Sea Dog Brewing Company

Sea Dog Brewing CompanySea Dog Brewing Company
Sea Dog Brewing CompanySea Dog Brewing Company
Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

1 Main St
Topsham, Maine, 04086-1216
United States

(207) 725-0162 | map
seadogbrewing.com

Beers are, and should be, listed under Sea Dog's main brewery entry:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/137/
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.84
Reviews:
18
Ratings:
26
pDev:
11.72%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cnwillis31:
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Rated by cnwillis31 from Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

Nov 10, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.25 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Jul 02, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by TheRock7755 from Georgia

Jun 15, 2019
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Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Sea Dog offers a range of about a dozen Sea Dog beers and an excellent range of food items. As a tavern is located on the north bank of the Androscoggin River in Topsham, Maine, it offers beautiful and scenic views of the water. As a brewery, it offers a range of decently well designed beers and ales, including several fruit beers. The vibe is low key and very much consistent with family dining. The service and food were both very good. I can certainly imagine going back.
Apr 30, 2018
 
Rated: 3.38 by sbuchert from Massachusetts

Feb 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.81 by wisegreensoul from Idaho

Jul 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.28 by awesomea from Pennsylvania

May 03, 2016
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Reviewed by Beerenner79 from Illinois

4.83/5  rDev +25.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
Had the lobster meal deal, included a pint and did the large sampling of beer. Was a good price and had a great meal. A must stop if your in the area.
Nov 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.46 by mendvicdog from Maryland

Aug 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by costanzo_mike from Massachusetts

Aug 29, 2014
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Reviewed by Cascade from Pennsylvania

2.64/5  rDev -31.3%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 2 | service: 2.75 | selection: 2.5 | food: 2.5
Stopped by this afternoon for a beer, and an appetizer. The IPA was unavailable (Isn't this the most popular brewpub style in America?). The blond ale was uninspiring. The brown ale was much thinner than it should be(No malt flavor, and not even brown). The pumpkin ale was sooo overspiced I could not finish my sample.

The appetizer we sampled (Calamari) was $11 for a large (Which was not large by our standards), and undercooked!

The location (On the river) in an old warehouse is gorgeous, but this is Maine. There are lots of pretty spots by the water where you can bring your own picnic.
Sep 17, 2013
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Reviewed by connecticutpoet from Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
So I was driving to Waterville on business, and Mapquest had me on I-295. It's 2 pm and I'm trying to decide if I want to eat lunch, or go all the way and have an early dinner. Then I see te Sea Dog sign on the highway, among the other food establishments at the next exit. Hell yeah!!!

As it was not on my planned route to go off the highway, I promptly got lost and stumbled onto Bootlegger's. Good package store, worth stopping by, see my review of their establishment. And they told me how to get to Sea Dog. Now, I wasn't looking for a mill building, and I went past it, turned around, and saw the sign down by the river on the way back. Found the parking lot, and followed the signs down the stairs...

It's an old mill building, so it's got that kind of atmosphere in spades. It's also somewhat dark, with most of the light coming in through the windows. I was able to read the menu, of course, and when I saw the pub burger, I just had to get it. A burger with pork belly on it... yum.

Then I asked about the sampler. The waitress said... or I thought she said... one ounce samples of either five or ten different beers. I went for the ten beer option, which was everything on draft plus the one cask beer. Imagine my surprise when she brought FOUR OUNCE samples of each of the ten beers. Wow. Me on an empty stomach... 40 ounces of beer with lunch... and I have to drive.

Fortunately for me, most were low alcohol, the highest being a little over 6%. I stretched it out, as the burger was so good I didn't want to rush. No problem finishing everything. The beer was OK, a little on the warm side and nothing super spectacular, but solid craft brews nonetheless.

A nice place to visit. If I ever have to go up there again, I will stop back. Of course, I am hoping work will not send me 280 miles away for quite a while. I'm still tired from the trip.
Jul 10, 2011
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
The Sea Dog brewpub in Topsham is situated right on the Androscoggin River. The best place to eat and drink, weather-permitting, is on the outdoor deck. Here you have a superb view that includes cascading water with numerous falls, flowing under a scenic old bridge. I was lucky enough to hit it at sunset, making for an exceptionally pleasant and beautiful setting.

