Stopping by the best breweries in Portland Maine has become one of my favorite things to do every time I go back home. I grew up in neighboring Falmouth, and my family still lives there, so I make it back every year. Portland has always been my backyard, and I’ve had a front-row seat to its rise as one of New England’s great craft beer destinations.
My parents owned a bar in Yarmouth for over 20 years, and I grew up watching them pour Geary’s and Shipyard back when craft beer was still a new concept in Maine. Those early pioneers helped lay the foundation for what has become one of the country’s most impressive local beer scenes.
Today, Portland is home to nearly 20 breweries and brewpubs packed into a relatively small city. This guide covers every brewery currently operating in Portland, from nationally known names like Allagash and Bissell Brothers to neighborhood favorites, historic pioneers, gluten-free breweries, and traditional brewpubs.
I’ve been visiting these breweries for years and have firsthand experience at all of them. Here’s my guide to the best breweries in Portland Maine, organized by neighborhood so you can plan your own brewery crawl.
Table of Contents
Top Portland Brewery Picks
These are my top Portland, ME brewery picks, each for a different reason. If you only have time for a few stops, start with one of these.
BEST OVERALL
Bissell Brothers
If you only have time for one brewery in Portland, this is my pick. Great beer, a large taproom, good food, and a prime location at Thompson’s Point.
MOST INFLUENTIAL
Allagash
The brewery that helped put Portland on the national beer map. Allagash White remains one of the most influential beers ever brewed in Maine.
MOST UNIQUE
Oxbow
Belgian-inspired farmhouse ales, barrel-aged specialties, and a communal atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Portland.
BEST NEW BREWERY
Belleflower
Opened in 2021 and quickly became one of Portland’s most talked-about breweries. Great beer, a welcoming atmosphere, and a strong community feel.
Why Portland Maine Is One of America's Best Beer Cities
Portland may only have a population of around 70,000 people, but it has one of the highest concentrations of breweries in the United States. Nearly 20 breweries and brewpubs are packed into a relatively small city, making it possible to visit several excellent breweries in a single afternoon.
What makes Portland’s brewery scene special is that it developed organically. Long before hazy IPAs became a national trend, breweries like Geary Brewing, Shipyard, and later Allagash were building a local craft beer culture in Maine. Many of today’s breweries were founded by homebrewers, longtime beer enthusiasts, or industry veterans who saw an opportunity to create something unique rather than simply follow trends.
Another reason Portland stands out is how concentrated many of the breweries are. Industrial Way is home to a cluster that includes Allagash, Foundation, Definitive, Austin Street, and Battery Steele, while East Bayside has developed its own brewery district with Lone Pine, Belleflower, Goodfire, Rising Tide, Orange Bike, and several others all within a relatively small area. If you’re planning a brewery crawl, few cities make it easier.
The variety is also impressive. Portland Maine breweries cover nearly every style imaginable, from Belgian-inspired ales and farmhouse saisons to hazy New England IPAs, traditional lagers, barrel-aged stouts, and even entirely gluten-free beer. Whether you’re a dedicated beer drinker or just looking for a casual afternoon stop, there’s a brewery here that will fit your tastes.
Where to Find Portland's Breweries
One of the things that makes Portland such a great beer city is that many of its breweries are concentrated in a handful of neighborhoods. Rather than being spread across a large metro area, several brewery districts have developed over the years, making it easy to build your own brewery-hopping tour. These are the five areas in Portland that house the breweries.
Industrial Way
With five breweries located within a few blocks of each other, Industrial Way is Portland’s most popular brewery-hopping destination. The district is home to Allagash, Foundation, Definitive, Austin Street, and Battery Steele, making it easy to spend an entire afternoon exploring the area. The neighborhood’s rise can be traced in part to 1 Industrial Way, a warehouse building that helped launch several of Maine’s most successful breweries and earned a reputation as an unofficial incubator for Portland’s craft beer industry.
East Bayside & The East End
With six breweries and taprooms spread across the east side of Portland’s peninsula, East Bayside and the East End form another excellent brewery-hopping district. Lone Pine, Belleflower, Goodfire, Orange Bike, Rising Tide, and Newscapes are all located here, while Oxbow sits just a short distance away on Washington Avenue. Many visitors combine several of these breweries into a single afternoon crawl.
