Maine

Since 1986, Maine has been at the forefront of the craft brew movement. The state is home to over 70+ craft breweries and brewpubs which produce more than 800 different beers. Wherever you travel in Maine, you'll find locally made ales and lagers that are sure to please.

We are going to focus on the breweries and a couple of must do bars in the state, so what better place to start than Portland which is a beer mecca.

But if you would like a more detailed guide to any city in Maine you plan to visit, just email me and I will be happy to help, cheers Otto.

{updated May 2022}

Liquid Riot Bottling Company, 250 Commercial Street, Portland.

Hours: Mon-Tue 3 PM - 11 PM, Wed-Thu Noon - 11 PM, Fri-Sat Noon - 1 AM, Sun Noon - 11 PM

Located in the busy part of Portland, on the waterfront really nice place. Lots of natural, re-cycled wood is everywhere. Lots of used barrel staves were re-cycled to make the light fixtures. The service is awesome. And the staff are knowledgeable and prompt. The beer selection they seem to have covers a great range of styles with upto 18 taps. The food is delicious. An awesome brewpub, and a must do visit.

Oxbow Blending & Bottling, 49 Washington Ave, Portland.

Hours: Wed/Thurs/Fri 2-7pm Sat noon-5pm

Oxbow is an American Farmhouse Brewery specializing in traditional Belgian-style ales with contemporary American influence. They brew small batches of beer in a renovated barn in rural Newcastle, Maine. The best spot in town to get Oxbow beers! Huge space to hang out and some special brews only available there check it out! As they say Loud beer from a quiet place.

Bissell Brothers Brewing Company, 1 Industrial Way, Portland.

Hours: Saturdays 1PM-6PM

Small brewery in an industrial park. Located in the same building as Foundation and Austin Street. One building, three tiny breweries, all with solid beer, and Allagash is across the street. Two large rooms and there’s an old pinball machine to play, a few rustic tables and a bunch of Bissell related stuff on the walls. Staff are super friendly and efficient. 8 and 14oz pours, cans to take home.

Allagash Brewing Company, 100 Industrial Way Portland.

Hours: Tours at 11am, 1pm and 3pm Daily. Shop from 8-4.

I had been longing to visit here, to sample their Belgium style ales and see how they compare to the real thing? Since their inception in 1995, Allagash has been crafting 15 barrel batches of distinctive, Belgian style ales. Recently released were the Dubbel and Tripel Reserve beers in cellarworthy, cork topped bottles.

Visitors are welcome to tour the brewery and visit the gift shop, the visitor welcoming area is almost like a full fleged brewpub, they serve a free tasting flight of 4 beers, including some of their pricey sours which was really nice. Staff are super friendly and they have a ton of beer and merch available to go. A must do stop in Portland.

Austin Street Brewery, 1 Industrial Way #8, Portland.

Hours: Friday 3pm – 8pm Saturday noon - 6:00 pm

Located in the same building as Bissell Brothers and Foundation, albeit on the other side. Awesome small tasting room, probably smaller than the other two in the building. Nice bartender. With four beers on offer, all good, and a higher quantity than the other two? $2 per 4 ounce sample. Nice friendly place and with all the others in the same area a must do visit.

Austin Street Brewery (Industrial Way), 1 Industrial Way #8, Portland, Maine

Austin Street Brewery (Fox Street), 115 Fox St, Portland, Maine

Foundation Brewing Company, 1 Industrial Way, Portland.

Hours: Friday 3pm-7pm, Saturday 2pm-6pm

This place specializes in Farmhouse or Belgian style beers. They have six beers on tap and you could sample each one for $2 a piece. You can walk around the equipment in the brewery. It’s a really fun laid back place. Staff are really nice and able to chat a bit. They had only been open since early 2015. Take home a growler’s.

Gritty McDuff’s Brew Pub - Portland, 396 Fore Street, Portland

Hours: 11 am - 1 am, seven days.

Since 1988, Gritty McDuff's has been creating fine, handcrafted ales and traditional pub fare. From there humble beginnings as a small brew pub in Portland's Old Port they have grown to become the brew pub of choice for Mainers and folks "from away".

Gritty's were at the forefront of the brewing renaissance in the Maine. Founders Ed Stebbins and Richard Pfeffer goal was to create a true, English style pub serving fresh ales and great food, and to have fun doing it.

The accolades for Gritty McDuff’s have been piling up. Gritty’s has frequently been awarded the titles of “Maine’s Best Brew Pub”, “Best Maine Microbrew” and “Best Bar” in statewide polls. Gritty’s ales have been repeat winners at the annual Real Ale Festival in Chicago and have also appeared as Featured International Selections at the Great British Beer Festival. Our long time favourite is Black Fly Stout at 4.1%abv its the real deal. Black Fly is a dry, all malt stout packed with roasted flavours. Six different grains are used in the brewing of this dark masterpiece and balance the full palate with Oregon Willamette and Yakima Clusters hops.

Shipyard Brewing Company, 86 Newbury Street, Portland

Hours: M-Fri 3pm-5pm; Sat 12pm-5pm for tours

It all began back in 1992 at Federal Jack's Restaurant and Brew Pub in Kennebunk. Demand for Shipyard ales soon outpaced the small operation and to keep up with orders for their fine handcrafted ales, in 1994 Fred Forsley and Alan Pugsley opened the Shipyard Brewing Company on the historic waterfront in Portland.

