODSMAN
One of the original scent formulations that has stood the test of time is the Maine Woodsman beer soap. The Maine Woodsman is a customer favorite, constantly swapping spots with Lemongrass Shea & IPA as my best-seller. For a couple years, the Maine Woodsman contained The Town, an IPA from Lone Pine Brewing Co. Their team reached out to me in 2021 offering up their past code beer. This moment was a catalyst that contributed to the eventual shift in how I source beer for soap. To get the full story on how Lone Pine impacted my brand, you can watch my interview on the What Now Show here.
In late 2023, I switched the beer in Maine Woodsman to Flume, a double IPA from Battery Steele Brewing. It is a blend of traditional English malts combined with loads of wheat and oats to give it a soft, clean malt profile. Hopped with Citra and Mosaic, this beer has notes of tropical fruit, citrus and pine. What better fit for the scent notes of citrus and fir that I use in the Maine Woodsman beer soap? When Battery Steele reached out to me suggesting Flume, I knew it was a match made in heaven!
LEMONGRASS SHEA & IPA
and the fragrance-free Shea & IPA
Another original scent formulation that has lasted since my early days of learning to make soap is the Lemongrass Shea & IPA. Obviously, I had to use an IPA in this soap to honor its rhyming name. I barely remember the time before using Stowaway from Baxter Brewing Co. in the soap. This beer is always a staple at my family’s summer cookouts. This West Coast IPA is noted as bitter, malty, and (imho) has a bit of a syrupy finish. This sweet edge makes the beer a solid fit for the sweet, bright scent notes of lemongrass in the soap. The fragrance-free version of my shea butter soaps takes the same beer, making the simplified Shea & IPA bar another Stowaway in the same boat. If you spend any time in Maine, you have definitely seen Stowaway's signature jolly roger on this iconic brew in the beer aisle.
However, keep your eyes on both of these soaps. I just might switch up this beer soon and am scouting the options in the local brewery scene!
SEA SALT & CLAY
and the fragrance-free Sea Salt Bar
A more recent switch, the Sea Salt & Clay beer soap formula changed from using Geary’s Pale Ale to Dark and Light. Dark and Light are the sole two lagers at the core of the dichotomy that is Sacred Profane Brewing in Biddeford, Maine. Sacred Profane is all about duality; everything from the name to the branding to the beer that they brew. Last I heard, their horizontal tank brewing system was the only one this side of the Atlantic. If you haven't been there yet, make sure you stop by Sacred Profane soon. The ambiance is unparallelled! When it comes to drinking, both of their beers are delicious, but Dark is my favorite. After connecting with co-owner, Brienne Allen, I was able to give a second life to their production excess for both lagers. Now both Sea Salt & Clay and its fragrance-free sister, the Sea Salt Bar, can boast a beer from one of the most unique breweries in Maine.
COFFEE BREW BAR
One of my personal favorite breweries with maybe the friendliest team I have worked with to date is Banded Brewing Co! Every interaction with them has been colored with humor, humility, and genuine kindness. Naturally, Banded Brewing had to be on my list. I actually use two of their beers for two of my soaps! (More on the second beer/soap pairing in an upcoming post!) In the case of the Coffee Brew Bar, their Jolly Woodsman coffee stout works on multiple levels. A coffee flavored beer was the obvious choice for a coffee soap! I am also a huge proponent of supporting local, so naturally I love that they use Speckled Ax Kenyan espresso in their brewing process. The notes of cacao husk and bitter chocolate flavor in the beer mirror the cocoa butter that I use in this soap.
FRAGRANCE-FREE COCOA BUTTER BAR
The only fragrance-free bar soap that doesn't share a beer with its scented sister is the Cocoa Butter Bar! Feeling that the Jolly Woodsman was too thematic a beer for this minimalist bar soap, I didn't stray much from using Geary's Pale Ale in this recipe. That is...until summer 2024. I am thrilled to finally offer a beer soap made with gluten free beer! While I still have some stock of my original Cocoa Butter Bars, the most recent version contains Columbidae from Lucky Pigeon Brewing Co. I knew I wanted to reach out to Lucky Pigeon because they have pioneered the gluten free beer industry in our state. As Maine's first dedicated gluten-free brewery, it is a huge honor to work with them! The beer they sourced for me is pretty great as well. Columbidae is a delicious pale ale, dry-hopped and floral with a biscuity malt base. I personally love a malty finish in a beer and have been grateful to have Lucky Pigeon as an option since I went gluten free myself. In the case of both the new version of the fragrance-free Cocoa Butter Bar soap and the Columbidae pale ale, sometimes you just can't beat a classic.
Over the years, several folks have asked about the effects of gluten-containing beer soap in relation to a gluten intolerance. I decided to message my PCP for more insight... "For those with Celiac disease/gluten sensitivity, reactions are specifically driven through exposure in the gut and mucous membranes where the initial immune response takes place. Thus, as long as they don't touch their mouth with the soap, it should be fine to use." Since my soap is not meant to be ingested, I never anticipated an issue for customers. I've never had an issue using beer soap myself despite my own gluten sensitivity. However, I'm no doctor; and everyone's body has its own way of operating. People need to be able to make the choice that feels comfortable and right for their own journeys, so I've always understood the hesitation around gluten in beer soap. While my beer soaps are all still made in the same space, making the Cocoa Butter Bar out of gluten free beer is my way of offering a little more security and making beer soap a bit more accessible to the community.
That wraps up the soaps that I keep on hand all year long. Stay tuned for a later discussion on how I chose the beers for my seasonal soaps collection!
Cheers!
Elaine