West Bayside & The West End
With three breweries spread across the western side of Portland’s peninsula, West Bayside and the West End offer a smaller but more varied brewery experience. The area is home to Bunker, Argenta, and Batson River, ranging from neighborhood nano-breweries and lager-focused taprooms to larger brewery-distillery concepts. It’s an easy area to explore before heading to dinner or drinks elsewhere in the city.
Thompson's Point
With just one brewery, Thompson’s Point is Portland’s smallest brewery district, but it happens to be home to one of the city’s most famous breweries. Bissell Brothers anchors the neighborhood and has helped transform the former rail yard into one of Portland’s most popular destinations. With concerts, events, restaurants, and waterfront views nearby, it’s worth visiting even if you’re only stopping at a single brewery.
Old Port & Downtown
With two breweries, the Old Port offers a mix of historic breweries and one of the city’s most walkable neighborhoods. The area is home to Gritty McDuff’s, Maine’s oldest brewpub, while Shipyard Brewing’s Portland location sits just north of the Old Port. It’s an easy district to combine with restaurants, bars, shopping, and waterfront attractions.
Industrial Way Breweries
Industrial Way is the heart of Portland’s craft beer scene and home to one of the city’s highest concentrations of breweries. The area grew organically as breweries were drawn to its affordable warehouse space, and the building at 1 Industrial Way became particularly influential. Maine Beer Company, Bissell Brothers, Rising Tide, Austin Street, Foundation, and Battery Steele all operated there at various points, helping establish Industrial Way as one of the most important brewery districts in Maine.
INDUSTRIAL WAY
Allagash
If you’ve spent much time exploring craft beer outside of Maine, you’ve probably come across Allagash. Founded in 1995, it’s one of the state’s best-known breweries and the brewery most responsible for putting Portland on the national craft beer map.
At the center of the lineup is Allagash White, the Belgian-style wheat beer that made the brewery famous. Beyond White, look for Tripel, a Belgian-style golden ale, and Curieux, a bourbon barrel-aged version of the Tripel with notes of vanilla, caramel, oak, and a touch of bourbon. First brewed in 2004, Curieux remains one of Allagash’s most popular specialty releases.
The tasting room at 50 Industrial Way is one of the anchors of Portland’s brewery scene. Alongside a dozen beers on tap, you’ll find house-made cider, fruit wines, and rotating pilot beers that are often only available at the brewery. The outdoor space is one of the most family-friendly in Portland, with plenty of seating, a canoe for kids to play in, and Bite Into Maine serving lobster rolls year-round. Brewery tours are also available and worth booking ahead.
BELGIAN-STYLE ALES | BREWERY TOURS | FAMILY-FRIENDLY | FOOD TRUCK | DOG FRIENDLY
INDUSTRIAL WAY
Foundation
Foundation is one of the original breweries at 1 Industrial Way, opening in 2014 when the area was just beginning to establish itself as Portland’s premier brewery district. While they brew everything from IPAs and lagers to farmhouse ales and sours, the My Jam series is what keeps me coming back.
The flagship Raspberry’s My Jam is a sweet-tart kettle sour brewed with raspberries and blackberries that somehow manages to appeal to both beer drinkers and people who normally avoid beer altogether. Janice doesn’t drink beer, but she bought a four-pack of Raspberry’s My Jam. Foundation regularly rotates other versions as well, including peach, apricot, pineapple, guava, and Maine blueberry variations, so there’s usually something new to try.
If sours aren’t your thing, Burnside Brown Ale is another standout, with notes of coffee, chocolate, and caramel. Foundation also started one of the better food programs on Industrial Way. Their Detroit-style pizza has become a destination in its own right, with crispy cheese-lined edges, airy crust, and creative toppings inspired by the owners’ Detroit roots. Wings, hot dogs, and soft pretzels round out the menu, and the outdoor patio is dog friendly.
