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Food & Drink Guide

Craft Beer in Maine

From Portland's brewery district to rural farmhouse ales, Maine has become a craft beer destination. Your guide to Maine's best breweries.

Maine’s craft beer scene has exploded. The state now hosts over 150 breweries, from internationally recognized names to farmhouse operations pouring beer steps from the brewhouse. Portland has more breweries per capita than almost any American city, but the scene extends statewide—breweries anchor downtowns, occupy rural barns, and draw visitors specifically for the beer.

This guide covers the essential breweries, the emerging scenes beyond Portland, and how to plan your Maine beer adventures.

Portland’s Brewery District

The Essentials

Allagash Brewing Company The brewery that put Maine on the craft beer map. Allagash pioneered Belgian-style brewing in America, and their White remains the benchmark American witbier. The free tours explain the process; the tasting room pours the results including brewery-only releases.

  • Must-try: White, Tripel, Curieux (bourbon barrel-aged Tripel)
  • Tours: Free, comprehensive, recommended
  • Food: No kitchen, but food trucks and outside food welcome
  • Location: Industrial, with ample parking

Maine Beer Company “Do What’s Right” is the motto, visible in their sustainability practices and beer quality. The Freeport taproom and production facility offers the full lineup including rotating seasonals.

  • Must-try: Lunch IPA, Dinner DIPA, MO Pale Ale
  • Atmosphere: Bright, airy, family-friendly
  • Food: Small menu of quality items
  • Location: Off I-295 in Freeport, worth the detour

Bissell Brothers Pioneers of the New England hazy IPA style. The Thompson’s Point taproom draws crowds for fresh releases that sell out quickly. Arrive early on release days.

  • Must-try: The Substance, Swish, Lux
  • Atmosphere: Industrial, buzzy, lines possible
  • Food: Food trucks
  • Note: Some releases sell out same day

Foundation Brewing Consistent quality across styles, from their flagship Epiphany pale ale to dark beers and lagers. The Industrial Way taproom shares space with other producers.

  • Must-try: Epiphany, Burnside, Afterglow
  • Atmosphere: Laid-back, knowledgeable staff
  • Food: From neighbor Austin Street (order and bring over)

Austin Street Brewery Neighborhood brewery with rotating taps and a welcoming vibe. The Industrial Way location shares the brewing complex with Foundation; the Fox Street location is cozier.

  • Must-try: Patina, Mainer Weisse, rotating IPAs
  • Atmosphere: Community gathering spot
  • Food: Full kitchen at Industrial Way

Industrial Way District

Several breweries cluster on Industrial Way and Fox Street, making it easy to visit multiple spots:

  • Foundation Brewing
  • Austin Street Brewery
  • Battery Steele Brewing
  • Lone Pine Brewing Company

Walk or take a quick rideshare between them.

Other Portland Breweries

Rising Tide Brewing Company Portland staple with solid year-round and seasonal offerings.

Goodfire Brewing Company Newer addition focusing on hop-forward beers.

Belleflower Brewing Small-batch focus with rotating options.

Fore River Brewing Company Neighborhood brewery in South Portland.

Definitive Brewing Company Inventive recipes in the East Bayside neighborhood.

Beyond Portland

Midcoast

Marshall Wharf Brewing Company (Belfast) Waterfront brewery in a converted sardine factory. The Three Tides restaurant next door serves the beer with excellent food.

  • Must-try: Cant Dog Imperial Pale, Sexy Chaos
  • Location: Right on the water

Rock Harbor Brewing (Rockland) Downtown Rockland spot with solid beers and waterfront access.

Boothbay Craft Brewery (Boothbay) Small brewery with rotating taps.

Oxbow Brewing Company (Newcastle) Farmhouse brewery specializing in saisons and wild ales. The Newcastle farmhouse is the original location; they also have a Portland tasting room.

  • Must-try: Farmhouse Pale Ale, Freestyle series
  • Experience: Rural farmhouse setting worth the drive

Western Mountains

Bigelow Brewing Company (Skowhegan) Western Maine brewery with Maine-themed beers in a restored mill.

Tumbledown Brewing (Farmington) Cozy brewpub in downtown Farmington.

Sunday River Brewing Company (Bethel) Brewpub convenient to Sunday River skiing.

Downeast

Fogtown Brewing Company (Ellsworth) Gateway to Acadia with solid rotating selection.

Atlantic Brewing Company (Bar Harbor) Long-established brewery with a restaurant and tours.

Orono Brewing Company (Orono) University town brewery with loyal following.

Airline Brewing Company (Amherst) Remote location on the “airline” route to Downeast.

Northern Maine

Black Bear Brewery (Orono) Taproom adjacent to the University of Maine campus.

Cushnoc Brewing Company (Augusta) Capital city brewery in a historic building.

