Maine’s 10 Oldest Craft Breweries That Are Still Active

Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions or personal experiences.

Maine Craft Beer Industry

Maine's craft beer industry is an absolute giant.

As of this publishing, there are over 100 breweries in the state. In 2019, Maine had the second-highest brewery per capita number (9.6) in the country.

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

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.

Maine Craft Beer Economic Impact

WGME reported that, in 2019, Maine's economic impact from the craft beer industry was over $650 million. And while COVID-19 has certainly created a negative impact, very few breweries have shuttered their doors.

However, it was not always this mainstream and successful. Heck, it was difficult to find craft beer anywhere just 20-25 years ago. There was a time when the craft beer industry still felt like a bunch of outlaws brewing beer in the garage.

Maine's Oldest Breweries

Every industry needs a start. The craft beer industry is still very young, less than 40 years old here in Maine. That pales in comparison to basically every other competing beverage. So, every industry needs absolute rock stars to blaze the path for the future.

Maine was lucky enough to have many of those rock stars. And a lot of those rock stars are still brewing beer to this day.

While many of the young and hip breweries get national attention, these rock stars were the ones who paved the way.

Here's a look at the 10 oldest craft breweries in Maine that are still currently active.