Celebrating New England Craft Beer

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Lindsey

While our main gig at OTTO is crafting an array of delicious pizzas, we also like to celebrate the range of local craft beers we have on tap from breweries across New England. From an Austin Street Patina to a Lamplighter Lucid Nonsense, we’re always seeking out the best local beers to pair up with our pies and slices.

Overwhelmingly we’re serving beers from breweries in the two states we call home – Maine and Massachusetts. Our New England offerings come from as far north as Atlantic Brewing in Bar Harbor and as far south as Stratford, CT, the home of Two Roads Brewing Company. Our Massachusetts beers come from as far west as Big Elm Brewing in the Berkshires to as far east as Cisco Brewers on Nantucket.

AND, just last year our hometown of Portland was recently named America’s Craft Beer Capital! While the city’s population is smaller than all of the other cities on the list with only about 66,000 people, there’s an average of 25.5 microbreweries per 100,000 inhabitants! Yep, Portlanders like their beer. Each year, droves of beer lovers trek to Maine just to check out the 60+ breweries across the state.

Here at OTTO we also have a bi-annual collaboration going with Rising Tide, our not too far away neighbors in the East Bayside neighborhood of Portland. Each year, we brew two beers with Rising Tide – Oscar Tango Tango Oscar, our spring collab (coming right up!) and Autohelm, which is released in the late fall. The two beers are available exclusively at OTTO locations and in the Rising Tide tasting room. Our employees enjoy working together with the Rising Tide crew each year to brew these fan favorites.

2016-09-22 12.21.42

Back in the fall, we opened our newest location in Portland (250 Read Street) with our most taps yet – TWELVE. The majority of these taps serve up local Maine beers, but we always offer a few options for those wanting to grab some brews from a bit farther afield like Jack’s Abby and Lord Hobo.

Since we opened our first location in 2009 in downtown Portland, we have enjoyed ‘growing up’ alongside the craft beer scene and supporting our local brewers. We’re proud to be currently serving beer from over 20 New England breweries and cider makers! These local breweries make it easy for the love match between beer & pizza to continue…forever.

MAINE
Allagash – Portland
Atlantic – Bar Harbor
Austin Street – Portland
Banded Horn – Biddeford
Bissell Brothers – Portland
Foundation – Portland
Funky Bow – Lyman
Lone Pine – Portland
Oxbow – Newcastle
Peak Organic – Portland
Rising Tide – Portland
Urban Farm Fermentory – Portland

MASSACHUSETTS
Bantam Cider – Somerville
Big Elm – Sheffield
Castle Island – Norwood
Downeast Cider – East Boston
Ipswich Ale Brewery – Ipswich
Jack’s Abby – Framingham
Lamplighter – Cambridge
Lord Hobo – Woburn
Night Shift – Everett

CONNECTICUT
Two Roads – Stratford

Rising Tide-OTTO collab ‘Autohelm’ release party tonight at NEW Back Cove OTTO!

Posted on October 12, 2016 by elshepherd

Join us tonight at our brand spankin’ new Back Cove location at 250 Read Street in Portland, as we start pouring the third annual release of Autohelm, a deliciously hoppy amber ale brewed by Rising Tide Brewing Company in collaboration with OTTO.

250map Our Autohelm release party is from 5-7pm today (Wednesday, Oct 12). Rising Tide and OTTO staff will be on hand to talk about the beer, and there will be schwag! Come check out our new digs while enjoying the first pours of this delicious winter beer.

This limited special collaboration will be available exclusively at OTTO locations in Maine and Massachusetts. (Note: Only 250 Read Street will begin pouring today. Other ME locations will begin pouring early next week, with MA locations in late October.)

If you haven’t had an opportunity to try Autohelm in the past, you won’t want to miss it this year.

