The Casco Fiasco

Welcome to Portland, Maine, a working-waterfront city on Casco Bay. Our access to the ocean helps explain the diversity of our vibrant city, and our access to good, clean water from Sebago Lake helps explain the incredible taste of our beer. See what some of Portland’s best brewers are up to on this in-depth tour.

Friday Casco Fiasco

Our first stop is D.L. Geary Brewing Company. Maine’s oldest brewery resides in Riverside Industrial Park, surrounded by younger players. Geary’s recently opened a tasting room to accommodate visitors to the decades-old facility. See inside the space that kicked off Maine’s modern brewing revolution with the release of Geary’s Pale Ale in 1986. Owner David Geary (for which D.L. Geary Brewing Company is named) even pokes his head in sometimes to say hello as guests sample the British-style beers that helped revive America’s waning beer industry.

Onto Bissell Brothers Brewing. It is one of Riverside Industrial Park’s hottest up-and-comers, with graffiti on the walls and free pinball in the lounge. Peter and Noah Bissell, the eponymous Brothers, made a splash in late 2013 when they released their first full-production offering: The Substance Ale. Mainers and visitors alike have been clamoring for more of this hop-forward American pale ale, and the brothers struggle to meet demand for this and their other popular offerings.

Next we’ll hop on the bus and head to lunch at Sebago Downtown, the newest of Sebago Brewing Company’s four Maine pubs. Founded in 1998 as a true brewpub, Sebago now has a separate production brewery that supplies its restaurants as well as other accounts throughout New England. With a mix of classic beer styles and more recent innovations, Sebago offers something for everyone, making good use of the water from its namesake Sebago Lake. A full lunch of your choice is served with samples of delicious beer right from the tap.

A dynamic brewery with a true farmhouse operation in Newcastle, our last stop is Oxbow Brewing Co. which recently opened a second tasting room and warehouse facility to better serve the Portland community. The hip space is bursting with graffiti by local artists and jammed with oak barrels to grow the company’s internationally-recognized wild beer program. This gives fans unprecedented access to a wide range of Oxbow’s hoppy saisons and funky experiments.

Saturday Casco Fiasco
Our first stop is Foundation Brewing Co. They have been making a splash in the Maine brewing scene since opening in 2014. Founded by avid homebrewers Joel Mahaffey and John Bonney. They produce world class beers, while paying homage to the classics, but bringing something new exciting.

A dynamic brewery with a true farmhouse operation in Newcastle, Oxbow Brewing Co. recently opened a second tasting room and warehouse facility to better serve the Portland community. The hip space is bursting with graffiti by local artists and jammed with oak barrels to grow the company’s internationally-recognized wild beer program. This gives fans unprecedented access to a wide range of Oxbow’s hoppy saisons and funky experiments.

Next we’ll hop on the bus and head to lunch at Sebago Downtown, the newest of Sebago Brewing Company’s four Maine pubs. Founded in 1998 as a true brewpub, Sebago now has a separate production brewery that supplies its restaurants as well as other accounts throughout New England. With a mix of classic beer styles and more recent innovations, Sebago offers something for everyone, making good use of the water from its namesake Sebago Lake. A full lunch of your choice is served with samples of delicious beer right from the tap.

Our last beer-based stop, run by a husband and wife, is Rising Tide Brewing Co. The name, taken from the famous quote “A rising tide lifts all boats,” encapsulates the collaborative spirit of the craft beer industry, and the loyal following of locals speaks to the young company’s community engagement as well as to the quality of its beer. We’ll thread our way through the thirsty crowd and retrieve samples for you to enjoy while you learn about the largest brewery in Portland’s booming yEast Bayside neighborhood.

Once we’ve finished the Casco Fiasco tour, we’ll drop you back off at The Craft Beer Cellar, where you can purchase some beer for later and is an excellent location to continue your exploration of lively downtown Portland.

Please note that tour venues and details may change without notice due to unforeseen circumstances.

Friday and Saturdays, 10:30am-3:00pm**
Please arrive by 10:15am to ensure a timely departure.

Pick-Up & Drop-Off Location
The Craft Beer Cellar, 111 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101

Food
Full Lunch – Choose at Check Out

Schedule

Friday – Geary’s Brewing // Bissell Brothers Brewing // Sebago Brew Pub // Oxbow Brewing & Bottling

Saturday – Foundation Brewing Co. // Rising Tide Brewing // Sebago Brew Pub // Oxbow Brewing & Bottling