SEACOAST BREWERY, CIDERY, WINERY, AND DISTILLERY GUIDE 2021!
The Seacoast of New Hampshire and Maine is brimming with locally-owned breweries, distilleries, cideries, wineries and more, and we feel grateful to have such a wonderful variety to enjoy in our own backyards.
From Biddeford to Kittery, and Portsmouth to Lee, browse our 2021 list of local places in which to enjoy an adult beverages—in person and on-the-fly!
BAREWOLF BREWING | AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS
BareWolf Brewing Company is a family beer business run by father and son team Paul and Stevie Bareford. By blending endless passion and refined tradecraft in an art-science fusion, this duo creates a variety of unique beers to feature on the Brewery’s constantly rotating tap list. Paul and Stevie eat, sleep and breathe beer, and want to share it with all of us at their kid-friendly Amesbury taproom—complete with live music, arcade games, and pool!
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT BAREWOLF BREWING:
*Visit BareWolf Brewing’s website to place your order for curbside pickup, shop products online, and see the list of upcoming events!
*Meet the team and learn the BareWolf Brewing story here!
TILTON BROTHERS BREWING | HAMPTON, NH
At Tilton Brothers Brewing, you’ll find a variety of unique beers that pair beautifully with the brewery’s relaxed atmosphere, fun games, great company, and vibrant mural wall. Tilton Brothers Brewing was founded in 2019 by Seacoast natives Ben and Dave Tilton, along with friend Joe Chase. Ben concocts all beers on-site for fresh pours by the pint in the bright taproom, and for cans and growlers on-the-go!
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT TILTON BROTHERS BREWING:
*Join Tilton Brothers’ Mug Club where memberships never expire, and there are plenty of fun perks to go around!
*Look for a new food program launching in early 2021!
*The taproom is open Thursday 3-8pm and Friday through Sunday 12-8pm.
DEFINITIVE BREWING COMPANY | KITTERY, MAINE
Definitive Brewing Company opened its flagship location in Portland, Maine in 2018 and after two years in Portland, opened a second tasting room on Route One in Kittery, Maine! At Definitive Brewing Company, the team strives to provide a memorable tasting room experience for all customers. This is culminated by the wide variety of beers ranging from sours and stouts, to IPAs, session ales, and Definitive’s signature Kolsch.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT DEFINITIVE BREWING COMPANY:
*Both Definitive Brewery locations are open 7 days a week, offering indoor and outdoor seating, with many beers on tap, as well as select wines, ciders and seltzers!
BATSON RIVER | KENNEBUNK, MAINE
Batson River Brewing & Distilling boasts a unique dining experience in both Kennebunk and Portland, Maine. The menus feature a range of cocktails, each crafted with house distilled spirits, along with a full list of Batson River craft beers. Between the food, cocktail, and beer selections, and the stunning interiors, no detail is overlooked at Batson River.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT BATSON RIVER:
*Batson River offers happy hour at both locations, as well as Saturday and Sunday brunch, at its Portland, Maine location. Their third location will open soon in Biddeford!
*Visit Batson River during the winter months and cozy up by the fireplace, while playing games, or enjoy the dog-friendly patio, heated decks, and custom-built fish shacks for socially-distanced dining!
BUTTERNUT FARM CIDER HOUSE | FARMINGTON, NH
Butternut Farm’s small-batch hard ciders are hand-crafted right on the farm that’s located in Farmington, New Hampshire. Throughout the process, the cider makers use simple methods, natural ingredients, and pay close attention to detail. With cultured yeasts and a minimal amount of preservatives, if any, Butternut Farm’s ciders provide a fresh, clean flavor. Visit the tasting room and experience a locally crafted cider!
*Butternut Farm is a seasonal business that will open for the 2021 season in April! Please refer to their website for up-to-date hours and information.*
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT BUTTERNUT FARM CIDER HOUSE:
*2 oz samples are available in the tasting room, and quart and half gallon sized growlers are available for purchase and refills.
*Visit Butternut’s family run farm while on site! They have freshly-baked donuts, pies, fruit trees, and cider at the store (opening in April!) and an abundance of seasonal pick-your-own fruit (opening to guests in June)!
