Sarah Bryan, Executive Director, Maine Brewers’ Guild

Meet Sarah Bryan.

Maine Brewers’ Guild welcomed some new energy this spring! Sarah Bryan, a New Hampshire native, a 13+ year craft alcohol professional, has spent her career working with independent breweries and distilleries to optimize their retail operations and brand management. Before joining the Maine Brewers’ Guild as Executive Director in 2024, Sarah oversaw operations and marketing leadership roles as well as worked as a consultant specializing in branding, start-up operations management, and retail strategy for breweries such as Portsmouth Brewery, Earth Eagle Brewings, Schilling Beer Co., and Twin Barns Brewing. In her last two years in New Hampshire, she also served on the boards of the New Hampshire Brewers Association and the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association, having most recently served as the opening Director of Branding and Operations for Après, a craft seltzer and cider company based in Portland, Maine.

Bryan has a passion for craft beer and Maine and she’s eager to help further the legacy of the Maine Brewers’ Guild and the vision of brewers across the state.

What style of beer do you enjoy most?

I love the diversity of choice and my preferences have developed over time. I am enjoying the journey of tasting beer and I tend more toward lower alcohol beers these days. My current beer style of choice is a Polotmavý, which is a Czech-style amber or ‘half-dark’ lager.

What brought you into the Maine craft beverage industry?

I’ve been visiting Maine all my life and I’d say it was at Novare Res where I became familiar with Maine’s world-class landscape of breweries. I am drawn to the dedication of the craft, history, and presentation of products. I love working with talented breweries to learn what they do and it is a tremendous privilege to work with these producers.

How does your skillset from previous roles help you in your new position?

My background in communications and consulting has prepared me to help Maine beer and breweries find their new identity at this point of the craft evolution. Self-discovery exercises will help us to decide who we are as statewide industry moving forward. Utilizing the insights of where we have been will help us to work together and develop long-range plans for the future.

After a decade of unmitigated growth, I think that the craft beer community changed dramatically since the Covid-19 pandemic. There is more competition with the various beverage options and the market feels a little tight in some areas. Consumers’ values and tastes are changing, and I see this as our opportunity to innovate. There is a lot to be learned and it’s our collective responsibility to keep our ears to the ground to adapt to what people are looking for.

What are some early plans for your role at Maine Brewers’ Guild?

First and foremost, my goal is to establish a convocation with newer brewers and those who’ve had a longtime stake in the industry and build off the excellent work of the previous Executive Directors—Sean Sullivan and Shea Cusick. Initially, we’re going to  review operational processes and a re-launch committees in legislative, finance, marketing, and events. This will also include a newly formed technical committee that is geared toward creating resources just for brewers and production staff, as a way to reinvest in the brewery themselves.

What do you see as a pressing need in the near future?

After last year’s abnormal inclement weather, we are expecting big things this summer, capitalizing on an optimistic local scene and tourist season ahead. We will re-evaluate our public-facing events and programs. We will also be retooling the New England Brew Summit to prepare for the new landscape of beers to develop dynamic programming that our audience and allied partners expect.

I am looking forward to getting to know Maine breweries and the people behind the brands. Maine is a large state, and I am excited to find new opportunities to connect with our brewers!

To learn more about the Maine Brewers’ Guild visit www.mainebrewersguild.org

— Story by Kay Stephens