Maine Brewery Shortlist: Six Taprooms to Consider
A quick shortlist of six Maine breweries, with a detailed brewery guide for planning taproom visits, checking tours, and choosing your route.
Allagash Brewing Company
The undisputed king of Maine craft beer. Famous for their 'White' wheat beer, but their coolship wild ales are world-class. The tour is legendary.
Maine Beer Company
Known for their pristine, obsession-worthy IPA 'Lunch' and their commitment to sustainability ('Do what's right'). The tasting room is expansive and beautiful.
Bissell Brothers
The pioneers of the hazy New England IPA in Maine. 'The Substance' is an icon. Their taproom is loud, energetic, and always busy.
Oxbow Blending & Bottling
Specializes in farmhouse ales and sours. Their Portland outpost is an artsy warehouse space, while the Newcastle farm brewery is rustic and serene.
Atlantic Brewing Company
A classic stop for Acadia visitors. Their 'Real Ale' and 'Blueberry Ale' are staples of a Downeast summer. Visit the Mainely Meat BBQ on site.
Orono Brewing Company
A college-town favorite that has grown into a statewide powerhouse. Known for 'Tubby's' and fruit-forward IPAs.
Maine has firmly established itself as a world-class destination for craft beer lovers. With over 150 active breweries in a state of just 1.3 million people, the “Maine Beer Trail” is less of a trail and more of a statewide pilgrimage.
The Portland Hub
Portland is the epicenter, boasting one of the highest concentrations of breweries per capita in the country. The Industrial Way neighborhood alone lets you walk between legends like Allagash and rising stars like Bissell Brothers, Battery Steele, and Foundation.
Destination Breweries
Beyond Portland, breweries serve as community hubs from Kittery to Caribou. Many operate in revitalized mills, old barns, or scenic farmhouses, offering a distinct sense of place alongside their IPAs and stouts. Maine brewers are known for their innovation, particularly in New England IPAs, mixed-fermentation farmhouse beers, and clean, well-crafted lagers.
The Maine Beer Box
Keep an eye out for the Maine Brewers’ Guild “Maine Beer Box,” a shipping container that travels the world to share Maine beer and symbolizes the collaborative spirit of the local industry.
Planning a Brewery Day
- Start light, finish bold: Begin with lagers and pale ales before moving into hazies, DIPAs, and pastry stouts so your palate stays fresh.
- Flight strategy: Flights are ideal for sampling; share them with a friend and close with a full pour of your favorite.
- Transportation: Portland, Biddeford, and Bangor are walkable clusters. Rural standouts like Newcastle, Freeport, and Bar Harbor require a designated driver or rideshare plan.
- Timing: Can releases and sunny Saturdays draw crowds. If you want brewer conversations or barrel-aged specials, aim for weekday afternoons.
Seasonal Highlights
- Summer: Saisons, fruited sours, and crisp pilsners dominate, often paired with outdoor concerts and food trucks.
- Fall: Fresh-hop beers arrive in October, and lager lovers find festbier and dark lager season.
- Winter: Stout time. Look for barrel programs, coffee porters, and strong ales that hit taprooms after ski days.
Food Moves
Many taprooms now serve wood-fired pizza, smash burgers, or have a rotating truck schedule. Portland’s East Bayside breweries sit beside excellent food carts and bakeries, while coastal stops like Bar Harbor and Newcastle encourage picnicking on site. Ask if outside food is allowed before you arrive with a lobster roll.
Common Questions
What is the best brewery in Maine?
Allagash Brewing Company in Portland is Maine's most celebrated brewery, famous for Belgian-style 'White' and world-class wild ales. Maine Beer Company in Freeport (known for 'Lunch' IPA) and Bissell Brothers (hazy IPAs) are close competitors.
How many breweries are in Maine?
Maine has over 150 active breweries - one of the highest per-capita concentrations in the US. Portland alone has dozens, with the Industrial Way neighborhood hosting Allagash, Foundation, Austin Street, and Battery Steele within walking distance.
How should I plan a brewery visit?
Choose your stops first, then check each brewery's own site for current hours, tour reservations, food, and visitor policies. Arrange a sober driver or transportation before visiting; a shortlist is not a walkable route.
What beer is Maine known for?
Maine pioneered the hazy New England IPA style - Bissell Brothers' 'The Substance' and Maine Beer Company's 'Lunch' are icons. Allagash is known for Belgian-style ales, and Oxbow specializes in farmhouse ales and sours.
Explore More of Maine
Looking for more inspiration? Browse our full directory of towns or explore by region.