All Shipyard's beers are handbrewed from recipes developed by Master Brewer Alan Pugsley, who apprenticed at the worldfamous Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire, England under the tutelage of renowned Master Brewer Peter Austin. Shipyard's award winning ales are made using only the finest ingredients, including top fermenting multistrain yeast from Ringwood Brewery. Shipyard also handcrafts Capt'n Eli's Soda – inluding Capt'n Eli’s Root Beer, Ginger Beer, and Blueberry Pop. They do Free brewery tours daily. Pick of the beers is Bluefin Stout This is a classic Irish stout. Full bodied, yet soft and spectacular in appearance. 4.7% abv.

Casco Bay Brewing. 57 Industrial Way, Portland, Maine

Definitive Brewing Company, 35 Industrial Way, Portland, Maine

Lone Pine Brewing, 219 Anderson Street, Portland, Maine

Batson River Brewing & Distilling, 82 Hanover St, Portland, Maine

Belleflower Brewing, 66 Cove Street, Portland, Maine

One of our favourite visits was to

SUNDAY RIVER "STONECOAST" BREWING COMPANY

Opened in 1992 (CLOSED 2008 Oh woe is me!!) with a passion for great microbrews and conceived Sunday River Brewing Co., a very successful brewpub nestled at the base of Sunday River ski area. Then they added Stone Coast Brewing Co. in Portland in 1995.

They were the fastest growing Microbrewery in Maine. We were torn between 2 beers here; Stone Coast 420 IPA India Pale Ale A west coast style IPA with a rich golden hue. A very hoppy beer. perfect with spicy Mexican food and Buffalo wings, and Black Bear Porter Deep, dark, robust porter finished with Cascade hops for a west coast feel

Rising Tide Brewing Company, 103 Fox St, Portland, Maine

Foundation Brewing Company, 1 Industrial Way, Portland, Maine

Urban Farm Fermentory, 200 Anderson St. - Bay 4, Portland, Maine

Battery Steele Brewing Company, 1 Industrial Way, Portland, Maine

Bunker Brewing Co, 17 Westfield St Unit D, Portland, Maine

D. L. Geary Brewing, 38 Evergreen Dr. Portland

Open; Monday - Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m Tour 2pm by appointment

Founded in October, 1983 by David and Karen Geary who shared the vision of producing world class products on a small scale for local and regional consumption. At that time, there were only 13 so-called microbreweries in the United States, almost all of them in California and the Pacific Northwest. In the winter of 1984, David Geary began a period of training and research in Scotland and England. With the help of Peter Maxwell Stuart, a Scottish nobleman and brewer who arranged introductions and itineraries, he worked in a half-dozen small commercial breweries from the highlands of Scotland to the south coast of England. On our visit we were given a full tour that was really fun. Its down to earth and personal, we even took along a bottle to sup as we went around. The brick vessels used in Geary's brewing process were imported from the British Isles. As Brewing was in full swing the tour was excellent and so too was the beer, which was replenished regularly, and typically last 20 – 30 minutes and include a tasting and a pint glass great value.

Sebago Brewing Company - Portland, 211 Fore Street, Portland.

Hours: 11am-1am, seven days a week

Opened in South Portland, at the Maine Mall in1998. Sebago is well known for their casual upscale brewpubs and their fresh craft beers. They brew American style beers and use only the best ingredients and water from the great Sebago Lake and never pasteurize or use adjuncts. They have 3 locations; South Portland the original location, opened in May 1998. A downtown location is situated in Portland's Historic Old Port. After opening in May 2000 Sebago Downtown was instantly popular among tourists, the local business community and many people in need of late night dinner. The Gorham is the local favourite.

Nestled in the Gorham village. We were spoilt for choice here with 3 dark ales to choose from but we eventually opted for Slick Nick Winter Ale. The caramel and black malts we use to brew Slick Nick gives it the deep amber colour. It is an insidious brew and there strongest beer. It is a perfect match with rich sauces, BBQ, grilled meats and hearty sandwiches or simply enjoyed as a stand alone meal. 6.2% abv. mmmm!!

We were driving along (2007) and by chance we happened to find;

Freeport Brewing Company, 130 Breakwater Drive, South Portland

Which was founded in 1999 by home brewers Ken Collins and Mike Olinsky. Freeport Brewing Company is located within a marina yard right near the beautiful Bug Light Park – a free, ocean side park with plenty of free parking and lawn for picnics, kite flying, boat launching, or just relaxing and looking back at the Portland skyline. The park is approx. a 5 minute walk from the location. The Greenbelt public trail goes right by the brewery and out to the park. They brew using a 2 barrel home made system currently offering Brown Hound Ale in 22 oz. bottles and very quaffable it is as well, They also provide seasonal drafts at the Haraseeket Inn in Freeport and the Great Lost Bear in Portland, (more of witch later).

Brewery Extrava, 66 Cove St, Portland, Maine

Goodfire Brewing Company, 219 Anderson Street Unit 6, Portland, Maine

Banded Brewing Company, 82 Hanover St Unit 6, Portland, Maine

One Eye Open Brewing Company, 1 Fox Street, Portland, Maine

For more information on the Breweries of Main check out the Main Brewers Guild

Here are a few links to some of the long standing breweries in other parts of Maine;

Aroostook County

Slopes Restaurant & Brewery, Presque Isle

The Maine Highlands

Bear Brew Pub, Orono

Sea Dog Brewing Co., Bangor

Down East – Atlantic Brewing Co, Bar Harbor