Brewery Tours in Maine. Where are the local breweries and do they offer tours (and samples)? This is a question we are asked often, particularly with the onset of so many breweries opening in the area. For those of you who love beer, we are pleased to say that we have many brew pubs and there are a number of great ways to enjoy a tour and sample beer.
One of the easiest ways to sample some local beer is to head to two top spots right here in Freeport: Gritty’s and Maine Beer Company. Gritty’s originally started in Portland, Maine however, Freeport is a favorite destination. The place serves good pub fare and great beers, including Robin’s favorite Vacationland Ale. (He will proudly tell you he is part of the mug club, has been for three years). The beers rotate, depending upon the season. Also just down the street is Maine Beer Company, open for about one year now and highly popular. I am not a beer drinker and admit to knowing little about the process however, the signature beer at Maine Beer Company, “Peeper,” is a great beer that even I like. It is light, smells of herbs (to me) and goes down very smooth. It is worth a trip to taste this!
For those of you looking for a brewery tour and to do some sampling, there are a number of tours to choose from. One enjoyed by a number of our guests is Maine Beer Tours, www.mainebeertours.com. A number of tours are offered on select days including Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and a Sunday Brunch Tour. Tours leave from Portland’s waterfront and return you here once the tour is finished. The Maine Brew Bus is another fun tour and way to get to a number of breweries. Visit themainebrewbus.com to learn more about the breweries involved and schedules available.
Another popular favorite is Allagash Brewing. Featuring Belgian-style beers, Allagash is committed to making the best Belgian-inspired beers possible. Visit www.allagash.com to learn more about tours and the beers. The tours typically last about one hour and include samples of four beers.
For those beer lovers looking to learn more about your favorite Maine beers, make a trip to Freeport and include at least one of these beer tours as part of your stay. Be sure to buy some to take home or to sip and enjoy on the deck here at James Place Inn. The perfect way to spend a beautiful fall day!