Plus 16 more opening this spring and summer.

We have barely flipped the 2018 calendar and we can already count 16 upcoming new breweries just champing at the bit to open. This, on top of the seven recent openings in the last quarter of 2017! We can’t blame you if your head is spinning, trying to keep track of them all. 

According to the latest breweries joining the Maine Trail, finding a business name that hasn’t already been taken is becoming increasingly more difficult. There also seems to be a trend with varying styles pulling away from the highly popular New England IPA, so breweries can provide “beer for everyone.” Using barrels from Buxton’s River Drive Cooperage is going to allow three of these brewers to experiment with some interesting flavors in the months to follow. Be on the lookout for English styles aged in whiskey barrels, a Russian Imperial Stout, and Belgian styles aged in apple brandy or gin barrels. 

Nonesuch River Brewing

A new tasting room, extended hours, increased capacity, patio seating, outside distribution, and brewing/fermentation classes are among the goals in 2018 shared by the recently opened breweries below. Some of the coastal breweries have even expressed interest in finding a more creative way to link together, perhaps in the form of a brew boat tour. 

The following breweries have just opened their doors this season:

NONESUCH RIVER BREWING honors the river that runs through the town, “connecting all the communities” in Scarborough.  Opened in September 2017, by owners Jeff Gambardella, Michael Shuler (brewer), and Tim Boardman, NRB offers sessionable ales with low ABVs, making it easy to drink when paired with their handcrafted food. 

The beautiful wooden brewpub is home to the 15BBL brewhouse, as well as a large two-story tasting room and restaurant, and offers an outside patio.  The “mug club” steins were made from the clay dug during construction by a local artisan.  Shuler was a homebrewer for 20 years prior, creating recipes in his garage. NRB is excited to partner with Nappi Distributors for can distribution soon in 2018. 

Portland

GOODFIRE BREWING COMPANY is the newest addition to #DrinkAnderson, the collaborative hashtag promoting four adult beverage businesses, all located in the same building in the East Bayside neighborhood. Upon opening in November 2017, GBC has concentrated on tasty IPAs, but has since added a crisp fresh pilsner that is a must try. The tasting room is family friendly, offering various board games as well as ample space to gather and plans for outside seating.   Entrance is in the back; signage is coming in 2018!

The crew of four handling operations is made up of Dr. David Redding (owner), Gordon Jones (brewer), Kelly Scharf (GM), and Chris Beth (Distribution Engineer).  Jones, a prior homebrewer, gave props to industry influencers such as Dirigo, MBC, Bissell, Foundation, and Sebago for their guidance in allowing him to shadow their operations before installing his own 15 BBL system.  

Photo: Cushnoc Brewing Co.

Monmouth

GRATEFUL GRAIN BREWING COMPANY offers a cozy tasting room in the Tacoma Lakes region and is a must stop on your way through central Maine.  Owners Trevor Knell (brewer), Tom Langlois, Ryan Cote, and Nick Knowlton offer five taps using their 1BBL system.  Plans for 2018 include increased parking, an extended weekend schedule, an outside patio, and the addition of food trucks.  I highly recommend their juicy grapefruit bomb, The Experience.  If you see it on tap, grab one; it sells out fast!

Gardiner

TWO GRAMPS BREWING was created by Joe and Kristy Gould in October 2017. While there are a few mainstay offerings, like Moosail and Nostalgia, Joe loves to have fun with all the others. The signage is by far the most creative I’ve seen, many tied to local landmarks or events, such as the Chadarny Maple Brown Ale that will be released for Maine Maple Sunday or the Zesty NU Bridge, which pokes fun at the anticipated angst the two new bridge constructions sites may bring to Gardiner commuters.  The tasting room is a great place for locals to enjoy Trivia Tuesdays, live music, and craft burgers with plans for outdoor seating.

Augusta

CUSHNOC BREWING CO. is proud to be part of the exciting revitalization happening down on Water Street. Greeted with a smile from GM Casey Hynes, you’ll find the ambiance a mix of mosaic tile, tin tap backdrops and various levels of seating, all under the glow of beautiful hanging bulbs. Owners Tobias Parkhurst, James Bass, and brewer Chris Geerlings wanted to make sure there is “beer for everybody” by offering varying styles of craft beers such as a Kölsch style ale, an American IPA, a Belgian IPA and a Belgian Style Grisette.  The “Born on the Kennebec” series include daily mainstays, while the “Defend the Fort” series offer small batches, which turn over quickly. 

Exciting rollouts for 2018 will include the addition of a tasting room in the basement and bottling their beers for distribution.

Goodfire Brewing’s extra seating area

Ellsworth

FOGTOWN BREWING COMPANY was opened in December 2017, by owners Ian Heyse and Jonathan Stein (brewer) as a family-friendly community gathering spot.  Styles vary based on what Ellsworth likes, including a Pilsner, a Lambic, two sours, and American ales and lagers. The use of gin and tequila barrels for aging piqued my curiosity as a must try.  They designed and built the tasting room with reclaimed lumber and bricks themselves and provide the perfect place for local artists, musicians and educators.  If you’re on your way to Acadia, you must stop by and check it out. 

Fort Kent

FIRST MILE BREWING COMPANY was created by five home brewers, all part of a brew club that met to sample each other’s creations. If you ever needed a reason to travel north, this is it.  Whether you’re in town to see America’s First Mile or for a day of kayaking Eagle Lake, FMBC is worth checking out!  With eight taps, I’m told “every beer has a story.” 

Since opening in November 2017, FMBC is already talking about increasing their capacity and finding a way to incorporate more local ingredients into their brews.  Community food stops have created menus exclusively for FMBC (or you can bring your own in) during their Open Mic Nights. 

— Photos & Text: Kim Benjamin. Kim is a craft beer enthusiast who believes in supporting local and loves to engage her friends and colleagues in the latest industry chatter.