Guide To The Top Portland Maine Breweries
Portlanders couldn’t keep this secret if they wanted to. The word is out that Maine’s largest city is also the hub of one of the craft brewing industry’s most prolific regions. In a relatively short time, the number of craft beer producers in Southern Maine, and the demands of their production, have grown by leaps and bounds. The unique nature of the brews are second-to-none, impressing even the most seasoned connoisseurs - but the stories and passion behind the area’s top contributors are a genuine celebration of the heart and soul of Maine itself.
In a rush and want to see our favorites? The best Portland, Maine breweries according to our local experts include:
- Allagash Brewery
- Bissell Brothers
- Rising Tide Brewing Company
- Foundation Brewing Company
- Lone Pine Brewing Company
- Maine Brew Bus
Read on for full details and our notes about each of these amazing breweries in Portland!
No visit to the Portland area is complete without paying tribute to the thriving craft beverage industry, and we’re happy to share our favorite hot spots with you.
Allagash Brewery
50 Industrial Way, Portland, ME 04103· (207) 878-5385
Hours: Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Wednesday 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Thursday 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Friday - Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Founded in Portland, Maine, by Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing Company is a Belgian-style brewery with a reputation as legendary as its brews. A winner of the Prestigious James Beard award, Allagash Brewery represents some of the best that Portland has to offer.
Rustic decor and friendly faces set the pace for a traditional New England experience where everyone feels at ease, and the taps are always flowing.
The first beer produced at Allagash remains its most popular seller to-date. Allagash White is one of nine year-round beers in Allagash's illustrious portfolio, along with numerous limited-editions, award-winning sours, and nine "Coolship" beers, which are crafted using a traditional spontaneous fermentation method made famous in Belgium, before a 1-3 year aging process.
Since its opening in 1995, Allagash has grown to become one of the 50 largest craft breweries in the nation. USA Today readers awarded Allagash the honor of being the eighth best brewery tour in the U.S., and the best in New England. So, pull up a stool and stay a while to experience Maine's worst kept secret for yourself. Keep an eye out for special events at the brewery, including trivia and bingo nights, and the Yoga in the Brewhouse Series!
Allagash offers guided tours daily, as well as a taproom and gift shop. Check out Bite Into Maine, serving up signature lobster rolls and more on the brewery patio for the perfect complement to your Allagash brew.
Best Brews: Allagash White, Allagash Curieux
Bissell Brothers
4 Thompsons Point, Suite 108, Portland, ME 04102 · (207) 808-8258
https://www.bissellbrothers.com/
Hours: Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 6 :00 p.m., Monday - Wednesday 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Thursday - Friday 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Founded in Portland in 2013, Bissell Brothers quickly gained enough momentum to justify opening a second facility in the brothers' hometown of Milo, Maine. The flagship brewery often sees fans of the unique Bissell flavors lining up for hours in anticipation of limited can releases. With ever-increasing production striving to meet consistent demand, Bissell Brothers is Maine's sixth-largest brewery by volume.
Hazy, hop-centric IPAs are the Bissell Brothers signature style - as rich in flavor and concept as the aesthetic of the brewery itself. The vibrant, industrial-chic taproom and striking artistic designs of the coveted cans reiterate the originality behind the brand. A Maine staple, Bissell Brothers beers are only available in the state.
While flights are not an option at Bissell Brothers, half-pours are - a great way to extend your sampling stamina! Food trucks frequently service the area as well, giving you a quick taste into other local cuisine.
Best Brews: The Substance Ale, Swish, Baby Genius Ale
Rising Tide Brewing Company
103 Fox Street, Portland, ME 04101 · (207) 370-2337
https://risingtidebrewing.com/
Hours: Sunday - Wednesday 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Thursday - Saturday 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.,
Rising Tide is a family-owned brewery in the East Bayside area of Portland. Founded by husband and wife team, Nathan and Heather Sanborn in 2010, Rising Tide is a classic favorite, with a longevity that speaks to its appeal.
