Whether you're cheering on your favorite team or simply looking for a fun place to spend the afternoon, here are ten reasons the Shipyard Tasting Room should be your game-day destination.

1. Fresh Shipyard Beer, Poured Right Where It's Made

Nothing beats watching the game with a fresh pint of Shipyard beer in hand. From fan favorites to seasonal releases and limited-edition brews, there's always something on tap to match your taste.

2. Handcrafted Pizza That Steals the Show

Great beer deserves great food. Our handcrafted pizzas are made with fresh ingredients and baked to perfection, making them the ideal companion for kickoff, halftime, or overtime.

3. A Big-Screen Viewing Experience

Forget squinting at a small TV from your couch. At the Shipyard Tasting Room, you'll enjoy the action on big screens with great sightlines, so you won't miss a single play.

4. The Energy of Fellow Fans

Every cheer feels louder when you're surrounded by people who love the game as much as you do. Celebrate every goal, touchdown, and game-winning moment alongside fellow fans in a lively brewery atmosphere.

5. Beer Flights for Every Fan

Can't choose just one? Sample a variety of Shipyard brews with a tasting flight before settling on your favorite pint. It's the perfect way to discover something new while enjoying the game.

6. Skip the Hassle of Hosting

No grocery shopping. No cooking. No cleaning up after the final whistle. Just grab a seat, order a beer and pizza, and let us handle the rest.

7. Plenty of Space for Friends

Whether it's a group of coworkers, your fantasy league, or a gathering of family and friends, the Shipyard Tasting Room is built for sharing great beer and unforgettable moments together.

8. Seasonal Brews All Year Long

Every season brings something new to the taps. Whether you're enjoying a crisp summer ale, a bold winter stout, or the return of Pumpkinhead in the fall, game day is always better with a fresh seasonal pour.

9. A True Brewery Experience

Unlike a typical sports bar, the Shipyard Tasting Room lets you experience the heart of one of Maine's most iconic craft breweries. It's the perfect combination of fresh beer, delicious food, and brewery atmosphere.

10. Every Game Becomes an Occasion

From football and hockey to soccer, basketball, and championship matchups, every game feels like a celebration when you're surrounded by great beer, great food, and great company.

Make the Shipyard Tasting Room Your Game-Day Headquarters

The best game-day traditions aren't made at home—they're made with friends over fresh beer, hot pizza, and unforgettable moments. Whether you're stopping in for one pint or staying through the final whistle, the Shipyard Tasting Room is the perfect place to cheer on your team.

So gather your crew, grab your favorite Shipyard brew, order a handcrafted pizza, and experience why game day is always better at the Shipyard Tasting Room. We'll save you a seat.

The post 10 Reasons the Shipyard Tasting Room Is the Best Place to Watch the Big Game first appeared on Shipyard Brewing Company.

Start with a Flight

Can't decide on just one beer? Start your visit with a tasting flight. It's the perfect way to sample a variety of Shipyard favorites alongside seasonal and limited-release brews. From crisp lagers and hop-forward IPAs to rich stouts and the iconic Pumpkinhead (when it's in season), there's always something new to discover.

Our knowledgeable team is happy to recommend beers based on your taste, whether you're a longtime craft beer enthusiast or just beginning your beer journey.

Pair It with Fresh, Handcrafted Pizza

No brewery visit is complete without something delicious to eat. Our kitchen serves handcrafted pizzas made with fresh ingredients and baked to perfection. Whether you're craving a classic pepperoni, a veggie-packed favorite, or something a little more adventurous, there's a pizza to satisfy every appetite.

Not sure what to order? Ask our staff for a beer pairing recommendation. The right combination can bring out new flavors in both your beer and your pizza.

Relax, Stay Awhile

The Shipyard Tasting Room was designed to be a place where people can slow down and enjoy themselves. Meet friends after work, catch up with family over lunch, or simply pull up a seat and enjoy a fresh pint.

