If you go one page back, there are two threads about visiting Portland, ME. This thread has a comprehensive list of bars and breweries: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/visiting-portland-me-some-ideas.30751/ Personally, my two favorites are Oxbow and Maine Beer Company. While Allagash has free tours/ flights, I believe that they're closed on Sundays. Good luck, and enjoy your trip!
Check out SoMe Brewing in York, right off exit 7. It's a quick stop on your way towards Portland and points North.
Unless there is plenty of time to kill on their trip I wouldn't go out of the way. Yest it's right off the exit but they need to step up the game a bit to compete with Bissel, Maine Beer Co, Foundation, Allagash, Oxbow, etc. Some decent beers but nothing that has pushed them over the edge into greatsville
Haven't been to it myself, but I keep hearing great things about Geaghan's Pub and Craft Brewery in Bangor. (And there's, ahem, "someone" in the ISO forums looking for Geaghan's Smiling Irish Bastard... if you happen to see some in Hannaford's grocery store and feel like making a swap.) p.s. Go 'Cats!
I recommend hitting Rising Tide in Portland. They always have good stuff on tap and do tastings/flights for relatively cheap. Plus this Sunday they are doing a thing called "Beer & Oysters At Rising Tide" that I'm assuming will involve beer and oysters. There's also the 1 Industrial Way stuff out by the highway. It's a good idea to check first to find out which ones are open on Sundays. Allagash, Bissell, Austin Street and Foundation are all out there.
Maine is big. If you clarify where you are headed, that could help. If you head north toward Belfast and mdi, you could consider marshal wharf. Good stuff.
The Bangor area has some nice options as well. Portland of course is the most populated with breweries. If you do make it to the Bangor area you should check out Geaghan Brothers, Orono Brewing, Penobscot Bay, & Black Bear Brewing. There are a few more but they are about an hour out of the Bangor area. Lots of great beer being poured up this way!
Marshall Wharf unfortunately is not canning at the moment. The tap room is open and they are doing growler fills. The bar they own next door opens at 4pm had 19 of their beers on tap last weekend.
From the south heading north......great lost bear in Portland to whet the appetite....bissell brothers and then across the street to allagash....Maine beer co in Freeport ..and then to ebenezeers in Brunswick......you'll be happy with this tour FYI...one of my all time favorite subs is at the local Amatos chain, made fresh and the bread is so freaking good
Thank you!! This is great, we are flying into Portland and are there for a week with cars so it's endless possibilities. @BeerChick319 are you the "someone" looking? If I find any Ill let you know.
Spent some time today at Rising Tide drinking their beers and eating the very freshest local oysters (special event.)
Can I jump on this thread to ask a more specific, very related question? I'll be visiting the Portland/Freeport area for the first time in a year. What are the new beers/breweries that I should be aware of that I might not have tried?
Maine Beer is in Freeport, Bissell Brothers is in Portland right next to Foundation(which I've never had) and on the same street as Allagash. I was in Freeport for the April Maine Beer Dinner release and stopped in to Bissell for Substance after the 4 1/2hr wait for Dinner, didn't go to Allagash because the car was already full of Lunch, Dinner, and Another One as well as Lux and the Substance I had just dropped on the ground. I'd go back to Maine Beer just for more fresh Lunch and Another One, was the freshest best of each that I've had.
For bars, I'd recommend Kings Head Pub, and Novare Res. Someone already mentioned Great Lost Bear. I haven't been to that one yet, but the reviews are good.