The brewery's specialty seems to be fruity beers, including one with blueberry, and both apricot and raspberry wheats.
Don't like fruit juice in your beer? There are a number of alternatives. All of the Sea Dog's I've tried were at least good. Sampler (beer flight) available and recommended.
Apparently, cask-conditioned beers are sometimes available.

Food is above average pub fare with some additions, including seafood (this is Maine, after all). Only ate here once, but the food was good.

Even if the food and beer were only mediocre (and they are definitely better than that), the great deck makes this brewpub well worth a try if you are in the area.
Oct 22, 2010
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Reviewed by slander from New York

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Wait, wait. So there's a place in an old brick mill something on a river that serves beer and food? Are you sure? How uncharacteristically Maine. The mill mallings are easy to find (just by the bridge, duh), and the streetside sea dog signs seem to make it a no brainer, but I still had to circle the complex twice as the bitch is well hidden; tucked and unmarked. I can be so very easily annoyed and feel like I'm there already. Hell, it ain't even noon yet...

It's on a lower floor, down and in past the shwag store and a bulletin board pasted with dog pics to greet you. Mostly old brick play; walls with arched green trimmed windows, but they've got some red & yellow painted pieces over things constructed. The walls adorned with cool Maine town type mill prints from the earlier than now, and Sea Dog logo prints in the far room. Worn wood floorings, and painted over wood ceilings above black I-Beams. Buoys & floaty things, wood & glass suspended about, and a few large mounted cogs overhead. Large quisp lamps & track spots throughout, and flatscreens in a bunch of corners for viewing from everywhere.

"U" shaped wood bar with a lip & piping footrail in the center of it all, seating for 2 dozen in all on the opposite two sides, and the butt for service. A pair of bar island pieces inside, one with a 10 tap row tower on each side with logo sea dog handles, and a pair of handpumps on both ends of the outer set. The other a somewhat matching wood piece with a pyramid of booze atop and more shelved below. An overhead piece holds rows of blue ceramic mug club mugs hooked hanging. Horizontal Sea Dog signage above and small flatscreens atop a sign that reads "Just say no to pinstripes". I think that might be a slam on the (at that time) tied for first place, 4 games up on the (dirty) Red Sox, 27 time world series champion New York Yankees, but I'm not sure. Vertical board at the end of the bar lists tap selections, ABV's & descriptions.

Okay, so around the bar and through to the far side, an open space with a dozen mismatched tables & booths running up to and around a pair of pool tables and some video games (Phil's Golf Game '05, like vintage, you knoooow). And back to the bar, 3 tables to the rear and a ½ dozen high top bar tables along a divider adjacent to the bar on the near side. Beyond there, nearly a dozen and a half tables & booths, and an upper pen with another ½ dozen tables. And through to a large outside deck running the width of the building, holding 15 square tables nicely canopied with hanging plants potted. Great views there through the Frank J Wood Bridge to one side and the Androscoggin River below, and wrapping around the backside. Looking out over the river, I can see there's a guy with a kayak down there. I'm hatin' on him. I know I oughtn't, but I am.

Sampler is a commanding sturdy box of 10 (I feel important just having it in front of me), offering 8 house beers (Owl's Head Light, dry, crisp, spritzy & highly quaffable; Windjammer Blonde, Cascade, light everything; Bluepaw Blueberry, not sickly oversticky sweet, tasty; Topsham Pale Ale, the nose knows, "no", and strangely bitter to boot; Old Gollwobbler Brown, an English mild, session brown of very little; Old East IPA, some bitterness, some more bitterness, it's a decent enough IPA; Riverdriver Hazelnut Porter, tastes like I would expect unclean feet to taste; Sea Dog Stout, no bite or body to speak of but finishes nicely oaty), a seasonal (Summer Ale, light and off fruity, nothing much to it), and a cask offering (Topsham Pale Ale, and it not really better than the C02 version). The Owl's Head Light, Old East IPA and strangely, the Bluepaw Blueberry, were the best of the lot, but would it surprise you if I Ringwood said that everything tastes pretty similar here?

