Popular craft breweries in Maine: 6 places to know
Six Maine breweries across Portland, Freeport, and Newcastle, covering Belgian-inspired, hop-forward, and farmhouse beer.
Maine craft beer is unusually concentrated around Portland, but the state rewards driving beyond the city. These six breweries cover Belgian-inspired brewing, hop-forward destinations, farmhouse fermentation, small-batch Portland taprooms, and stops north toward Freeport and Newcastle.
The short answer is Allagash Brewing Company, Maine Beer Company, Bissell Brothers, Oxbow Brewing Company, Belleflower Brewing Company, and Austin Street Brewery. They are not the only breweries worth visiting in Maine. They are a curated starting point with active first-party locations and enough stylistic range to plan a useful trip.
1. Allagash Brewing Company
Where: Portland and Scarborough
Allagash built its identity around Belgian-inspired beer, with Allagash White as the familiar starting point. Its visitor program has evolved across Portland-area spaces, so use the official visit page for current reservations and locations.
Visit Allagash Brewing Company's official site
2. Maine Beer Company
Where: Freeport
Maine Beer Company pairs a focused Freeport tasting room with beers such as Lunch and Dinner. The brewery also makes environmental giving part of its public operating model, which visitors can read about on the official site.
Visit Maine Beer Company's official site
3. Bissell Brothers
Where: Portland
Bissell Brothers is a prominent Portland stop for hop-forward beer and rotating releases. The Thompson's Point location and live availability pages are more useful than a static must-try list.
Visit Bissell Brothers's official site
4. Oxbow Brewing Company
Where: Newcastle, Portland, and Oxford
Oxbow focuses on farmhouse fermentation and beer shaped by rural Maine as well as city hospitality. Its locations serve different purposes, so decide whether the trip is about the Newcastle farm, Portland, or another current space.
Visit Oxbow Brewing Company's official site
5. Belleflower Brewing Company
Where: Portland
Belleflower is a small-batch Portland brewery with hop-forward beer, dark releases, and an active neighborhood taproom. The rotating menu gives repeat visitors a reason to check what is fresh now.
Visit Belleflower Brewing Company's official site
6. Austin Street Brewery
Where: Portland
Austin Street adds another Portland comparison point through hop-forward beer, lager, and a pair of city taprooms. Check which location fits the day's route and menu before heading over.
Visit Austin Street Brewery's official site
How to plan a Maine brewery trip
Portland can support a full day through Allagash, Bissell Brothers, Belleflower, Austin Street, and an Oxbow city stop. Maine Beer Company adds Freeport. Oxbow's Newcastle brewery turns the plan into a longer coastal and inland drive.
Use our IPA guide for Portland's hop menus and the four ingredients guide before exploring farmhouse fermentation.
Before you go
Tap lists, hours, ticketing, food service, and release limits can change. Check every brewery's official site on the day of your visit. Bring a designated driver or arrange transportation, order smaller pours when comparing several beers, and skip any stop that makes the route rushed.
Related questions
What are some popular craft breweries in Maine?
This guide includes Allagash Brewing Company, Maine Beer Company, Bissell Brothers, Oxbow Brewing Company, Belleflower Brewing Company, and Austin Street Brewery. The list is a curated starting point, not a universal ranking.
Which Maine city is best for a brewery trip?
Portland has the clearest concentration in this list. Freeport is an easy extension, while Newcastle needs more time and a check of current visitor access.
Do Maine breweries require reservations?
Policies vary by brewery, location, event, and release. Check each brewery's official hours and visit page before traveling, especially for tours, rural destinations, and limited releases.
Official brewery sources
- Allagash Brewing Company
- Maine Beer Company
- Bissell Brothers
- Oxbow Brewing Company
- Belleflower Brewing Company
- Austin Street Brewery
First-party visitor details were checked on September 18, 2026.
