The Inn on Peaks Island

The Maine Beer Trail covers all of Maine and its breweries. Last weekend, Lise And I boarded A Casco Bay Lines Ferry and headed for Peaks Island on Labor Day, something that is becoming a bit of a tradition for our family and friends. Taking the short but scenic ride across the harbor, we arrived

at our destination, The Inn on Peaks Island, home to the Summer Ender Bender Labor Day Party and Pig Roast.

The event is of the 'all you can eat' variety and always well attended. The weather is always fantastic, too but is held under cover because...well, you just never know!

This event was sponsored by Shipyard Brewing Co and featured their beer. This location is on the Maine Beer Trail and, frankly, the atmosphere alone always makes this a fun and worth while trip. And they do brew a cask conditioned ale seasonally on the premises.
 I was pleasantly surprised to find the Shipyard Island Time on tap while Lise enjoyed the recently released for the season Pumkinhead.

You can visit The Inn on Peaks Island at 33 Island Ave., Peaks Island, Maine 04108

Phone 207-766-5100

Hours:

Sunday 11AM-9PM

Monday 4PM-9PM

Tuesday 4PM-9PM

Wednesday 4PM-9PM

Thursday 4PM-9PM

Friday 11AM-10PM

Saturday 11AM-10PM

Norway Brewing Company

Heading south from Bethel, Maine, we followed the Maine Beer Trail to Norway, Maine, home to Norway Brewing Company! Located downtown in this small, western Maine town, Norway Brewing features both great food and great beer!

On this day, we were just stopping for the beer:

Both the indoor and outdoor seating areas provide a comfortable place to enjoy a beer. On this chilly, wet Sunday afternoon, we chose a table in the corner inside the TapRoom and ordered a round of beers.

From left to right in picture below: I enjoyed the Mr. Grumpy Pants, Lise liked the Noyes Mountain Barrel Wine, Erin chose the Mild Joe while Nicholas had a Lust for Gold (pun intended).

You can visit Norway Brewing Company at 237 Main Street, Norway, Maine 04268

Phone 207-739-2126

Hours

Sunday 11AM-9PM

Monday Noon- 9PM

Tuesday Noon-9PM

Wednesday Noon-9PM

Thursday Noon-9PM

Friday Noon-10PM

Saturday 11AM-10PM

The kitchen opens at 4PM during the week and 11AM on weekends

Sunday River Brewing Co

After spending the weekend at Rangeley Lake, Lise and I along with her daughter and son-in-law, Erin and Nicholas, decided to follow the Maine Beer Trail and take the scenic route back to Portland. This took us through Bethel, Maine, home to Sunday River Brewing Company!

Located at the beginning of the access road for the Sunday River Ski Resort, this large brew pub features a big dining room, a good sized bar as well as ample outdoor seating on the deck. And lots of good beer to try!
Here is Miss Erin trying the Long Haul Lager:

And Lise with the Redstone Ale:

This was a great place to stop for lunch. My pizza was fantastic and Lise enjoyed the Greek salad. As for the beer, Lise and Erin both liked the Jamaican Stout. Nicholas liked the Sunday River Alt and I liked the Mountain Mama IPA.

You can visit Sunday River Brewing Company at 29 Sunday River Road, Bethel, Maine 04217

Phone 207-284-4253

Hours:

6AM-Close 7 Days a week

Tumbledown Brewing

Lise and I spent the Labor Day Weekend on Rangeley Lake in western Maine, Our trip from Portland to Rangeley took us right through Farmington, Maine and another stop on the Maine Beer Trail. A small craft brewery, Tumbledown Brewing features beers with big flavors!

Located just a couple of miles from dowtown Farmington, Tumbledown has a nice, comfortable indoor tasting room and several picnic tables set up outside for you to enjoy their offerings. This was our second trip to Tumbledown and the beertenders are always friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.

We tried all of the excellent beers. Lise liked the Artula Pale Ale while my favorite was the Tumbledown Red.

You can visit Tumbledown Brewing at 805 Farmington Falls Rd. Unit #7, Farmington, Maine 04938

Phone 207-491-9882

Tasting Room Hours

Sunday 1PM-7PM

Monday closed

Tuesday closed

Wednesday 1PM-7PM

Thursday 1PM-7PM

Friday 1PM-7PM

Saturday 11AM-7PM

Fore River Brewing Co.

Recently, Lise And I followed the Maine Beer Trail from Portland, travelling across the Fore River into South Portland, home to a brewery called, of all things, Fore River Brewing Co,

Stepping into the tasting room feels like walking into a renovated old barn with all of the exposed beams and wood ceiling but, it is actually just a couple of years old.