The brew has 3.73 rating on social beer discovery service Untappd, eliciting some of the following responses:

“Delicious!”
“This is incredible.”
“Super solid!”
“Very solid hoppy amber. Piney hops with a strong malt backbone!”
“A sweet, hoppy Amber.”
“Very smooth. Almost creamy. Nice rich malts with hop balance.”
“Oh so good.”
“Great hoppy awesome. Full body with a little sweet.”
“Fan-freakin-tastic! Well done. Hoppy , refreshing, in a season of big heavy beers this was a refreshing change.”
“Wow that is delicious!”

Thirsty yet?

Come on down, grab a few pies, and a few glasses of Autohelm — and be sure to let us know what you think.

OTTO Back Cove location NOW OPEN

Posted on October 4, 2016 by elshepherd

We are pleased to announce the opening of our new Back Cove location at 250 Read Street in Portland.

Currently offering takeout and delivery, this spacious location — the largest OTTO in Portland — will begin full-service dining and bar service on Tuesday, October 11.

The new location is notable for several reasons:

Its spacious dining room and U-shaped booths make it a perfect destination for larger parties, families, or for gathering with friends.
Our bar features 12 taps — the most of any OTTO — and will feature the very best in regional craft beer.
This central delivery location means faster deliveries in and around Portland. Faster drive-times mean more delicious (and hotter) pies straight to your home, business, or event.
Have a birthday or other celebration? This location features a private room that can be reserved for all kinds of special occasions. (Stay tuned!)
Want OTTO at your next business meeting, party, or event? You provide the event, we provide the food. OTTO Catering is always a crowd-pleaser. Contact catering@ottoportland.com

Located just off of Forest Avenue, behind Pratt-Abbott, OTTO’s Read Street location is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Deering Center, Woodford’s Corner, Baxter Woods, UNE, and Riverside.

We look forward to serving you!

Stay in touch:
OTTO Back Cove Facebook Page
Twitter: @otto_pizza
Instagram: @ottoportland

OTTO to OTTO: 130 Mile Ride to Raise Dough

Posted on September 13, 2016 by elshepherd

glv_ride_blog On Saturday, September 24, the OTTO-sponsored bicycle racing team Green Line Velo will cycle from OTTO’s Comm Ave location in Boston to OTTO’s Munjoy Hill location in Portland to raise money, and awareness, for two vital New England bicycle organizations, The Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.

In one day. That’s over 130 miles. They’re gonna need your help, and a lot of pizza, to power through.

Green Line Velo and OTTO have been working together for a few years now (OTTO has been the final stop on GLV’s Wednesday Night Group Rides for years). The relationship grew out of proximity, shared values, and, well, pizza, bikes, and beer.

Wednesday Night Group Ride in Brookline

When OTTO became an official sponsor of the team in 2016, the idea of a Boston to Portland ride was sparked. With a shared vision of improving our communities, the decision was made to raise funds and awareness for MassBike and Bicycle Coalition of Maine, with funds going towards cycling safety, infrastructure initiatives, and the promotion of cycling for fitness, fun, and transportation.

Final Wednesday Night Group Ride & Fundraiser
To kick off the event, we will be holding a fundraiser at our 888 Commonwealth Avenue location in Boston after the final Wednesday Night Group Ride on Wednesday, September 14. A portion of every sale between between 6pm-10pm will be donated to MassBike and Bicycle Coalition of Maine. Please feel free to come out and celebrate another great season, and wish the team best of luck in their 130-mile journey.

Show Some Love — DONATE!
Anyone willing to make a donation to support cycling initiatives in Maine and Massachusetts can do so at the ride’s fundraising page.

Arrival Party, Giveaways, Food and Drink Specials
On Saturday, September 24, we will be holding an arrival party at our 225 Congress Street location on Munjoy Hill in Portland from 4-7pm. There will be some great food and drink specials, giveaways, and other goodness.

As an added bonus for our cycling enthusiasts, our usual 10% offer to all Bicycle Benefits members will be extended to Buy One – Get One on all slices during the party. You can learn more about how the program works here. If you haven’t already signed up, the time is now!