MY JAM SOURS | DETROIT-STYLE PIZZA | FLIGHTS | DOG FRIENDLY | OUTDOOR SEATING | FOOD ON-SITE
INDUSTRIAL WAY
Definitive
With more than 20 beers on tap, Definitive offers one of the most diverse lineups in Portland. That makes it one of the easiest breweries to visit with a group, whether everyone wants a hazy IPA, fruited sour, lager, stout, or hard seltzer.
One of the brewery’s signature beers is Contee Kölsch, a crisp and approachable German-style ale that provides a nice change of pace from the hop-heavy beers that dominate many Portland tap lists. Beyond that, the lineup ranges from hazy IPAs and double IPAs to fruited sours, pastry stouts, lagers, and rotating seasonal releases.
The taproom features a fireplace for colder months and garage doors that open onto a large patio during the summer. Dogs are welcome outside, and Fat Kid Culinary Productions operates a food truck on-site several days a week. Definitive also hosts regular events including art markets, festivals, classes, and live entertainment. While the brewery has expanded to additional locations in Kittery and at Sunday River, the Industrial Way taproom remains the flagship.
20+ TAPS | WIDE RANGE OF STYLES | FRUITED SOURS | LAGERS | EVENTS | DOG FRIENDLY
INDUSTRIAL WAY
Battery Steele
Battery Steele occupies one of the most important addresses in Portland beer history: 1 Industrial Way. This is the same building that previously incubated Maine Beer Company, Rising Tide, and Bissell Brothers before each outgrew the space and moved on. There’s something fitting about Battery Steele planting its flag there and staying, carrying the torch for what made that address significant in the first place.
Everything at Battery Steele happens in-house, from recipe development to final pour, using carefully selected ingredients and processes built around consistency. The brewery specializes in New England IPAs, lagers, and ready-to-drink cocktails, and the Flume IPA is the beer that gets mentioned most. The tap list typically runs around eight beers including IPAs, double IPAs, seasonal releases, and the occasional fruited sour like the Endless Ride series. Cans are available to go.
The taproom is compact and no-frills, you can see the brewing tanks from the taproom area, and the setup is honest about what it is: a working brewery where you come for fresh beer at the source. The atmosphere is welcoming and unpretentious, and service consistently gets high marks. Outdoor seating out front works well when the weather cooperates. No food on-site but you’re steps from food trucks and the broader Industrial Way cluster.
As part of the Industrial Way crawl, Battery Steele pairs naturally with Allagash directly across the street, Foundation, and Austin Street all within easy walking distance.
NEIPAS | FLUME IPA | LAGERS | DOG FRIENDLY | OUTDOOR SEATING | CANS TO GO
NEAR INDUSTRIAL WAY
Before Allagash, Bissell Brothers, Oxbow, or any of the breweries on this list, there was Geary Brewing. Founded by David and Karen Geary in 1983, Geary’s was New England’s first craft brewery of the modern era and helped lay the foundation for Maine’s entire craft beer scene. At the time, there were only a handful of microbreweries operating anywhere in the United States.
The brewery’s Original Pale Ale became one of the defining beers of early American craft brewing and helped introduce Maine drinkers to styles beyond the mass-produced lagers that dominated the market at the time. While Geary’s remains best known for heritage beers like the Pale Ale, London Porter, and seasonal Hampshire Special Ale, the brewery has also expanded its lineup in recent years to include hazy IPAs, lagers, sours, and other modern styles.
Today, the Evergreen Drive location operates as a taproom and beer garden with a pilot brewing system for small-batch experimentation. Complimentary brewery tours are available, and the atmosphere is noticeably quieter and more laid-back than many of Portland’s newer breweries. For anyone interested in the history of Maine craft beer, Geary’s isn’t just another brewery stop. It’s where the story began.
NEW ENGLAND’S FIRST CRAFT BREWERY | HISTORIC | FREE TOURS | BEER GARDEN | DOG FRIENDLY
East Bayside & East End Breweries
East Bayside and the East End offer the largest concentration of breweries on Portland’s peninsula. The area mixes nationally recognized breweries, neighborhood favorites, and some of the city’s most unique brewery concepts.