If it is a nice day, take your beer outside to the large yard located to the right of the building and enjoy a game of cornhole. But, whether you choose to enjoy one of their delicious beers inside or outside, it feels like going to a friends house to hang out.
I really like their Lygonia, a New England IPA while Lise enjoys the milk stout, a nitro, called John Henry Nitro.

You can visit Fore River Brewing Co. at 45 Huntress Ave., South Portland, Maine 04106

Tasting Room Hours:

Sunday Noon-8PM

Monday closed

Tuesday closed

Wednesday 2PM-7PM

Thursday 2PM-9PM

Friday 2PM-9PM

Saturday Noon-9PM

The Liberal Cup

Another beautiful day, another bike ride. Recently, my sister and brother-in-law, Kim and Tim, Lise and myself strapped our bicycles to our cars and drove to Gardiner, Maine. There, we picked up the The Kennebec River Trail, a wonderful, paved bike path that follows the Kennebec River for roughly six miles from Gardiner to Augusta, Maine. The ride offers great views of the river.

We rode to Augusta and headed back to Gardiner, passing through historic downtown Hallowell, Maine, home to The Liberal Cup and another stop on the Maine Beer Trail! What a great place to quench your thirst after some sight-seeing and bike riding. Located in the heart of downtown Hallowell, this English-style Pub is the perfect place for food and drink.

Kim and Tim really liked the Tarbox Cream Stout while Lise enjoyed the What's Hoppenin' XPA and my favorite was the 1762 Rye PA.

And if you're hungry, I love the Fish and Chips. Go for the Full Monty, you won't be disappointed.

You can visit The Liberal Cup at 115 Water Street, Hallowell, Maine 04347

Phone 207-623-2739

Hours:

The bar is open until the last person leaves or 1AM

D.L. Geary Brewing Company

Portland, Maine is home to many fine breweries featured on the Maine Beer Trail. In one neighborhood, off of Riverside Street, you can find five! You can park on the street and visit four of them without moving your car. Around the corner, on Evergreen Drive, you will find New England's first microbrewery, D.L. Geary Brewing Company.
On a recent Saturday afternoon, Lise and I headed over to the area with the thought of visiting a couple of them. It was a beautiful day and all of the breweries were so busy that we couldn't even find a place to park, which never happens. We figured we would just slide around the corner to Geary's which is generally quite a bit quieter. Geary's is under new ownership and they have been doing some interesting things lately with lots of new beer choices.

When we came around the bend, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the place was as busy as the rest! We found a place to park and headed through the crowd outside enjoying some fine beer and live music and made our way to the tasting room.

We have long been fans of Geary's, enjoying the traditional favorites they have been offering for years. But, if you enjoy IPA's, like Lise and I do, we recommend trying the new Riverside IPA.

You can visit D.L.Geary Brewing Company at 38 Evergreen Drive, Portland, Maine 04103

Phone 207-878-2337

Tasting Room Hours

Sunday Noon-7PM

Monday 2PM-7PM

Tuesday closed

Wednesday closed

Thursday 2PM-7PM

Friday Noon-7PM

Saturday Noon-7PM

Bissell Brothers

  Our next stop on the Maine Beer Trail took us to Thompson's Point in Portland, home to Bissell Brothers. Located on a point of land that juts out into the Fore River, this is one the city's most popular breweries.

Lise and I both had Friday off and thought it may be less crowded on a weekday afternoon so we headed down. As soon as we turned into the parking lot, we realized we were wrong. The awesome beer brewed here just keeps the crowds coming.

As you can see, the inside tasting room is large and busy. Lise and I purchased a couple of cold beers and headed to the equally large and busy outside patio on this beautiful summer day.

Lise enjoyed the Reciprocal while I liked the flagship, The Substance Ale.

You can visit Bissell Brothers at 4 Thompson's Point Rd., Portland, Maine 04102

Phone 207-808-8258

Tasting Room Hours

Sunday Noon-5PM

Monday closed

Tuesday closed

Wednesday Noon-8PM

Thursday Noon-8PM

Friday Noon-8PM

Saturday Noon-8PM

Foulmouthed Brewing

Recently, Lise and I traveled across the Casco Bay Bridge from Portland to South Portland to visit another stop on the Maine Beer Trail. Located in a former auto garage, Foulmouthed Brewing is in a quiet corner of the city and near Portland Harbor.

With some outdoor seating and a good sized indoor restaurant, this has quickly become a neighborhood favorite.

Every time Lise and I visit Foulmouthed, there is always some new and interesting beer to try and this trip didn't disappoint. We purchased the flight, consisting of a four ounce taste of all six beers on tap. They were all excellent but, I really enjoyed the Coconut Cream Stout while Lise liked the Blue Balls, a Belgian style strong, dark ale aged on local blueberries.

