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Portland Maine Microbreweries, Distilleries, and Wineries
There are an incredible amount of things to see, do, eat, and drink in Portland Maine during a weekend getaway. The city has the highest number of microbreweries per capita in the country. There are currently 17 microbreweries, one for every 4,000 residents. You will find New England IPAs, Belgians, British Ales, and everything in between. With so many options it is hard to visit them all. The Maine Brew Bus solves this dilemma and is an excellent choice for discovering craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries in the Portland area. Not only do you get a sober driver, but also a guide to tell you about Maine’s history with alcohol, Prohibition, the Rum Riots, and today’s craft breweries. The Maine Brew Bus has many tours to choose from, here is my experience.
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First stop, Rising Tide Brewing Company. This is a husband-wife team that produces IPAs, stouts, and sours. Husband (Nate) was known for his dinner parties and homebrews. He loves beer-making and opened the brewery in 2010. Wife (Heather) is a lawyer and runs the operations of the brewery. She was the past president of the Maine Brewers’ Guild. The name Rising Tide was inspired by the quote “… a rising tide lifts all boats”. The company encourages anyone to create a beer and if it is well received it will become a brand. Be sure to ask about the all-female brewed beer. I enjoyed the Spinnaker; it is a German-style wheat beer with lightly roasted malt and characteristics of banana and spicy clove.
The second stop is Cellar Door Tasting Room. Bettina Doulton fell in love with Maine, retired from her interior design career in Boston, bought a vineyard, and made a fresh start with no knowledge of wine. Crazy. But it paid off. Cellar Door is a double gold award-winning wine and the tasting room is gorgeous. This is a place to relax, learn, taste, and have a good time. Everything I tried was excellent but I fell in love with the C’est de l’or, which translates to It’s of Gold. C’est de l’or is a dessert-style port wine made with maple syrup, brandy, spiced fig, and rum raisin.
Food Break! The Maine Brew Bus provided spinach, ricotta, feta, mozzarella, and onion pastry which was delicious!
The third stop is Stroudwater Distillery. This distillery is all about tradition and heritage. There are communal tables in the tasting room making it a comfortable place to hang out. We tasted the vodka, gin, and double-barrel bourbon before the star of the show, Griffins Wharf Coffee Liquor. This classic coffee liquor is made with hot brewed double dark roast coffee, pure cane sugar, molasses, and fresh vanilla beans. The result is an amazing 60-proof coffee liquor that would make a perfect coffee martini.
More Breweries and Tasting Rooms in the Old Port
Gritty McDuff’s Brew Pub: English brewpub serving English Style Ales
Shipyard: Maine’s largest brewing operation. Offers tours, tasting room, and gift shop; try the Golden Ale
Liquid Riot: Brewery and distillery with waterfront deck in the Old Port. Seventeen house beers on tap, try the Blushing Star barrel-aged lager with peaches.
Oxbow Brewing and Bottling: Produces farmhouse ales
Novare Res Bier Cafe: 25 rotating taps and the motto to serve the “best beers legally available in the state of Maine”, must-stop location to Portland Maine microbreweries
Portland Beer Hub: Tasting room to enjoy a flight and create your own mixed six-pack of Maine beer.
More Portland Maine Microbreweries Worth the Uber Ride
Allagash Brewing Company: One of the 50 largest craft breweries in the US; produces Belgian-inspired beer. Take a tour and try their flagship White in the tasting room.
DL Geary Brewing Co: First brewery to open in Maine; produces English Style Ales.
Lone Pine Brewing Company: Produces American-style hoppy beer, try the Portland Pale Ale
Bissell Brothers: Produces New England IPAs
Be sure to check the Visit Portland website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.
Bookmark and Pin Portland Maine Microbreweries, Distilleries, and Wineries
Many thanks to Visit Portland for providing tour opportunities while in Portland Maine. As always, all opinions are my own.
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