Kittery and York are usually the first two towns you enter when you cross into the state of Maine. Why not make it the first place you grab a beer too? Kittery and York both have a number of breweries that are offering up some really tasty beers. From non-alcoholic (and alcoholic) beers at Woodland Farms to milkshake IPAs from Definitive, you are bound to find something you like. Follow the guide below for specific details on each of the breweries.
Trail Details:
- Number of Breweries: 6
- Total Distance Driven Between Breweries: 13.8 miles
- Total Driving Time Between Breweries: 30 minutes
Tributary Brewing Company
Website: https://www.tributarybrewingcompany.com/
Location: 10 Shapleigh Road, Kittery, Maine 03904
Hours: Wed – Sat: 12 – 7; Sun: 12-6
Indoor/Outdoor Seating?: Both
Are Dogs Allowed?: Yes. On the patio.
Beer to Try: When I start out at a brewery I tend to like to wade into the water, so to speak. I do not usually like starting with a super heavy beer or a beer with a super high ABV, especially in the summer. Tributary has a great starting beer (and all day beer for that matter) in their Affluente Pils (4.9% ABV). Affluente is an Italian Pils, which basically means it’s a dry-hopped German Pils. It is a little bitter with some floral notes from the hops. It is super crisp and refreshing and it is a great way to start the tour off.
Woodland Farms Brewery
Pine State Beer Review: https://pinestatebeer.com/?p=251
Website: https://www.wfbrewery.com/
Location: 306 US Route 1, STE 3, Kittery, Maine 03904
Hours: Wed – Sat: 12-8; Sun: 12-6
Indoor/Outdoor Seating?: Both
Beer to Try: The last time I went to Woodland Farms I ended up going with the Cryogenic Hypersleep Hazy IPA (6.7% ABV) and I was not disappointed. It was really what I have come to expect when it comes to a hazy IPA. It was super juicy and smooth with very little bitterness. The other thing that Woodland Farms is putting out is a line of non-alcoholic beers that are all really tasty. Currently they have an IPA, a sour and a white beer in their non-alcoholic lineup. All of them would be a great selection for the driver on this tour.
Definitive Brewing Company
Website: https://www.definitivebrewing.com/kittery-home
Location: 318 US Route 1, Kittery, ME 03904
Hours: Sun – Wed: 12 – 7; Thurs – Sat: 12 – 8
Indoor/Outdoor Seating?: Both
Beer to Try: I have previously noted that I am a fan of their Contee Kolsch and their 35 session IPA when writing about their Industrial Way location in Portland. Obviously, both of those selections would be good choices here. But, if you want something with a little bit more body and uniqueness, I would recommend going with one of their milkshake IPAs if they are on tap. The milkshake IPAs that I have had from Definitive are some of the best that I have had period. They are both smooth and balanced and not overly sweet.
SoMe Brewing Company
Website: http://www.somebrewingco.com/
Location: 1 York Street, Unit 3, York, Maine 03909
Hours: Sun – Thurs: 12 – 8; Fri – Sat: 12 – 9
Indoor/Outdoor Seating?: Both
Beer to Try: When my wife and I first started to come up to Maine on ‘beer-cations’ SoMe was one of the first places that we went to. One of their regular offerings is one of my go-to’s, Whoopie Pie Stout. It is consistently smooth and what you would expect when you order a stout. Another one of their beers that is very interesting is their Crystal Persuasion. It is a double Pale Ale, not an IPA. It’s fairly complex and higher in ABV so I would recommend that the passenger, and not the driver, order this one.
York Beach Beer Company
Website: https://yorkbeachbeer.co/
Location: 33 Railway Drive, York, Maine 03909
Hours: Sun – Thurs: 12 -8; Fri – Sat: 12 – 9
Indoor/Outdoor Seating?: Both
Beer to Try: This brewery is in such a cool spot in York. It is right downtown next to the fire station and the York Zoo. You have to pay to park in the parking lot next to the brewery but the $2/hour fee is well worth it. The beer that I really enjoy here is Orange Mainesicle. It honestly tastes like a melted creamsicle. It’s a cream ale that is definitely sweet, but not overly so. It is incredibly crushable and perfect for the beach.
Odd by Nature Brewing