You can visit Foulmouthed Brewing at 15 Ocean St., South Portland, Maine 04106

Phone 207-618-6977

Hours

Sunday 11AM-10PM

Monday 3PM-10PM

Tuesday 3PM-10PM

Wednesday Noon-10PM

Thursday Noon-10PM

Friday Noon-10PM

Saturday 11AM-10PM

Gritty's Freeport Brew Pub

  After we finished our delicious beer at the Maine Beer Company, Lise and I took a right out of the parking lot and headed north on Route 1 for our next stop on the Maine Beer Trail. A very short drive of maybe a mile or so brought us to Gritty's Freeport Brew Pub.

Located on the edge of downtown Freeport, this is a fun and comfortable place to sit back and enjoy a cold, refreshing, locally brewed beer. While they do have a patio with outdoor seating, Lise and I chose to sit at the bar on this cool evening.

As this was our second stop of the day, we were in the mood for something lighter. We chose the Raspberry Wheat Ale. It was so good that we drank over half of it before I remembered to take a picture.

You can visit Gritty's Freeport Brew Pub at 187 Lower Main St., Freeport, Maine 04032

Phone 207-865-4321

Hours

11AM-close 7 days a week

Maine Beer Company

Less than 20 miles north from Portland up Rt 1 is Freeport, Maine, a shopping destination for many due to all of the outlet stores and also home to world famous L.L.Bean. And, if you enjoy locally brewed beer like Lise and I do, it's also home to the Maine Beer Company, another stop on the Maine Beer Trail.

As you can see, this place has lots of outdoor seating as well as a good sized tasting room inside. As you approach the building you can smell the wood fired pizza cooking just outside the brewery. This a very environmentally conscious brewery. The stamp that they use to sign your Maine Beer Trail checklist reads 'Do What's Right'.

They have several delicious beers to choose from and Lise and I have tried them all over our many visits to this establishment.

On this particular trip, the lovely Lise and I enjoyed Another One, a superb IPA. Cheers!

You can visit the Maine Beer Company at 525 U.S. Route 1, Freeport, Maine 04032

Phone 207-221-5711

Tasting Room Hours

Sunday 11AM-5PM

Monday 11AM-8PM

Tuesday 11AM-8PM

Wednesday 11AM-8PM

Thursday 11AM-8PM

Friday 11AM-8PM

Saturday 11AM-8PM

Oxbow Portland Blending & Bottling

  The Maine Beer Trail took us downtown Portland to Washington Avenue and Oxbow Portland Blending & Bottling last night. A great place to unwind after a day at work, Oxbow is located on the Peninsula at the foot of Munjoy Hill.

As you walk in to the unassuming building, you are welcomed by a large tasting room featuring a large bar and plenty of tables to sit at as well as lots of great beer to choose from!

Lise and I recommend the Farmhouse Pale Ale:

You can visit Oxbow Portland Blending & Bottling at 49 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine 04101

Phone 207-350-0025

Tasting Room Hours:

Sunday Noon-9PM

Monday Noon-9pm

Tuesday Noon-9PM

Wednesday Noon-11PM

Thursday Noon-11PM

Friday Noon-11PM

Saturday Noon-11PM

Gritty's Auburn Brew Pub

  One of our favorite things to do on the Maine Beer Trail is to drive from Portland to Auburn on Sunday afternoons, a 30 minute drive, to Gritty's Auburn Brew Pub for a game of music bingo! The game is played like traditional bingo but with the added twist of knowing your music. Hosted by Gritty's, DJ Alan of Listen up Bingo, plays snippets of songs. If you know the song and it's on your card, you mark it off. Prizes are small, generally a $5 Gritty's gift card, with the final coverall game rewarding you with a growler fill. And a good time is had by all!
Located in downtown Auburn, Maine on the banks of Androscoggin River, this location, one of three Gritty's, features an outside deck and large indoor rooms. The rooms are nicely done in natural wood with the main room having a large bar.

The game is played in the room to the right where we usually meet up with friends and take up one of the large tables.

We usually grab a bite to eat while we play(the burgers are pretty good) and wash it down with one of the many fine beers offered. Our beer of choice this week was the Original Pub Style.

You can visit Gritty's Auburn Brew Pub at 68 Main St., Auburn, Maine 04210

Phone 207-386-2739

Hours:

Sunday 11AM-1AM

Monday 11AM-1AM

Tuesday 11AM-1AM

Wednesday 11AM-1AM

Thursday 11AM-1AM

Friday 11AM-1AM

Saturday 11AM-1AM

Flight Deck Brewing

  Recently, the Maine Beer Trail took Lise and I to Brunswick, Maine, home to Flight Deck Brewing. Located on the former site of the Brunswick Naval Air Station, the ride in certainly still has a military base feel to it as we were greeted by this old plane at the entrance to the old base:

The brewery was easy to spot and just off the main drag:

Inside the atmosphere was fun and the beer names kept up both the military and the aviation theme; 44th Parallel, Subhunter Imperial IPA, P3 Pale Ale, Tea-56 Hibiscus, Wright Stuff Rye Pale Ale and Mayday Session IPA.