EAST END
Oxbow
If you’re looking for something different from Portland’s IPA-heavy brewery scene, Oxbow is one of the city’s most distinctive stops. While the brewery’s home base is a farm brewery in Newcastle, the Portland location on Washington Avenue serves as the center of its barrel-aging, blending, and bottling program, with hundreds of oak barrels dedicated to mixed-culture and farmhouse ales.
Oxbow built its reputation on Belgian-inspired saisons and farmhouse beers, and those roots remain at the heart of the brewery today. The tap list typically includes a mix of farmhouse ales, wild and mixed-fermentation beers, lagers, and seasonal releases, many of which are only available at the brewery. Even if you’re not usually drawn to Belgian-style beer, Oxbow is worth a visit simply because there’s nothing else quite like it in Portland.
The taproom has a communal, almost European feel, with long shared tables, rotating art exhibits, and a steady calendar of live music and events. It feels as much like a gathering place as it does a brewery.
The food is another reason to visit. Duckfat Frites Shack operates next door, serving Belgian frites cooked in duck fat, poutine, sandwiches, and house-made dipping sauces. You can order directly from Oxbow and have the food brought to your table, making this one of the best beer-and-food pairings in Portland.
EAST END | FARMHOUSE ALES | SAISONS | BARREL-AGED | DOG FRIENDLY | OUTDOOR SEATING | LIVE MUSIC | DUCKFAT FRITES ON-SITE
EAST BAYSIDE
Lone Pine
Lone Pine has become one of the most recognizable names in Maine craft beer, thanks in large part to Portland Pale Ale. The brewery’s flagship beer is bright, citrusy, and approachable, making it a favorite among both casual drinkers and craft beer enthusiasts.
Beyond Portland Pale Ale, the lineup includes hazy IPAs, stouts, hard seltzers, and rotating seasonal releases. Lone Pine isn’t afraid to experiment either, with beers like a dry stout brewed with locally sourced Chaga mushroom occasionally appearing on tap. The East Bayside taproom shares a building with Goodfire, making the two breweries an easy pairing on a brewery crawl.
The taproom has a compact industrial feel with indoor seating, outdoor seating, and heated outdoor areas that extend the season well beyond summer. Dogs are welcome outside, and the brewery is open seven days a week.
Lone Pine has expanded beyond Portland with locations in Westbrook and Old Orchard Beach. If you’re heading down the coast, check out my travel guide to Old Orchard Beach, where Lone Pine operates a seasonal tasting room just a few blocks from the beach. The brewery has also launched Lone Pine Spirits, a craft vodka brand that gives visitors another option beyond beer.
PORTLAND PALE ALE | IPAS | HARD SELTZERS | DOG FRIENDLY | HEATED PATIO | THREE LOCATIONS
EAST BAYSIDE
Belleflower
Belleflower is one of Portland’s newest breweries, but it didn’t take long to make a name for itself. Opened in 2021, it was named Hop Culture’s Best Brewery in America just two years later and has quickly become one of the most talked-about breweries in the city.
The beer covers a wide range of styles, including hazy IPAs, lagers, stouts, fruited sours, and rotating small-batch releases. Wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic options are also available, making it an easy stop for mixed groups.
What really sets Belleflower apart is the atmosphere. The taproom at 66 Cove Street feels more like a neighborhood gathering place than a traditional brewery. Between live music, food truck pop-ups, craft nights, patio events, Bellefest Oktoberfest celebrations, and even weekday work-from-home specials, there’s almost always something happening. It’s the kind of place people return to as much for the community as the beer.
AWARD-WINNING | WINE & COCKTAILS | LIVE MUSIC | EVENTS | FOOD TRUCKS | DOG FRIENDLY
FOX ST & INDUSTRIAL WAY
Austin Street
Austin Street is one of the few breweries in Portland with two locations. The original taproom remains at 1 Industrial Way alongside Foundation and Battery Steele, while the larger Fox Street location on the peninsula serves as the brewery’s primary taproom and is the one most visitors should prioritize.