And yes, I will food, please. Where have I seen this menu before? Ah, yes, 2 nights ago in Kennebunk. Same Shipyard family, different beerings. Started with the non-traditional Maine lobster bisque. Great Caesar's ghost! That's one excellent damn bisque, it is. I would have sang its praises even if it didn't have chunks of lobster meat in it, but as it did, I will have to add another verse. And then the Tuna Sushami (all sesamed up and done pan rare, with an orange soy glaze, wakame noodle salad, candied oranges & wasabi cream). I must admit that the tuna was pretty kickin', too. That mountain of noodle stuff was real tasty and the candied oranges temporary sweetened my disposition (until I got to the Pale Ale, that is).

Service served, as well they should have; that's what they do. No probs there. Food was real good, the beer was not. Drinkable for the most part, just not like I'd want more than the sampler I sampled. Cool house though. Colorful lunch crowd this afternoon, and where has the day gone? Damn, I need to start making tracks for Belfast...
Oct 15, 2010
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Reviewed by Chowdahead from Maine

2.88/5  rDev -25%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 2 | service: 4 | selection: 2.5 | food: 2
The Sea Dog in Topsham has one of the best locations and atmospheres around. Located in an old mill overlooking the river the interior is all old exposed beams and brick walls with big windows. The back contains pool tables and other games with the bar area in the middle and the dining room in the front. During the warm months there is a patio that sits directly over the river with a great view of Brunswick and the falls (although most of the time they make you order food to sit out there).

Unfortuately the atmosphere is the best part of the Sea Dog. Sea Dog is owned by Shipyard therefore the beer is all brewed using Ringwood yeast. The bi product is loads of diacetyl which is present in the background of all the beers making them all have a similar, not so pleasant taste. None of the beers are downright awful (except for perhaps the berry beers which are really made for people who don't like beer) but none of them are even average beers in my book.

The food is even worse then the beer. Below average pub grub with no character which is over priced. I generally try to avoid eating anything more then an appetizer here. Service is solid though and generally very friendly.

All in all if this place had better beer and food I would be here all the time because the location and atomosphere can't be beat. As it is I would recommend lots of other places in Brunswick to both eat and drink before Sea Dog.
Sep 24, 2010
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Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
I have been here a couple times and it is a must stop on the way back from Acadia. The atmosphere is great. It is in an old wooden mill as others have stated. There are three distinct areas--a games area with the pool table, a bar area, and a dining area. By the dining area there is an excellent view of the river below and cascading rapids. An outside patio directly overlooks these. The inside by the dining area has some nautical and milling structures off the ceiling. You can see the river clearly from there as well. The bar has several tvs and New England sports signs. The whole area is open and airy. All the beers (10) are SeaDog--which has more than just the berry ales widely available in my neck of the woods. I really enjoyed their brown ale. If you like Sea Dog's beer style--slightly sweet and creative, you will be happy. I really do not expect breweries to have other brewers beers anyways. The service was friendly and knowledgeable. The food was also good not great. My friend liked his burger...my fries were so-so, and the crab and chowder I had were good. To me this place is about--atmosphere, then beer, then food. Prices are reasonable and this is well worth a stop.
Jun 15, 2009
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Reviewed by IBUnit63 from Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
Well, here's a blast from the past...we were in Portland and drove up north just for S&Gs. It was a dinner trip and we weren't sure what we wanted...past Freeport...nothing stood out at the time...Brunswick...then we cross the river and there is an old family favorite, the Sea Dog. Our 5-year-old sees the Sea Dog from one of my very old T-shirts and we say, "ahhh...screw it...let's go in here." So in we go. Atmosphere is typical for a mid-late 1990s brewpub - lots of wood, some pool tables...relatively kid-friendly...slightly formulaic but not bad at all. Gets extra ups for the river view. Kinda comforting.