Marsh Island Brewing (Orono) Small-batch focus with rotating options.

Brewery Experiences

Brewery Tours

Allagash Brewing (Portland) The gold standard for brewery tours. Free, educational, and generous with samples. Reservations recommended.

Shipyard Brewing (Portland) Long-established Maine brewery offering tours of their larger facility.

Atlantic Brewing (Bar Harbor) Tours of their Acadia-area production facility.

Brewery Trails

Portland Ale Trail Self-guided trail covering Portland-area breweries with a passport program.

Maine Beer Trail Statewide trail tracking visits to breweries across Maine.

Beer Events

Maine Brewers Guild Festivals Annual events showcasing Maine breweries.

Portland Beer Week (November) Week of special events, tappings, and brewery collaborations.

Beer Styles Maine Does Best

New England IPA

Maine was central to developing the hazy, juicy IPA style now imitated worldwide. Key producers:

  • Bissell Brothers
  • Lone Pine
  • Goodfire
  • Foundation (clearer style)

Belgian-Influenced

Allagash leads, but several breweries explore Belgian traditions:

  • Allagash (the benchmark)
  • Oxbow (farmhouse focus)
  • Foundation (Belgian-inspired offerings)

Lagers

Quality lager brewing has grown:

  • Austin Street (Patina)
  • Maine Beer Company (Woods & Waters)
  • Various German-style offerings statewide

Stouts and Porters

Dark beers thrive in Maine’s climate:

  • Allagash (Black, North Sky)
  • Foundation (Burnside)
  • Rising Tide (Daymark)

Planning Your Beer Trip

Portland Day

Morning: Allagash tour and tasting (10-11 AM)

Midday: Industrial Way cluster—Foundation, Austin Street, and neighbors. Lunch at Austin Street or nearby.

Afternoon: Bissell Brothers at Thompson’s Point

Evening: Dinner at a brewery or beer-focused restaurant like Novare Res or Great Lost Bear

Coastal Route

Combine brewery visits with coastal exploration:

Route 1 Breweries:

  • Tributary (Kittery)
  • Barreled Souls (Saco)
  • Portland cluster
  • Maine Beer Company (Freeport)
  • Flight Deck (Brunswick)
  • Oxbow (Newcastle)
  • Marshall Wharf (Belfast)

Acadia Area

Before or after park time:

  • Fogtown (Ellsworth)
  • Atlantic Brewing (Bar Harbor)
  • Bar Harbor Brewing
  • Somesville’s options

Beer-Focused Dining

Beer Bars

Novare Res Bier Café (Portland) Deep draft list and bottle selection in a historic cellar space.

The Great Lost Bear (Portland) Longtime Portland institution with 70+ taps.

Ebenezer’s Pub (Lovell) Rural destination with legendary Belgian beer selection.

Brewpubs

Gritty McDuff’s (Portland, Auburn, Freeport) Maine’s first brewpub, still serving solid English-style beers.

Run of the Mill (Saco) Brewpub in a renovated mill building.

Liberal Cup (Hallowell) Neighborhood brewpub in historic Hallowell.

Practical Information

Getting Around

Most breweries don’t offer public transit access. Options:

  • Designated driver
  • Rideshare apps (available in Portland area)
  • Brewery tour services (guided tours with transportation)
  • Walk Portland’s Industrial Way cluster

Tasting Room Policies

  • Many allow outside food
  • Kids often welcome but check policies
  • Dogs sometimes allowed on patios
  • Hours vary—check before visiting
  • Some require reservations for tours
  • Growler fills available at most

What to Buy

At Breweries:

  • Fresh cans (drink soon)
  • Growler fills
  • Brewery merchandise
  • Limited releases

To Go:

  • Allagash White available everywhere
  • Maine Beer Company distributed widely
  • Local beers best consumed fresh and local

The Maine Beer Culture

Maine’s brewing culture reflects Maine itself: independent, quality-focused, and community-oriented. Many breweries started in garages and basements, growing organically as word spread. The brewers know each other, collaborate regularly, and share a commitment to quality over hype.

The scene isn’t just about Portland. Rural breweries anchor small towns. Farmhouse operations pour beer where it’s made. The variety—from Allagash’s Belgian traditions to Bissell’s hazy IPAs to Oxbow’s wild ales—reflects brewers doing what interests them rather than chasing trends.

For visitors, this means excellent beer everywhere you go. Pack a cooler. Stop at the next brewery. The beer is worth it.

From Allagash’s pioneering Belgian styles to the latest hazy IPA releases, Maine offers one of America’s most vibrant craft beer scenes. The concentration in Portland is remarkable, but the statewide distribution of quality breweries means good beer is never far away. Plan your route, drink responsibly, and discover why Maine has become a destination for beer lovers.