Specializing in small-batch, hand-crafted ales, Rising Tide is a master of the art. With bold, creative flavors derived from fresh, homegrown ingredients, Rising Tide affirms a commitment to quality, community, and New England culture in every batch brewed.
Tour the production facility to marvel at the Rising Tide process of creating malt-heavy, unfiltered and unpasteurized craft beers, sampling from a rotation of year-round and seasonal favorites that embody the flavor of the region's outdoor nature.
Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, in the spacious, airy tasting room and seasonal tar patio, Rising Tide is near the Eastern Promenade and its spellbinding views of Casco Bay. With live music, on-site food trucks, and the ideal location, the ambiance bolsters the product.
Best Brews: Zephyr, Maine Island Trail Ale
Foundation Brewing Company
1 Industrial Way, Suite 5, Portland, ME 04103 · (207) 370-8187
Hours: Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Tuesday CLOSED,
Wednesday - Saturday: 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Crafting a selection of ales, porters, and lagers, Foundation Brewing is an independent artisanal brewery based in Portland. Opened in 2014 by Founders Christie and Joel Mahaffey and John and Tina Bonney, Foundation Brewing uses "classic styles as the inspiration for brewing exciting beers that push conventional boundaries". It's this nod to originality and a pledge to friendly service that makes the venue a literal foundation in New England's thriving craft beer industry.
Foundation's focus on delivering a diverse array of innovative, small-batch brews promotes their goal toward consistent quality in service and product. Foundation's core product line is comprised of rich full-bodied flavors inspired by zesty fruits, roasted coffees, and earthen harvests. Limited, and aged cellar varieties provide even broader spectrums of tasteful blends.
The Foundation Tasting Room is the place to be for friendly banter, cool brews, and your choice of snacks and entrees from a rotating roster of world-class food trucks parked just outside.
Best Brews: Epiphany, Afterglow
Lone Pine Brewing Company
219 Anderson Street, Portland, ME 04101 · (207) 468-4554
Hours: Monday - Wednesday 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Thursday - Saturday 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.,
Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tom Madden and John Paul launched Lone Pine Brewing Company in 2016 with all hopes pinned on their flagship offering, Portland Pale Ale. With just one label in production for the first six months, in a five-barrel brewhouse, Lone Pine fast became a contender on the craft beer circuit due primarily to its remarkable consistency in flavor and quality.
Now boasting a second location and an assortment of brews, Lone Pine is easily the least pretentious brewery in Portland. Formidable flavors with a distinctly bitter crisp define the beloved Lone Pine brews that find loyalists from Maine and beyond lining up for limited releases of storied IPAs like Tessellation that supplement the year-round favorites.
The beer is good but the people that brew it are better. When combined with the low-key tasting room and reliable roundup of food trucks, you have the picture-perfect environment to sip, snack, and kick back like the local you wish you were!
Best Brews: Portland Pale Ale, Brightside IPA, Tessellation Double IPA.
Maine Brew Bus - Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tours
79 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101 · (207) 200-9111
Hours: Tour schedules vary
The sky's the limit when you hop aboard The Maine Brew Bus. Maine's original Brew Bus has been offering Brewery Tours in Portland and beyond since 2012, fast becoming a local favorite, and now standing as the top-ranked New England Brewery Tour on TripAdvisor. Why stop at one location when the Brew Bus stops at them all?
Just about anyone can benefit from a ride on The Maine Brew Bus. It's a combination of culture, history, industry, and of course - libations. With knowledgeable guides leading the way through Maine's burgeoning craft beer scene, visitors are introduced to the people and brews that put Portland on the beverage map. Spotlighting the top breweries, distilleries, and wineries, all Brew Bus tours include a snack or meal at a local eatery, trivia, behind-the-scenes experiences, and a chance to sample the city’s finest ales, lagers, ciders, meads, and more.
Owners, Zach and Allison Poole and their devoted team of drivers and guides offer more than a simple sampling service without the worries of parking, safety, and navigation. They provide a uniquely Maine experience with a splash of knowledge and the chance to cultivate memories with friends old and new. More than a dozen local brewers participate in The Maine Brew Bus tours, with an array of brews to please any palate.