WIGGLY BRIDGE DISTILLERY | YORK, MAINE
Although current restrictions have made it so that the popular craft cocktails, classes, and tastings aren’t currently available at Wiggly Bridge Distilling, the team is still producing its famous spirits and the York, Maine storefront remains open for retail and bottle sales!
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT WIGGLY BRIDGE DISTILLERY:
*We can order online and enjoy shipping to most states! Shop locally online here.
*Wiggly Bridge’s “Bottled in Bond” spirits are now sold in most New Hampshire liquor stores. Look for the display in-store for your chance to win the “Distiller for a Day” program!
*We can’t wait to enjoy bevvies, live music, and fun times in the tasting room soon!
TRIBUTARY BREWING COMPANY | KITTERY, MAINE
Known for its well-crafted and diverse beer styles, Tributary Brewing Co. in Kittery, Maine is a unique destination offering great beer, good company, and live music. When making plans to visit, see what’s on tap, and take a peek at the events calendar to see which local talent is performing (hopefully in the near future!)! And if you’re in the mood for a bite to eat, you’re more than welcome to bring in food from nearby restaurants (perhaps from Blue Mermaid next door?).
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT TRIBUTARY BREWING COMPANY:
*Hello three-season outdoor deck!!
THE PORTSMOUTH BREWING COMPANY | PORTSMOUTH, NH
The Portsmouth Brewery is New Hampshire’s original craft brewery! Located in the heart of downtown Portsmouth, The Portsmouth Brewery has been making award-winning beer and fantastic food in the heart of downtown Portsmouth since 1991.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT THE PORTSMOUTH BREWERY:
*Enjoy takeout and delivery until 9 pm Monday through Thursdays. Visit The Portsmouth Brewery on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for socially-distanced indoor dining, takeout, and delivery.
*Stay tuned for outdoor dining, live music, specials, and late-night dining coming soon!
ROUND TURN DISTILLING | BIDDEFORD, MAINE
There’s a hip movement happening in Biddeford, and Round Turn Distilling is an essential part of it! Native Mainers Darren Case and Kristina Hansen returned to their New England roots, from Brooklyn, to found Round Turn Distilling after they were drawn to this growing Maine city’s community of artists and entrepreneurs. Darren and Kristina’s passion is centered around the moments that bring friends and family together—often gathered around a plate or bottle—so this duo works hard to produce quality spirits worthy of sharing life’s special moments.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT ROUND TURN DISTILLING:
*Due to COVID-19, Round Turn Distilling is currently open Wednesday through Sunday for retail shopping and cocktails to-go only. They recently launched the RTD Cocktail Club, a monthly cocktail box that explores the world of classic cocktails and recipes. They will also be offering virtual cocktail classes!
*Bottom center photo credit: Maine The Way.
FLAG HILL DISTILLERY & WINERY | LEE, NH
Flag Hill Distillery & Winery sits on a 110-acre conservation easement in Lee, New Hampshire, which preserves the property to remain in agriculture forever. The farm switched from a dairy farm to a vineyard in 1987, with the planting of the first grapes on the property, and the winery began in 1990, with the first harvest. Years later in 2004, Flag Hill Distillery & Winery began making vodka from the highest quality apples New Hampshire has to offer. Known as the oldest distillery in New Hampshire, and the largest vineyard in the state, Flag Hill Distillery & Winery is a wonderful destination for seasoned connoisseurs and first time visitors!
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT FLAG HILL DISTILLERY & WINERY:
*Flag Hill is open daily from 11am to 5pm for indoor tastings.
*In addition to tastings and purchasing products to go, we can also enjoy self-guided tours and snowshoe rentals!
*Bottom right credit: @shanoah_madison.
SMUTTYNOSE & SMUTTLABS | HAMPTON+DOVER, NH
As we anticipate Smuttynose Brewery’s tours and tastings to re-open, there is still so much to enjoy at this Hampton, New Hampshire Brewery! The retail store is open daily, and is stocked with Smuttynose’s latest beer releases, as well as Smuttynose gear. Also on site is Smuttynose’s restaurant, that is currently open for socially-distanced indoor dining, outdoor (dog friendly!) fire pit seating, and takeout. They also host happy hour, industry day, and trivia night. Smuttynose’s sister location, Smuttlabs Brewery and Kitchen, is now open in Dover, New Hampshire for socially-distanced indoor dining and takeout. Pop by this downtown hangout for happy hour, industry day, open mic night, and music bingo.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT SMUTTYNOSE AND SMUTTLABS:
*Stay tuned for live music on the patio coming this spring to Smuttynose Brewery!
