Maine Craft Beer

Maine's craft beer industry is an absolute giant.

As of this publishing, there are well over 100 breweries in the state. In 2023, Maine had the second-highest brewery per capita number (14.6) in the country.

This leads to two conclusions: Mainers love beer and local businesses.

This state was built to be a craft beer oasis. The culture, tourism, and support of everything local is basically an ethos for a craft brewery hotspot. And the numbers don't lie.

With so much wonderful beer in state, I thought it would be fun to focus on one region and highlight the breweries there.

Maine's Brewery Scene

We spend massive amounts of time discussing and dissecting every little aspect of the Maine beer scene. Whether it's Portland, the surrounding area, Bar Harbor, or the Midcoast, the touristy areas of Maine are well-covered.

However, what about the rest of the state? What about the great little gems in the western foothills, or the small craft options Downeast? There's a lot more to this state than just the ritzy coast. In fact, wherever you are, you're probably close enough to a brewery to go enjoy a few libations.

But where do the favorites come from? Where's the IPA? Best wheat ale? Where will one find the best pilsner? Maine's favorite craft beers has always been a fascination of mine.

The Best Maine Craft Beers

We put out the call for the state's best craft beers: the blue-ribbon (no pun intended) brew that always has people talking...or having another.

Now, thanks to our station's social media, we can list many of those items together to make one incredibly tasty list.

Below is a list of many of those beers that were suggested to us. The list includes many IPA's and ales, but not limited to them. The list also includes breweries from across the state, proving how vast and impactful Maine's craft beer industry is.

Our listeners also picked many beers that are on Beer Advocate's Maine Craft Beer Top 100 Rankings.

There are also a few items that non-beer lovers may enjoy, because this state's beverage industry is more than just the suds.

You can see the list below, but I'll warn you...you're going to get thirsty.

Here's 30 Maine Craft Beers to Get Lost on an Island With

Thanks to our great listeners, we compiled a list of many of Maine breweries' best beers. The ones you would love to have if lost on a deserted island.

These great spots can be found across the state, waiting for you to try them. Many can be found on Beer Advocate's Maine Craft Beer Top 100 Rankings.

How many of these have you had?

Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka

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