Maine, it is rumored, has more breweries per capita than all but three other states. Some are actual brewpubs or large commercial companies — like Shipyard and Geary’s — with organized tours and tastings. But most are small operations with fairly limited distribution. If you’re a beer drinker in search of specific brews, call the breweries themselves — you’ll find most of them are happy to show you around and direct you toward the stores, restaurants, and bars that carry their products. Bottoms up to a true taste of Maine!
Photograph Courtesy Atlantic Brewing Company

Allagash Brewery
50 Industrial Way, Portland, 800-330-5385, www.allagash.com
A major player on the international beer scene, this artisanal brewery has been creating traditional and experimental Belgian beer since 1995. The flagship is Allagash White, but be on the lookout for their innovative “spontaneous fermentation” beers this summer.

Andrew’s Brewing Co.
353 High St., Lincolnville, 207-763-3305, andrewsbrewingco@tidewater.net
If you’re in the midcoast region, chances are the restaurant or bar you’re at carries Andrew’s Pale Ale. This brewery has been crafting small batches of this popular brew and three other beers for eighteen years.

Atlantic Brewing Co.
15 Knox Rd., Bar Harbor, 207-288-2337, www.atlanticbrewing.com
For nearly two decades, this brewery and BBQ restaurant has been serving the real stuff: Bar Harbor Real Ale, that is, plus up to nine other brews including the popular Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale using wild berries from Washington County.

Bar Harbor Brewing
8 Mount Desert St., Bar Harbor, 207-288-4592, www.barharborbrewing.com
This seasonal microbrewery, recently acquired by Atlantic Brewing Company, in downtown Bar Harbor, lives up to its name, making small batches of a handful of Acadia-themed brews available onsite and at local restaurants and bars.

Belfast Bay Brewing
100 Searsport Ave., Belfast, 207-338-4216, www.belfastbaybrewing.com
This brewery’s two beers, Belfast Bay Lobster Ale and Belfast Bay McGovern’s Oatmeal Stout, originated in the seaside city almost fifteen years ago but are now being brewed at Shipyard’s facility in Portland.

Black Bear Brewery
19 Mill Street, Orono, 207-949-2880, www.blackbearmicrobrew.com
This brewery has been refreshing the thirsty mouths of UMaine students for two years with its handful of draft beers, available only at local bars and restaurants or by the growler at the brewery itself.

Bray’s Brew Pub & Eatery
678 Roosevelt Trail, Naples, 207-693-6806, www.braysbrewpub.com
One of the smaller brewpubs in the state, this restaurant offers a rotating assortment of more than thirty kinds of beers. Don’t miss the Halloween special, Yammityville Horror, made with sweet potatoes.

D.L. Geary Brewing Co.
38 Evergreen Dr., Portland, 207-878-2337, www.gearybrewing.com
The first microbrewery in New England, and one of the first in the entire country, Geary’s has been pleasing palates since the mid-eighties. Its flagship brew is a British-style pale ale, though it also offers four other widely available beers plus three seasonals.

Freeport Brewing Co.
46 Durham Rd., 207-865-9760
This small one-man operation is what’s called a nanobrewery, brewing a handful of beers available at just a few select locations including Whole Foods and the Harraseeket Inn.

Gritty McDuff’s
396 Fore St. Portland, 207-772-2739; Lower Main St., Freeport, 207-865-4321; 68 Main St., Auburn 207-376-2739, www.grittys.com
The go-to for gastro pubs in Maine since 1988, Gritty’s offers five classic ales plus several seasonal beers along with tasty grub and a lively atmosphere.

Kennebec River Pub & Brewery
1771 U.S. Rte. 201, The Forks, 800-765-7238, www.northernoutdoors.com
Since 1997, this north country resort, restaurant, and outdoor center has been crafting and serving a half dozen or so of its own custom beers.

Maine Beer Company
1 Industrial Way, Unit 3, Portland, 207-221-3159, www.mainebeercompany.com
A newcomer to the Maine beer scene, this environmentally conscious company only has one beer so far, Peeper Ale, but it can be found in southern Maine stores in its signature 500ml bottles.

Maine Coast Brewing
102 Eden St., Bar Harbor, 207-288-4914 , www.bhmaine.com
Another Bar Harbor beer stop, this brewery and steakhouse has been up and running for fifteen years and usually has a half dozen or so house ales on tap.