Come out, meet the team, and support the cycling community!

fullteam

Green Line Velo is a bicycle racing team based in Boston dedicated to competing at a high level and developing both individual riders and the sport in general. By focusing first on a high level of camaraderie, they strive to create a team experience that is similar to collegiate cycling and which creates a cohesive group both on the road in races, as well as on training rides.

GLV are dedicated to the love of the bike, the spirit of competition and, more importantly, to the pursuit of fun and enjoyment for all. They believe that the bicycle provides the means for their members to enact social good. Through a combination of competition and community outreach, they seek to promote that social good both on and off the bike.

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine works to make Maine a better place to bicycle. Founded by a small group of cyclists in 1992, the Bicycle Coalition has grown into one of the most effective bike advocacy groups in the country.

The Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) promotes a bicycle-friendly environment and encourages bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation.

Monday Night Bluegrass is Back at OTTO

Posted on March 24, 2016 by elshepherd

Three years ago, the acclaimed bluegrass player Joe K Walsh started a Monday night tradition in Portland’s Arts District: Bluegrass Night at OTTO.

Photo by Gabe Souza/PPH

Joe and Friends have been a staple at the 576 Congress Street location, laying down some of the best performances (of any genre) you will find anywhere in Maine.

We’re pleased to announce that, after a short winter hiatus (while Joe was on tour with Mr. Sun, his band with Darol Anger, Grant Gordy, and Ethan Jodziewicz), Bluegrass Night is back, starting Monday, March 28. The first edition of 2016 will feature Joe, along with Steve Roy, Lincoln Meyers, and Lukas Pool.

For the uninitiated, Joe Walsh was the first student at Berklee College of Music to graduate with a degree in performance specializing in mandolin. He currently teaches at Berklee, where he serves as Managing Director of the American Roots Music Program.

The world-renowned fiddle legend Darol Anger called Walsh “one of my favorite musicians on earth.”

Joe has played in several renowned bands, including Joy Kills Sorrow, the New England Bluegrass Band, Northern Lights, and the Grammy nominated Gibson Brothers.

Writing in the Portland Press Herald, Bob Keyes wrote, “Walsh is the most in-demand mandolin player in Maine, and one of the most sought-after in America. He could easily live in Nashville, Austin or any other acoustic music hotbed, but chooses Portland because he loves the city and is well-treated here.”

Photo by Gabe Souza/PPH

And he loves it so much, each Monday night he assembles a handful of the best roots musicians in Maine, or in America, for a fireworks-display of fretwork, lonesome harmonies, and good times.

Some of Bluegrass Night’s past guests have included members of Crooked Still, Della Mae, the Josh Ritter Band, and the Ray LaMontagne band. You never know who might pop up, but you can always expect to be blown away.

And to boot, the shows are 100% free.

So, grab your family and friends, pop over for a few pies, some local craft beer, and take in some of the very best bluegrass you’re likely to hear anywhere.

OTTO/Rising Tide Spring Collaboration Launch Parties in ME and MA

Posted on March 22, 2016 by elshepherd

1609996_1190159957662599_4654903827232278965_n Please join us on Wednesday, March 30th as we launch OTTO and Rising Tide Brewing Company‘s spring collaboration, Oscar Tango Tango Oscar — a crisp, snappy, and sessionable pale ale brewed with rice.

The celebration will be happening simultaneously in Portland and Massachusetts, with launch parties at two OTTO locations on Wednesday, March 30. Join OTTO and Rising Tide team members at 225 Congress Street in Portland’s Munjoy Hill neighborhood or 289 Harvard Street in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner from 6-8pm, as we start pouring this delicious brew. Lucky attendees will receive Rising Tide and OTTO schwag!

This limited special collaboration will be available exclusively at OTTO.

