Boothbay’s breweries reflect the peninsula’s intense support of local businesses. Made with Adams Pond water, local grains and talented brewers, the beers are deeply imbued with a sense of place.

Names like Southporter, Route 27, 633 Boothbay Pale, Ovens Mouth and Shrimp Run remind patrons the craft beers are not just brewed locally, but also flavored locally, delivering a taste of community sip after sip. “If picturesque harbor and quaint shops had a flavor, it would be Fisherman’s Thumb (a pilsner malt-based New England IPA by Footbridge Brewery),” said Robert Joneth, beer patron. Tuna Time, brewed by Boothbay Craft Brewery and piloted at Whale’s Tale, is the official beer of the annual Boothbay Harbor Tuna Challenge fishing competition held late summer.

Laura Murphy and Dan Pangburn, co-owners of Footbridge Brewery, state over 95% of their ingredients are local, collaborating with farmers who grow specifically for Footbridge. “Three or four beers will be 100% Maine sourced,” said Pangburn. They focus on sustainable solutions as well. Their brewing process uses solar power, spent grains become silage, dog treats, and bread, and their unique equipment allows them to use only two gallons of water for every one gallon of beer produced. The industry standard is eight gallons of water for every one gallon of beer.

“We measure in swimming pools how much water we conserve,” said Pangburn. “And by using locally produced ingredients we didn’t have any shortages during COVID.”

“80% of our beers use Maine ingredients,” said Boothbay Craft Brewery co-owner Win Mitchell. “And we also buy hops from the Pacific Northwest, a lot in Oregon and Washington,” added son Riley Mitchell. “Some German beers specifically, we’ll import ingredients,” said Win.

Footbridge offers 18-20 beers at any given time, by flights, bottles and full pours. Boothbay Craft Brewery offers eight core favorites continually, and rotates another six beers seasonally, producing over 2,000 barrels annually distributed state-wide through Pine State Beverage.

Russell, a Doppelbock of infused German-inspired lager with local SweetWood Farms maple syrup, is a brew that was made in collaboration and in celebration of local grocers Cathy and Russell Pinkham’s tireless effort. “Ralph Smith at McSeagull’s was the first to pour our beer other than us,” Win reminisced. The Ken Brown Ale pays homage to the late Ken Brown, restaurateur, wholesale fisher, and hotelier whose impact was ever large in our region. “We don’t just promote ourselves, we promote an entire community,” said Lori Mitchell, wife and co-owner.

Murphy started as an employee of Footbridge when it opened in 2019. Her curiosity led to learning the brewing process and recently she became a co-owner along with Pangburn and Nick Ullo. Murphy is a member of the Pink Boots Society, a member-based nonprofit that supports women and nonbinary people in the fermented/alcohol beverage industry advance their careers through education and scholarship. “Women are making their mark in the industry,” she said. “Everyone’s happy. It’s a great industry. Not cutthroat, everyone wants everyone else to succeed.”

“That’s true,” said Pangburn. “If someone describes a beer they want, and I know Boothbay Craft Brewery has a brew like it, I don’t hesitate to send them down the road.”

As with many good things, the two eventual breweries each started in a garage. Win began brewing beer in his garage on Southport Island in the early 2000s before buying the 1820s homestead where Boothbay Craft Brewery sits. Beautiful design elements of the old home are still visible in the tasting room. Wood beams brought in during expansions were donated from other breweries. Inside the tasting room are beams with carved logos from Dogfish Head, Allagash and Smuttynose Breweries, and one from St. Columba’s Church. Expansions over the years have led to a beer-positive destination, with 16 RV camp sites, the brewery, tavern, beer garden, Sawmill BBQ and plenty of outdoor seating.

Pangburn began brewing beer out of his garage in East Boothbay, working locally in IT. One day he sat on the patio of his office in the harbor, during Windjammer Days and thought “this would make an excellent brewery.” Years later, that space is now Footbridge Brewery. This year it is growing 76 seats, taking over a neighboring location that was Shannon’s Unshelled, for Bridge House BBQ. Pangburn proudly displays at Footbridge his grandfather’s (bootlegger during Prohibition, legitimate purveyor of spirits after) 1946 liquor license at Footbridge.

These breweries’ welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere makes them an ideal place to unwind, spend time with loved ones, and eavesdrop on debates spurred among friends over which beer is the best.