Founded in 2014 by longtime homebrewers Jake Austin and Will Fisher, Austin Street has remained independently owned while building a reputation for consistently well-made beer. The lineup covers a broad range of styles, including IPAs, pale ales, lagers, sours, and rotating seasonal releases. Patina Pale Ale remains one of the brewery’s best-known beers.
The Fox Street taproom is bright and welcoming, with plenty of greenery, large garage doors, and outdoor seating during warmer months. One thing that sets Austin Street apart from many Portland breweries is that it also serves wine and hard cider, making it an easy stop for groups with both beer drinkers and non-beer drinkers.
TWO LOCATIONS | WIDE RANGE OF STYLES | WINE & CIDER | DOG FRIENDLY | OUTDOOR SEATING | INDEPENDENT
EAST BAYSIDE
Goodfire
Tucked behind Lone Pine in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood, Goodfire is easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there. The relaxed warehouse taproom has a neighborhood feel and tends to be a little less crowded than some of the bigger breweries nearby.
Goodfire brews a wide range of styles, including hazy IPAs, lagers, pilsners, saisons, and sours, making it a good choice for drinkers who like variety. Unlike some brewery taprooms that primarily serve as tasting rooms, this is where Goodfire actually brews and packages its beer, so everything is as fresh as it gets. Wine and light snacks are also available.
The Portland location operates seasonally, typically from late spring through fall. If you visit outside those months, Goodfire’s Freeport location offers a larger food menu along with beer, wine, cocktails, and year-round service.
WIDE RANGE OF STYLES | BREWERY ON-SITE | WINE | ALSO IN FREEPORT | SEASONAL TAPROOM
EAST BAYSIDE
Rising Tide
Rising Tide has been part of Portland’s brewery scene since 2010 and was one of the breweries that helped establish East Bayside as a beer destination. Today, the family-owned brewery remains one of the most welcoming and comfortable taproom experiences in the city.
The beer lineup covers a wide range of styles, from IPAs and lagers to seasonal releases and small-batch specialties. Maine Island Trail Ale is one of the brewery’s best-known beers, with a portion of proceeds supporting the Maine Island Trail Association and its work protecting Maine’s coastal islands.
The taproom at 103 Fox Street has a relaxed feel, with couches inside, a large outdoor patio, and plenty of space to settle in for a while. Flights are available, happy hour runs Monday through Thursday, and The Galley kitchen serves burgers, sandwiches, and other elevated pub fare. Dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio.
In 2025, Rising Tide was acquired by Oxbow Brewing, though both breweries continue to operate under their existing brands. From a visitor’s perspective, the experience remains much the same as it has for years.
FLIGHTS | HAPPY HOUR | FULL FOOD MENU | DOG FRIENDLY | OUTDOOR SEATING
EAST BAYSIDE
Orange Bike is one of the most unique breweries in Portland and an easy recommendation for anyone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Opened in 2023, it’s Portland’s first dedicated gluten-free brewery and one of only a handful in the United States focused entirely on brewing beer without gluten-containing grains.
Every beer is brewed with naturally gluten-free ingredients such as millet, buckwheat, rice, and quinoa. More importantly, the beers stand on their own merits. Orange Bike has earned medals at both the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup, proving that its beers can compete with any brewery, gluten-free or otherwise. The rotating tap list typically includes IPAs, sours, amber ales, and seasonal releases, with cans available to go.
The brewery shares a close partnership with Bite Into Maine next door, making it one of the best places in Portland to enjoy a gluten-free lobster roll and a locally brewed beer. The outdoor beer garden is one of the better warm-weather setups in East Bayside, and the brewery hosts regular community events ranging from vinyl nights and cleanups to gluten-free markets and festivals.
Founder Tom Ruff started Orange Bike after developing gluten intolerance himself, and that personal connection still shapes the brewery today. What could have been a niche concept has quickly become one of the most distinctive and award-winning brewery experiences in Portland.
100% GLUTEN-FREE | CELIAC-SAFE | AWARD-WINNING | BEER GARDEN | BITE INTO MAINE | COMMUNITY EVENTS
EAST BAYSIDE
Newscapes doesn’t feel like a typical Portland brewery, and that’s exactly what makes it memorable. Located inside what looks more like a residential home than a brewery, the space feels less like a taproom and more like visiting friends who happen to make really good beer. Owners Jeff and Reina have built a reputation for creating one of the most welcoming and personal brewery experiences in the city.