12745742_1171284872883441_949013297044290465_n The brewing process kicked off on February 23rd, with OTTO team members on site. This is the second year of this annual spring collaboration, which currently holds a respectable 3.71 rating (with 218 check-ins) on the popular social drinking service Untappd.

Oscar Tango Tango Oscar’s citrusy snap goes perfect on our sunny patios while sharing one of OTTO’s spring pies — eggplant, ricotta and basil, or roasted chicken, caramelized pears and fontina.

Oscar Tango Tango Oscar’s profile is sure to provoke an onset of Spring Fever. Proceed with caution.

Aroma: tangerine, orange peel, grapefruit, rose
Taste: tangerine, grapefruit, cereal, crisp with a snappy bitterness
Malts: 2-row, flaked rice, carapils
Hops: amarillo, mandarina, cascade
Yeast: house american ale
Specifics: 4.4% abv, 1.044 o.g., 4 srm, 25 ibu

Cheers! 12144691_1171284999550095_5301404358084709220_n

OTTO to Make Four Appearances at the 2016 International Pizza Expo

Posted on February 17, 2016 by elshepherd

OTTO co-owners Mike Keon and Anthony Allen, and OTTO Director of Marketing, Eric Shepherd

This March, three members of the OTTO team will be making a total of four appearances at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. (Yes, that’s really a thing.)

Over the past thirty years, thousands of restaurant owners, managers, manufacturers, distributors, food brokers, and service providers have been convening every March for this industry event — the largest pizza show in the world.

In addition to the International Pizza Challenge (bake-offs before judges in five divisions, with Pizza Maker of the Year finals) and the World Pizza Games (skills competition in five divisions), the four-day convention also features approximately 90 keynote addresses, seminars, workshops, panel discussions and demonstrations.

OTTO co-owners Anthony Allen and Mike Keon will be making two appearances.

On Tuesday, March 8, Mike and Anthony will be performing a live baking demo, ‘Pizza Outside the Box,’ where they will discuss OTTO’s penchant for non-traditional ingredient combinations. Attendees will get to watch step-by-step baking demonstrations of two of the pizzeria’s signature pies: The Mashed Potato, Bacon & Scallion pizza, and the Butternut Squash, Cranberry & Ricotta.

On Wednesday March 9, Mike and Anthony will present a seminar, ‘Creating a Unique Dining Experience in Nontraditional Settings,’ in which they will discuss OTTO’s unique dining environments — from a location in a former gas station to booths built out of scrapped pianos.

Eric Shepherd, OTTO’s Director of Marketing and Communications will be making two appearances at this year’s Pizza Expo.

On Monday, March 7, as part of the School of Pizzeria Management, Eric will be co-conducting a 4-hour workshop entitled ‘A Coordinated Marketing Plan for Pizzerias,’ in which he will share knowledge, tools and techniques to raise brand awareness, expand customer bases, and increase repeat business.

On Wednesday, March 9, Eric will lead a seminar entitled ‘Grow Your Customer Base With Cause Marketing’ in which he will discuss OTTO’s dedication to the communities in which it does business, through multiple weekly fundraisers in two states, and year-round support of local and regional charities, organizations, and schools.

This will be Mike and Anthony’s second year presenting at Pizza Expo, and Eric’s third time around.

If you happen to be in Vegas, come by and say hello. Other OTTO team members will also be on hand. We look forward to seeing you, and we hope to come back smarter, and inspired.

The 1st OTTO Oscars! Submit your OTTO-themed Movie Poster and Win $100 Worth of Pizza Delivered to your Door on Oscar Night

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Lindsey

It’s that time of year again – Oscar season! In honor of the 88^th Academy Awards, we invite you to post your own versions of OTTO-themed movie posters on our Facebook timeline and WIN!