*Smuttlabs is a destination for craft beer enthusiasts, as they always serve funky, fresh, and innovative beers you can’t try anywhere else. They also offer new exclusive draft beer releases almost weekly!
LIARS BENCH BEER | PORTSMOUTH, NH
Housed in an old plumbing supply warehouse in Portsmouth, New Hampshire’s up and coming West End, Liars Bench Beer Co. is an independently owned nano-brewery, tap room and biergarten. Founded in 2016 by UNH college roommates Dane Nielsen & Dagan Migirditch, Liars Bench offers an ever-rotating selection of intentionally brewed, traditionally inspired ales and lagers, as well as a playful menu built for the beer drinker and their brethren. With its inviting atmosphere and communal tables, drinkers are encouraged to tell stories, but not necessarily the truth. Here’s to empty lies; come share one.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT LIARS BENCH:
*Did you know we can purchase Liars Bench gear online??
*Check out Liars Bench’s food menu!!
LOADED QUESTION BREWERY | PORTSMOUTH, NH
Loaded Question Brewing is a Portsmouth West End craft brewery that was founded on the notion that beer should mimic life, and that every beer has its place. The Loaded Question team brews a wide range of beers because their favorite beer is not one single style of beer or a specific beer, but it in fact changes with environments and who we are spending time with.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT LOADED QUESTION:
*The beer is flowing seven days a week at Loaded Question—share a socially-distanced beer with your friends on the spacious, private patio or inside the tap room.
*Keep your eyes open for their next collaboration, as Loaded Question is always thinking of new ways to partner with local restaurants, bars, breweries and other businesses!
CZAR’S BREWERY | EXETER, NH
Tucked away on a side street in downtown Exeter, New Hampshire is a mashup of brewery-meets-restaurant, also known as Czar’s Brewery! Much like its European inspirations, this hidden and laidback gem serves up world class beer on small tables by a team with aged smiles and gigantic hearts.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT CZAR’S BREWERY:
*Czar’s welcomes guests on Tuesday through Thursday from 3pm to 8pm,
Friday from 3pm to 9pm, and Saturday from 12pm to 9pm!
*For directions, reservations, online ordering and/or curbside pickup, check out The Czar’s Brewery – Brewery, Brewpub, Craft Beers
WHYM CRAFT PUB AND BREWERY | HAMPTON, NH
WHYM /wim/. abbreviation. 1 Water Hops Yeast Malt (the four basic ingredients of any well crafted beer).
Noun Definition of WHYM. An establishment that is dedicated to local craft beer and community since 2013.
A brewing team with decades of passion turned pro, never serious but always serious about beer.
A kitchen where the Chef and staff care about the ingredients, sourcing locally and creating new American fusion.
A family owned, family operated, and family friendly local brewery and eatery.
One hundred percent artisan—from soda and house crafted cocktails, to local, live entertainment, in the downstairs lounge!
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT WHYM CRAFT PUB & BREWERY:
*Conveniently located off of major travel routes I 95 and Rt 101, and 5 minutes from Hampton Beach, WHYM is a convenient place to hop off the highway for a great snack or meal!
*For live entertainment, menus, craft beer, events, and hours, be sure to follow WHYM on social media!
Photos by: Melissa Koren Photography.
OTHER PLACES TO CHECK OUT:
Corner Point Brewing Company, Great Rhythm, North Country Hard Cider, Sea Dog Brewing Company, Bad Lab Beer, York Beach Beer Co., Chapel+Main, Garrison City Beerworks, Empty Pint, Banded Brewing Company, Cisco Brewers, Earth Eagle Brewings, Sawbelly Brewing Co., Deciduous Brewing Co., Throwback, Stoneface, SoMe, Woodland Farms Brewery.
IF YOU LIKED THIS POST, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY…