Despite the laid-back atmosphere, the beer program is taken seriously. The rotating tap list covers a wide range of styles, from hop-forward IPAs and pale ales to darker and more experimental releases. Pizza is made on-site, and the house hot sauce has developed something of a following among regulars.
Live music is a big part of the experience, with open mic nights, local musicians, and community events helping reinforce the neighborhood feel. Opened in 2022, Newscapes has quickly built a loyal following and remains one of the most uniquely local brewery experiences in Portland.
HIDDEN GEM | LIVE MUSIC | PIZZA ON-SITE | COZY HOUSE SETTING | NEIGHBORHOOD VIBE
West Bayside & West End Breweries
The breweries on Portland’s west side are smaller in number but offer some of the city’s most distinctive experiences, from nano-breweries and lager-focused taprooms to brewery-distillery hybrids.
WEST BAYSIDE
Argenta
Argenta is Portland’s only dedicated lager brewery and the city’s only lager beer saloon. In a city filled with hazy IPAs and heavily hopped beers, that alone makes it one of the most distinctive brewery stops in Portland.
Owner Ryan Dunlap built Argenta around the tradition of the 19th-century lager saloon, the neighborhood gathering places German immigrants helped popularize in cities like New York, Milwaukee, and St. Louis. The goal is simple: create a welcoming space centered around approachable beer and community.
The tap list is all lagers, with styles ranging from dark lagers and Mexican lagers to Radlers and seasonal releases. Even people who don’t usually consider themselves craft beer drinkers often find something they enjoy here. Free popcorn at the bar doesn’t hurt either.
Located at 82 Hanover Street, the tasting room doubles as a rotating art gallery featuring local artists. There’s a patio outside, food trucks make regular appearances, and Wilson County Barbecue is located in the same building. Opened in 2024, Argenta is one of Portland’s newest breweries, but it already has one of the clearest identities in the city.
WEST BAYSIDE | LAGERS ONLY | UNIQUE CONCEPT | ART GALLERY | FREE POPCORN | PATIO | ALL AGES
WEST END
Bunker
Bunker is one of the smallest breweries in Portland and one of the most local-feeling. The self-described nano-brewery focuses on small-batch beers and collaborations, creating a tap list that changes regularly and rarely feels driven by trends.
Co-founder Jay Villani is also behind Portland favorites Local 188 and Sonny’s, giving Bunker deep roots in the city’s food and hospitality scene. That connection comes through in the atmosphere, which feels more like a neighborhood gathering place than a destination brewery.
The beer lineup tends to favor traditional styles, local ingredients, and small-batch experimentation over the latest hype releases. You’ll find everything from lagers and pale ales to stronger seasonal offerings, often featuring ingredients sourced from Maine farms and maltsters.
Located at 17 Westfield Street, Bunker offers indoor seating, a patio, and a relaxed atmosphere that attracts a loyal local following. It may not be the flashiest stop on a Portland brewery crawl, but it’s one of the most authentically Portland.
NANO-BREWERY | SMALL BATCH | LOCAL INGREDIENTS | KID-FRIENDLY | PATIO SEATING
WEST BAYSIDE
Batson River
Batson River offers something that few breweries in Portland can match: it’s both a brewery and a distillery. That combination makes it one of the better options for groups, since beer drinkers and cocktail drinkers can both find plenty to enjoy.
Located inside the 82 Hanover Street complex alongside Argenta and Wilson County Barbecue, Batson River features a large two-story space with multiple bars, plenty of seating, and a lively atmosphere. The beer lineup focuses on traditional styles and Maine-inspired ingredients, while the cocktail menu highlights spirits produced in-house under the Batson River name.
The food menu includes pub favorites like sandwiches, pizzas, salads, and shareable plates, and the spacious layout works especially well for larger groups. Live music, happy hour specials, and weekend brunch add to the appeal. If you’re exploring Portland with a mix of beer lovers and non-beer drinkers, Batson River is one of the easiest breweries on this list to recommend.
