A ‘literary beer’ is the latest creation from a Maine brewery
Orono Brewing Company’s latest beer is inspired by a literal whale of a tale, and the professional relationship the brewery has built with the New York Times bestselling author of a new thriller novel.
“Whalefall,” written by longtime horror, suspense and young adult writer Daniel Kraus, comes out on Aug. 8 via Simon & Schuster, just a few days after Orono Brewing releases an IPA of the same name, available in cans and on tap at Orono Brewing Company’s Bangor and Orono locations and in local stores for a limited time.
“Whalefall” tells the gripping fictional story of a scuba diver who’s been swallowed by an 80-foot, 60-ton sperm whale and has only one hour to escape before his oxygen runs out. It’s packed with thoroughly researched marine science, while also being a thrilling adventure read.
Kraus previously collaborated with a coffee roaster for a blend inspired by his 2020 book “The Living Dead,” a novel started by legendary filmmaker George Romero, and which Kraus finished after Romero’s death in 2017. After appearing on Orono Brewing Company’s creative director Justin Soderberg’s podcast, “Capes and Tights,” Kraus and Soderberg hatched a plan to make a beer for his newest book.
“Whoever heard of a literary beer? But the salty, briny nature of ‘Whalefall’ made me think of a whale ale right away,” Kraus said. “I wanted to work with a brewery in a state actually known for whales. Orono seemed the perfect partner.”
Soderberg, who as creative director designs and markets all of Orono Brewing Company’s beers and its Wild Maine Seltzer line, since 2021 has also run Capes and Tights, a website and podcast dedicated to all things comic books and pop culture. Pairing the beer and the book together seemed like a natural fit — especially given that August is the peak of whale watching season in Maine.
“[Kraus] had me hooked on collaborating together from the start, but I was even more on board when the book was centered around a whale,” Soderberg said.
Whalefall the beer is brewed with a blend of American and New Zealand hops and is a classic New England IPA, which Kraus says is his favorite.
Kraus is best known for his popular 2011 and 2012 young adult novels, “Rotters” and “Scowler,” the former of which won multiple awards and was a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award for horror fiction. He’s also written a number of comic books. In addition to collaborating with Romero, Kraus also co-wrote the novel “Trollhunters” with director Guillermo del Toro, later developed into a Netflix animated series, and in 2017 wrote the novelization of del Toro’s Oscar-winning film, “The Shape of Water.”
Kraus will appear in Bangor on Aug. 26, and will sign copies of his comic books at Galactic Comics and Collectibles on Hammond Street from 10 a.m. to noon. He will then do a signing and reading of “Whalefall” at BOOKSpace on Columbia Street, the events space for The Briar Patch bookstore, from 2 to 4 p.m.