Beer selection was a little weak at this particular time since they were out of a couple of their big sellers...the Blue Paw (isn't that what everyone remembers about Sea Dog? How the &*(% could they be out of it on Memorial Day weekend?!)...some Apricot stuff, and something else. So we're looking at maybe 5-6 rather than 8-9 taps. Cask Pale Ale wasn't outstanding but not bad (same with the regular tap Pale Ale). Summer Ale was crisp and clean. Hazelnut Porter was pretty damn good actually.

Service was solid. Efficient, effective...pretty friendly and attentive...gave Jr. a top for all his juice and water and stuff.

Food was solid. Crab stuffed haddock for me...Maine-inspired paella for the beautiful bride...some pasta for Jr....it was pretty decent. Prices are reasonable. I was actually expecting it to be lame for some reason and it turned out just fine. Cool location, kid-friendly, and definitely serviceable beer and fare that won't wreck your wallet. What's wrong with that.
May 26, 2009
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Reviewed by recons54 from Maine

4/5  rDev +4.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4
The Topsham Sea Dog is located in an old mill located directly on the Androscoggin River in Topsham, Maine. The mill of course has been renovated, and Sea Dog has a beautiful deck that is perched over the river itself.

As you can imagine, the variety of beer is limited to Sea Dog brands, with a few domestic exceptions. But the Sea Dog brands go above and beyond what you find in their bottled selection, so you're sure to find one that quenches your thirst.

I consistently get a good meal here and they carry a decent variety to food to choose from.

The atmosphere here is exceptional, especially on the deck in the summer; every now and then they have live music too. Give it a shot next time you visit Topsham, ME!
Apr 16, 2009
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Reviewed by indiapaleale from Maine

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
The best part about this place is the outdoor deck during spring/summer. Its hard to match that view!

Shipyard owned brewpub now, the old days of this place being independant are long gone. That being said, its still a cool place inside, especially the portrait of Chamberlain...who spent most of his life in nearby Brunswick.

Food is pub fare with some Maine type seafood thrown in for good measure.

As for beers, I am not a big fan of anyone in particular they are all sort of meh...but the sampler is a deal and I'd say the IPA and winter seasonal are the best.

Service is decent and the prices are reasonable. Definitely a place worth checking out if you are in the area.
Mar 21, 2009
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Reviewed by deltatauhobbit from Maine

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 2.5
Pretty much the same review as the Bangor Sea Dog, except I find this location to be a much better. The Topsham Sea Dog is actually in an old renovated mill located on the Androscoggin River. If it's nice out I recommend going out on the deck to watch the beautiful (though small) waterfall that is near the mill, but don't use the deck if it's night time, otherwise you'll be eaten alive by bugs.

The best thing about Sea Dog is their beer. Their beer is very delicious, but I'll leave that up to the individual beer reviews.

The Sea Dog though lacks in the food area in my opinion. The price doesn't seem to justify the quality. While they aim to be an upscale restaurant and exceed in most areas (beer and atmosphere), the food leaves something to be desired even though they have an inspired menu.

But first and foremost, go for the beer, that's what I do.
Dec 19, 2007
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Reviewed by FLAbeergutinMASS from Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
First off, the location of this place is hard to beat. Located on the Androscoggin River in Topsham, Maine, very cool place. An old mill adorned by relative historical documents, perched on a cliff overlooking the river. Great decor, brick throughout, wood post and beam. They did a very good job keeping the original feel of the mill intact.

Before visiting this place I thought Sea Dog beers were a bit of a joke. A mediocre fruit offering, everything seemed to "wheat this, and wheat that". Not the case at this brewpub. Very tasty cask IPA, and a strong Pale Ale (Topsham PA).

Food was good. Fried calamari, and "award winning" chili. Don't know what award, but it was pretty good. Service was fine. Our waitress knew the beers, was quick refilling.