BREWERY & DISTILLERY | CRAFT COCKTAILS | FULL FOOD MENU | WEEKEND BRUNCH | LIVE MUSIC | GOOD FOR GROUPS
Thompson's Point Brewery
Thompson’s Point is home to just one brewery, but it happens to be one of Portland’s most famous. If you’re visiting for a concert, event, or waterfront walk, Bissell Brothers is an easy stop to build your day around.
THOMPSON’S POINT
Bissell Brothers
Bissell Brothers is about as close to a consensus pick for the best brewery in Portland as you’ll find. Founded by brothers Peter and Noah Bissell in 2013, the brewery got its start at 1 Industrial Way before quickly outgrowing the space and moving to Thompson’s Point in 2016.
The location is part of what makes Bissell unique. Thompson’s Point has become one of Portland’s most popular destinations, hosting concerts, events, restaurants, and waterfront activities along the Fore River. That makes Bissell Brothers a natural stop before a show or while exploring the area.
The beer lineup is led by Substance, the flagship hazy IPA that helped establish Bissell Brothers as one of the most influential breweries in New England. Swish, their double IPA, remains another fan favorite. One thing to know before you visit: Bissell Brothers does not serve flights, so you’ll need to commit to a full pour.
The taproom is spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor area that works well for families. In 2024, the brewery expanded into the adjacent space and opened The Garden, a separate 21+ bar serving cocktails, natural wines, and beer in a more adult-oriented setting. The food menu includes smash burgers, wings, fish tacos, sandwiches, salads, and several vegetarian and gluten-free options.
HAZY IPAS | FULL FOOD MENU | THOMPSON’S POINT | KID-FRIENDLY | OUTDOOR SEATING | THE GARDEN BAR
Old Port & Downtown Breweries
Portland’s historic downtown isn’t known for brewery clusters, but it is home to some of the city’s most important brewing institutions. If you’re staying in the Old Port, these are the easiest breweries to visit on foot.
OLD PORT
Gritty McDuff's
Gritty’s isn’t a brewery taproom. It’s a brewpub, and the distinction matters because it’s a completely different experience from most of the breweries on this list. Founded in 1988 in Portland’s Old Port, Gritty’s was Maine’s first brewpub since the repeal of Prohibition and one of the pioneers of the state’s craft beer movement.
The beer program remains rooted in English pub tradition. Flagship beers like the Pub-Style Pale Ale, McDuff’s Best Bitter, and Black Fly Stout have been mainstays for decades, offering a refreshing alternative to the hazy IPAs that dominate many modern tap lists. If you’re looking for classic, sessionable beer rather than the latest trend, Gritty’s delivers.
The food menu leans heavily into pub fare, with favorites including fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, burgers, lobster rolls, and poutine. Spread across two floors in the heart of the Old Port, the space feels more like a traditional pub than a brewery. Between the full menu, late-night hours, outdoor seating, and regular live music, it’s an easy place to settle in for an evening.
For visitors looking to experience a different side of Portland’s beer culture, Gritty’s remains one of the city’s most enduring institutions.
MAINE’S OLDEST BREWPUB | ENGLISH-STYLE ALES | FULL PUB MENU | LIVE MUSIC | HISTORIC
OLD PORT
Shipyard
Shipyard is one of the founding names of Maine craft beer and remains one of the state’s largest breweries. Founded in 1994, it helped introduce a generation of New England drinkers to craft beer and remains best known for flagship beers like Export Ale and Pumpkinhead, the seasonal wheat beer that has become an annual fall tradition across the Northeast.
While most large-scale production now takes place outside Portland, the brewery’s Newbury Street location still operates a pilot brewing system used for testing new and experimental beers. The spacious taproom features two bars, plenty of seating, brewery merchandise, and a full menu of pizzas and salads. Flights, pints, growlers, and crowlers are all available.
Shipyard feels different from many of Portland’s newer breweries, and that’s part of its appeal. It’s approachable, recognizable, and easy to enjoy whether you’re a longtime craft beer fan or simply looking for a casual stop while exploring the Old Port and waterfront.