The tasting room is large and the open overhead door led to a big outside seating area as well.

Lise and I sampled the 44th Parallel IPA, Subhunter Imperial IPA, Tea-56 Hibiscus (the pink one in the picture below) and the Wright Stuff Rye Pale Ale. And the night we were there, they had pizza!

Lise and I both liked the Wright Stuff Rye Pale Ale the best although, the Tea-56 Hibiscus was rather good as well.

You can visit Flight Deck Brewing at 11 Atlantic Ave., Brunswick, Maine 04011

Phone 207-373-1817

Tasting Room Hours:

Sunday 11AM-8PM

Monday closed

Tuesday closed

Wednesday 11AM-8PM

Thursday 11AM-8PM

Friday 11AM-8PM

Saturday 11AM-8PM

Thresher Brewing Co.

  After visiting three breweries on our Downeast Maine Beer Trail tasting trip, it was getting pretty late but, Lise, Erin and myself decided that we had time for one more stop. So, we set the GPS and headed to Searsmont, Maine, home of Thresher Brewing Co.
Winding through some back roads in the dark, finally the GPS announced that we had arrived at our destination. We were in front of a fire station. I'm sure in the daylight it would have been obvious to us but, at 8:30 at night in an unfamiliar town, it wasn't. I noticed a dirt driveway to left of the fire station and started driving down it when a small sign pointing towards a large building out back told me that we had in fact found it.
The tasting room inside was comfortable, featuring a couple of dart boards and a pool table. The one patron and the beertender were friendly and welcoming. They had several beers to choose from.

We decided to try them all and ordered a 5oz sample of everything to share and sample.

All of the beer was very good but, we all agreed that the Citra IPA was our favorite.

You can visit Thresher Brewing Co at 22 Main St., Searsmont, Maine 04973, Building #3

Phone 207-342-2337

Tasting Room Hours:

Sunday Noon-8PM

Monday Noon-9PM

Tuesday Noon-9PM

Wednesday Noon-9PM

Thursday Noon-9PM

Friday Noon-9PM

Saturday Noon-9PM

Strong Brewing Company

  Our third Maine Beer Trail stop from our epic beer tasting trip Downeast was located in Sedgwick, Maine. The drive from Ellsworth to Sedgwick was a breathtakingly beautiful one winding down country roads and through small villages. Strong Brewing Company is located in a quiet, rural setting and well worth the drive.

Lise, Erin and myself purchased a flight of five different beers to share and sample and headed outside on this splendid Maine summer evening to one of the available picnic tables.

While we were enjoying the setting and the fine beer, Lise noticed some tubs full of spent grains. She disappeared and came back a few minutes later and headed for the car. Erin and I watched as she walked back towards us with some plastic bags. 

She had talked to the owner/brewer and asked what he was doing with grains. She explained that my son raises chickens and she thought they would enjoy the grains. He invited her to take what she wanted and she was right. The chickens love the grains. Here she is bagging up some grain.

Getting back to the beer, Lise liked the Soulpatch Porter, Erin's favorite was the Bale O' Hay IPA and I enjoyed the Kickin Bock.

You can visit Strong Brewing Compay at 7 Rope Ferry Rd., Sedgwick, Maine 04676

Phone 207-359-8722

Tasting Room Hours:

Sunday 1PM-7PM

Monday 1PM-7PM

Tuesday 1PM-7PM

Wednesday 1PM-7PM

Thursday 1PM-7PM

Friday Noon-8PM

Saturday 1PM-7PM

Airline Brewing Company-The Pub

 Our second stop on our Downeast Maine Beer Trail tasting trip was the Airline Brewing Company Pub located in downtown Ellsworth, Maine. Specializing in British Style beers, the atmosphere was very, well, pub-like.

The beer selection was quite varied with something for everyone.

Lise and Erin both chose the Stout and I enjoyed a glass of the Oaked Brown Porter.

You can visit the Airline Brewing Company Pub at 173 Main St., Ellsworth, Maine 04605

Phone 207-412-0045

Sunday 11AM-10PM

Monday 11AM-10PM

Tuesday 11AM-10PM

Wednesday 11AM-10PM

Thursday 11AM-10PM

Friday 11AM-10PM

Saturday 11AM-10PM