Marshall Wharf Brewing Company (Three Tides)
2 Pinchy Ln., Belfast, 207-338-1707, www.marshallwharf.com
This brewery, part of Three Tides restaurant, started brewing its “big beers” (read: high alcohol content) two and a half years ago and now offers thirteen on tap, including the fan favorites Tug Pale Ale and Illegal Ale-ien.

Oak Pond Brewery
101 Oak Pond Rd., Skowhegan, 207-474-3233, www.oakpondbrewery.com
For about fifteen years, this straight-up brewery has been selling its various beers, including its most popular Nut Brown Ale, by the growler, case, keg, and twenty-two-ounce bottle.

Peak Organic
110 Marginal Way, Portland, 207-586-5586, www.peakbrewing.com
The only organic brewery on the East Coast, this company has been sourcing as many ingredients as possible from Maine farmers for twelve years. The most popular of the more than half a dozen organic brews, which are made offsite and widely available at stores and restaurants, is the India Pale Ale.

Penobscot Bay Brewery
279 South Main St., Winterport, 207-233-4500, www.winterportwinery.com/brewery.asp
Winterport Winery, known for its fine Maine wines, recently got into the beer business releasing several new brews including Old Factory Whistle Scottish Ale, Whig Street Blonde Ale, and Half Moon Stout.

Run of the Mill Public House and Brewery
100 Main St., Saco Island, Saco, 207-571-9652, www.therunofthemill.net
A sister company to Hallowell’s The Liberal Cup, this revamped mill opened its doors less than two years ago and serves food and the same beers as its northern counterpart. Don’t miss a sample paddle: three-ounces of all seven house-brewed beers on tap.

Sebago Brewing Co.
201 Southborough Dr., Scarborough, 207-874-2337; 29 Elm St., Gorham, 207-839-2337; 164 Middle St., Portland, 207-775-2337; 67 Portland Rd., Kennebunk, www.sebagobrewing.com
For twelve years this brewery has been pairing favorites such as Frye’s Leap IPA and Boathouse Brown Ale with good pub food. And with a brand new location in Kennebunk this summer, Sebago Brewing Co. extends its reach as one of Maine’s largest brewpubs and commercial breweries.

Sheepscot Valley Brewing Company
754 Hollywood Boulevard, Whitefield, 207-549-5530, www.sheepscotbrewing.com
A true microbrewery near Gardiner, this small, fifteen-year-old operation puts out four beers year-round that can be found at local restaurants and bars, including its flagship Pemaquid Ale.

Sunday River Brewing Company
29 Sunday River Rd., 207-824-4253, www.sundayriverbrewpub.com
A mainstay for hungry and thirsty skiers since 1992, this brewpub now produces four kinds of beer year-round, plus two seasonal brews, that are all only available at the restaurant.

The Liberal Cup
115 Water St., Hallowell, 207-623-2739, www.sundayriverbrewpub.comwww.theliberalcup.com
This pub has been a local destination for nearly ten years, not only for the delicious food, but also for the twenty-three different varieties of beers offered throughout the year. There are usually six on tap at any given time, including the perennials, Bug Lager and Alewife Ale.

Shipyard Suds
Shipyard Brewing Co.
86 Newbury St., Portland, 800-273-9253, www.shipyard.com
The mothership of Maine breweries, Shipyard has become the largest brewery in Maine since its founding in 1992. The Canadian-style golden ale, Shipyard Export Ale, is the brewery’s signature beer, but it produces many other styles including the popular fall Pumpkinhead Ale. Shipyard also recently acquired Sea Dog Brewing Co. and Casco Bay Brewing and continues to sell those beers. You can sample Shipyard products while getting a bite at the following locations:

Shipyard Brewhaus at Sunday River, 207-824-5138 and Sugarloaf, 207-237-2000, www.shipyardbrewhaus.com
Shipyard Brew Pub, Rte. 236, Eliot Commons, Eliot, 207-686-2026, www.shipyardbrewpub.com
Federal Jack’s Restaurant and Brew Pub, 8 Western Ave., Kennebunk, 207-967-4322, www.federaljacks.com
The Inn on Peaks Island, 33 Island Ave., Peaks Island, 207-766-5100, www.innonpeaks.com
Sea Dog Brewing Co., 125 Western Ave., South Portland, 207-871-7000; 1 Main St., Topsham, 207-725-0162; 26 Front St., Bangor, 207-947-8009, www.seadogbrewing.com