PILOT BREWERY | FLIGHTS | FOOD ON-SITE | LARGE TAPROOM | EVENTS | BREW STORE
The Pioneers of Portland Craft Beer
Portland’s reputation as one of America’s great beer cities didn’t happen overnight. Long before breweries like Bissell Brothers, Belleflower, and Definitive arrived, a handful of breweries helped prove that craft beer could succeed in Maine.
Geary Brewing helped launch New England’s modern craft beer movement when it opened in 1983. Shipyard followed in 1994 and brought craft beer to a wider audience across Maine and New England. A year later, Allagash introduced Belgian-inspired brewing to the region and eventually became one of the most respected craft breweries in the country.
Today, Portland is home to nearly 20 breweries and brewpubs, but the city’s beer scene was built on the foundation these three breweries helped create.
Portland Brewery FAQs
What is the best brewery in Portland Maine?
If I could only recommend one brewery in Portland, it would be Bissell Brothers. The Thompson’s Point brewery combines excellent beer, a large taproom, good food, and one of the best locations in the city. That said, Allagash remains Portland’s most influential brewery, while Oxbow, Belleflower, and Foundation are also among my personal favorites.
How many breweries are in Portland Maine?
Portland is home to nearly 20 breweries and brewpubs, making it one of the most brewery-dense cities in the United States. The breweries are spread across several districts including Industrial Way, East Bayside, Thompson’s Point, the Old Port, and West Bayside.
What is the biggest brewery in Portland Maine?
Allagash Brewing Company is generally considered Portland’s largest brewery and distributes beer across much of the United States. Shipyard Brewing is also one of Maine’s largest breweries and remains a major presence in Portland’s beer scene.
What are the oldest breweries in Portland Maine?
Geary Brewing, founded in 1983, is New England’s first modern craft brewery and the oldest brewery on this list. Gritty McDuff’s opened in 1988 and became Maine’s first brewpub since Prohibition, while Shipyard Brewing followed in 1994.
What is the best area for a brewery crawl in Portland Maine?
Industrial Way is the best area for a brewery crawl, with Allagash, Foundation, Definitive, Austin Street, and Battery Steele all located within a few blocks of one another. East Bayside is another excellent option and offers the largest concentration of breweries on Portland’s peninsula.
Is there a gluten-free brewery in Portland Maine?
Yes. Orange Bike Brewing is Portland’s first dedicated gluten-free brewery and one of only a handful in the United States. Every beer is brewed with naturally gluten-free grains, and the brewery has won medals at both the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.
Are Portland Maine breweries dog friendly?
Many Portland breweries welcome dogs in outdoor seating areas. Some of the most dog-friendly options include Allagash, Foundation, Lone Pine, Rising Tide, and Definitive. Policies can change, so it’s always worth checking directly with the brewery before visiting.
Are Portland Maine breweries family friendly?
Many Portland breweries are family friendly and welcome children. Allagash is one of the best examples, with outdoor space, games, and a family-oriented atmosphere. Bissell Brothers, Foundation, Rising Tide, and several others are also popular with families.
Which Portland Maine brewery is best for non-beer drinkers?
Batson River is one of the best choices for non-beer drinkers because it operates as both a brewery and distillery, offering a full cocktail menu. Austin Street serves wine and cider, while Belleflower and Oxbow also provide options beyond beer.
Is Portland Maine a good beer city?
Portland is widely considered one of the best beer cities in the United States. Despite having fewer than 70,000 residents, it supports nearly 20 breweries and brewpubs, ranging from nationally known names like Allagash and Bissell Brothers to small neighborhood breweries and specialty operations like Orange Bike and Argenta.
Portland may be small, but few cities pack more breweries into such a compact area. Whether you’re looking for iconic breweries like Allagash and Bissell Brothers, neighborhood favorites like Belleflower and Rising Tide, or unique experiences like Oxbow and Orange Bike, Portland offers one of the best brewery scenes in the country. Start with Industrial Way or East Bayside, build your own brewery crawl, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself planning a return trip.