Overall I thought the place was great. I am not from the area, but if I were, this place would be a regular stop for me.
Nov 24, 2007
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Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico

3.88/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Back in the sixties I worked in this mill. It used to be the finishing plant for a paper mill upriver. It fell into disrepute for a few years, and now is a very nice place. Plenty of space inside. Brick walls, lots of old-time photographs. Several TVs, two pool tables. Fairly large horseshoe-shaped bar. Deck outside overlooking the Androscoggin River.
My wife and I went there on a recent Saturday, sat at the bar. There were nine beers on tap. Had the pumpkin and the porter, both pretty good beers. Service was quite good, even though the place was busy. Didn't have any food then, but have eaten there before, and the food is good. They do a nice Sunday brunch.
I like how they've done the makeover of the mill. The beers are OK, as is the food, and the service is better than OK.
Oct 18, 2007
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Reviewed by albern from Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -10.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4
The only down side to the Sea Dog was the rather slow service on a Saturday night for dinner. The setting and atmosphere are great, it sits right on the river and has ample parking. This is an old mill building so you can see the original bricks and wooden beams in the interior. There is also ample space between tables, so much space that I thought it was a bit inefficient. If I owned the place I would have squeezed a few more tables in there to cut down on the wait times. I had a Topsham Pale and a Summer Ale, both reviewed under their respective sections. The only down side was the slow service. The grilled tuna was very good as were the mussels. The calamari was just okay.
Aug 06, 2007
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Reviewed by lehows from New York

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I was hanging around Portland and Freeport hitting Shipyard and Gritty's and went out of my way because I had been meaning to check this place out. This place is located in a cool old brick building ( a former mill i think) right on the river. Theres a large square shaped bar inside with only Sea Dog on tap. We sat on the back porch directly over the river and had lunch along with the beer sampler to start. The sampler was bigger than average which was great. All the beers were good but I especially liked the porter. Their fruit wheat beers seem to be the most popular with blueberry, raspberry, and the new apricot wheat. I wasn't crazy about them but I bought some six-packs to take home as my girlfriend really liked them. The blueberry and apricot were better than the raspberry in my opinion. Definitely stop in here if you're in the area. Tasty beer and a great location.
Nov 27, 2006
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Reviewed by HoorayBeer from Washington

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3
Had a quick lunch here in mid-June. Nice looking place, right on the Androscoggin River, close to the falls. There is a porch that wraps around the outside, although it was a little chilly to sit outside that day. Inside were local memorabilia and Sea Dog accessories. First thing you see when you walk in, surprise surprise, the bar, nothing but Sea Dog on tap, which is ok, because they make a variety of beers, including a seasonal beer, and their traditional Blueberry Wheat Ale and Windjammer Blonde Ale. It was well lit inside, but this was partially due to it being a sunny day and there were lots of windows. There are several T.V.'s positioned around the bar and restaurant. Good for watching the Red Sox game (which was on). The boothes were comfortably cuishoned.
The service was good, always willing to refresh a beverage, however this was a lunch, and it was slow.
The food was good, had the Chili Oven Roasted Nachoes, which were good, had jalepinos, tomatoes, guacomolli, chili, and lots of cheese. And had a Grilled Mushroom and Swiss burger, which really was chargrilled (they do not lie).
I had an Old Gollywobbler Brown Ale which was good, nice and rich, but not the right beer for a nice day outside.
Also had a Windjammer Blonde Ale which was more suitable for the day.
In all good experience.
Jul 01, 2005
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Reviewed by ecoboy from Rhode Island

4.47/5  rDev +16.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
The place has reopened, now owned by Shipyard, the voice on the phone said! Same staff, same management.

(later addendum, having now visited. Menu now has more choices. Teriaki tuna sandwich with radish sprouts was outstanding! Seemed like more taps, too. Was fun to sit and try to pick out the renovation differences.)

So the great views, music, consistent beer quality, game room, massive nachos are back!

No better beer news I've heard in a year. This place is truly worth rolling the 200 yards off of route 1.

Hope they bring back the Sherman's Dry Hopped Pale, a favorite of mine. And here's to Shipyard staying the course.
Mar 28, 2003
Sea Dog Brewing Company in Topsham, ME
Place rating: 3.84 out of 5 with 26 ratings