Submit your movie poster by Thursday, February 25^th. On Friday, February 26^th we will choose the three best entries and award the following prizes:

1st place: A pizza party of $100 worth of pizza delivered to your home on Oscar Night* OR a $100 gift card & an OTTO T-shirt
2nd place: $50 OTTO gift card & an OTTO T-shirt
3rd place: $25 OTTO gift card & an OTTO T-shirt

A couple of rules to follow:

You must incorporate one or both of the following: A photo of OTTO pizza AND/OR the word ‘OTTO’ (Otto’s or Otto’s Pizza will not be accepted)
Please use an existing film poster for your entry (see the Facebook gallery for examples)

Entries may be posted on our Facebook timeline or emailed to contactus@ottoportland.com. Winners will be contacted via Facebook or email on 2/26.

OTTO reserves the right to remove and/or disqualify entries that are not suitable for all ages, or which are otherwise not aligned with OTTO’s good taste.

We will add the very best entries to our ‘OTTO Oscars’ Facebook gallery, and elsewhere.

Get to it and good luck!

*The address must be within delivery range of one our locations in Maine or Massachusetts to qualify for an Oscar Night delivery

2015: A Year In Giving Back

Posted on December 31, 2015 by elshepherd

Since we opened our first little slice shop on Congress Street in Portland back in 2009, giving back has been integral to what OTTO does. From day one, we have committed ourselves to bettering the communities in which we do business. We have been fortunate enough to continue this tradition into 2016 and beyond.

It is not lost on us that without having been embraced and supported by our communities over the past several years, we would not have been able to make community outreach an integral part of our company culture.

Our weekly fundraiser series now runs in 8 locations in two states. In addition to these events, we provide many in-kind donations to many deserving charities and community organizations throughout the year.

OTTO has been fortunate enough to have donated to over 250 organizations in Maine, Massachusetts and beyond in 2015. We are extremely grateful to be in a position to do so. As we close the year, we are thankful for the many wonderful organizations (and those who keep them operating) who tirelessly worked to better our communities in so many ways.

As we look back on the past year, we want to acknowledge some of the great organizations that we have had the pleasure of working with in some capacity. The following is a partial list of these organizations.

Thank you for all you do!

317 Main
American Cancer Society
American Liver Foundation
Amirah Boston
Animal Refuge League
Anna Jacques Community Health Foundation
Art Play Nursery School
Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital
Bicycle Coalition of Maine
Bikers Against Child Abuse
Birth Roots
Boston Cares
Boys to Men
BreastFest Concert 4 a Cure
Brendan Conway Memorial Scholarship Fund
Brookline Arts Center
Brookline Community Mental Health Center
Brookline High School Model UN
BU Alternative Spring Breaks
BU Black Business Association
BU China Care Fund
BU Ellevate
BU Global Business Brigades
BU Global Water Brigades
BU Partners in Health
BU Relay For Life
BU Special Olympics Club
BU Student Volunteers for Special Needs
BU Unite For Sight
Buddy Up Animal Society
Cancer Community Center
Cape Celebrates Literacy and Authorfest
Cape Challenge 5k
Cape Elizabeth Jazz Cabaret
Cape Elizabeth Speech and Debate
Casco Bay Nursing Partnership
CBS 13’s Tri for a Cure
Center for Grieving Children
Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine
Christmas Tree Santas
Coastal Womens Healthcare 2nd Annual 5k for Postpartum Depression
Community Health Council
Connect the Tots
Coolidge Corner Community Chorus
Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation
Creative Portland
DayOne
Deering High School Chinese Club
East End Community School
East End Holiday Stroll
Easter Seals
Edward Devotion School
El Amor de Patricia
Engineers Without Borders
EqualityMaine
Falmouth Corner Preschool
Feed the DOG, Inc.
Figures of Speech Theater
FPD Education Foundation
Freeport Community Services
Friends of Casco Bay
Friends of Feral Felines
Friends of Newburyport Track
Friends of Willow
Front St. Study Center
Georgetown PTA
GHS Key Club
GHS Project Graduation
Girls On The Run
Good Shepherd Food Bank
Harvard Center For Ethics
HEAD Over Roof, Inc.
Helping Paws
Hour Exchange Portland
Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center
LearningWorks
Levey Day School
Longfellow Elementary School
Lucky Pup Rescue
Lynnfield Art Guild
Mad Horse Theatre
Maine Adaptive Sports
Maine Catholic Charitites Barrels & Brews
Maine Center for Creativity
Maine Chapter of Muscular Dystrophy Association
Maine Charitable Mechanic Association
Maine Friends of Animals
Maine Historical Society
Maine Inside Out
Maine Irish Heritage Center
Maine Youth Rock Orchestra
Mama Hope
Mayo St. Arts
Merrohawke Nature School
Missions to Zanzibar
Multiracial Adoptive Family Collaborative
Multilingual & Multicultural Center
Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization
My Place Teen Center
Newburyport Education Foundation
Partners for World Health
Pennies for Poverty
Pie Man Theatre Company
Portland Buy Local
Portland Chamber Music Festival
Portland Nursery School
Portland Stage
Portland Sunrise Rotary Club
Portland Symphony Orchestra
Preble Street Resource Center
Primitive Condition
Project Nicaragua
Rainbow Tribe
REAL School
Resilience Hub
Ronald McDonald House
RunTriRide
Sable Oaks Golf Tournament for Camp Kieve
Safe Passage
Scarborough Education Foundation
Scarborough Land Trust
SealsFit
Sexual Assault Response Services
Silent Sidekicks
Skyline Farm 5K Trail Run/Walk
South Portland Historical Society
South Portland Jazz Festival
South Portland Nursing Home
South Portland Public Library
Southern Maine Community Organizations Active in Disaster
Southern Maine Conservative Collaborative
SPHS Dollars for Scholars
SPHS Project Graduation
Spirits Alive 2015 Walk Among the Shadows
Starry Night 8.5k
Steps to Success
STRIVE
Student Veterans of America
Take Action Portland
Team On Belay
The Fresh Air Fund
The Locker Project
The Pixel Fund
The Riders Club
The Root Cellar
The Telling Room
Townscape
Trek Across Maine
Tri for a Cure
UNE Miles for Smiles
United Way of Greater Portland
University of Maine School of Law Women’s Law Association
USM Community Garden
USM Vets Holiday Party
USM Leadership Gala
Valpo Surf Project
Vet to Vet
Village Nursery School
Vivid Motion
Wayfinder Schools
Wescustago Youth Choir
Westbrook Little League
Westbrook Seals Swim Team
WMPG
Women Around The World
Yarmouth Cares About Neighbors
Yarmouth Community Garden
Yarmouth Education Foundation
Yarmouth Historical Society
Yarmouth Lions Club
Yelp Helps
Young Non-Profit Professionals Netowrk
Youth & Family Outreach

AUTOHELM: OTTO/Rising Tide Collab Brew Is Back!

Posted on November 30, 2015 by elshepherd

We are pleased to announce the return of Autohelm, a deliciously hoppy amber ale brewed by Rising Tide Brewing Company in collaboration with OTTO.

Autohelm_Poster_2

Diners at OTTO restaurants in Maine and Massachusetts will be able to pair their pie with this delightful winter brew, which made its debut last year.

This limited special collaboration will be available exclusively at OTTO.

If you didn’t have an opportunity to try Autohelm last year, you should get a piece of the action before it’s all gone.

Last year, the brew racked up a 3.73 rating on social beer discovery service Untappd, eliciting some of the following responses:

“Delicious!”
“Super solid!”
“Very solid hoppy amber. Piney hops with a strong malt backbone!”
“A sweet, hoppy Amber.”
“Very smooth. Almost creamy. Nice rich malts with hop balance.”
“Oh so good.”
“Great hoppy awesome. Full body with a little sweet.”
“Fan-freakin-tastic! Well done. Hoppy , refreshing, in a season of big heavy beers this was a refreshing change.”
“Wow that is delicious!”