Depending on the season, you can soak up the sunshine outdoors or settle into the welcoming atmosphere inside with a cold beer in hand.

Catch Live Entertainment and Special Events

There's always something happening at the tasting room. From live music and trivia nights to beer releases, game-day watch parties, and seasonal celebrations, every visit offers a chance to experience something different.

Be sure to check our event calendar before you stop by—you might discover your new favorite local tradition.

Bring Friends—or Make New Ones

One of the best things about the Shipyard Tasting Room is the community. Whether you're meeting coworkers for happy hour, gathering with family, or introducing out-of-town guests to Maine craft beer, it's a place where everyone feels welcome.

Good beer has a way of bringing people together, and we're proud to be part of so many memorable afternoons.

Make the Shipyard Tasting Room Part of Your Portland Tradition

Some afternoons are meant to be simple: great beer, incredible pizza, and good conversation. Whether you're stopping in for one pint or spending the afternoon with friends, the Shipyard Tasting Room offers the perfect place to relax, explore new brews, and enjoy everything that makes Maine's craft beer scene so special.

Next time you're looking for the perfect afternoon in Portland, pull up a chair, order a flight, grab a pizza, and see why so many locals call the Shipyard Tasting Room one of their favorite gathering spots. We can't wait to welcome you.

The post A Local's Guide to Spending the Perfect Afternoon at the Shipyard Tasting Room first appeared on Shipyard Brewing Company.

Portland’s food culture rewards creativity. Chefs here tend to embrace local ingredients—seafood, seasonal vegetables, and artisanal cheeses—and apply them across cuisines. Pizza is no exception.

Walk through downtown or the Old Port and you’ll find everything from classic New York–style slices to Neapolitan pies blistered in wood-fired ovens. Spots like Slab Sicilian Street Food serve thick, airy Sicilian squares, while Flatbread Company focuses on organic, wood-fired pizzas with a rustic edge. Meanwhile, OTTO Pizza has built a following for inventive toppings—think mashed potato or butternut squash.

What ties these places together isn’t just quality—it’s a shared sense that pizza should be both comforting and creative. And that philosophy pairs naturally with craft beer.

Shipyard Brewing Company: The Perfect Anchor

Portland’s pizza scene doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s deeply intertwined with the city’s brewing culture, and Shipyard Brewing Company plays a central role in that relationship.

Founded in 1994, Shipyard helped establish Portland as a serious craft beer destination. Its beers—often balanced, approachable, and rooted in English brewing traditions—make ideal companions for pizza. Where some modern craft beers lean aggressively hoppy or experimental, Shipyard’s lineup tends to complement food rather than overpower it.

This balance is key. A malty amber ale can enhance the richness of cheese, while a crisp pale ale cuts through oily, savory toppings. Shipyard’s versatility has made it a go-to pairing across Portland’s pizza landscape.

The Art of Pairing Pizza and Beer

Pairing pizza with beer might sound simple, but Portland’s chefs and brewers treat it with nuance. Shipyard’s beers often act as a bridge between tradition and experimentation—much like the city’s pizzas themselves.

• Classic cheese or margherita pairs well with a clean, slightly bitter ale, letting the tomato and mozzarella shine.
• Meat-heavy pies benefit from malt-forward beers that mirror their richness.
• Vegetable-forward or gourmet pizzas—like those topped with roasted squash or arugula—work beautifully with lighter, refreshing brews.

Shipyard’s seasonal releases also play a role. Their famous pumpkin ale, for example, becomes a natural partner for fall-inspired pizzas featuring sage, sausage, or roasted vegetables.

Pizza, Pints, and Place

Part of what makes Portland special is how close everything feels. You can grab a slice in the Arts District, walk toward the waterfront, and end up with a pint of Shipyard overlooking Casco Bay—all within a single afternoon.

That physical proximity has shaped the culture. Breweries and restaurants don’t just coexist; they reinforce each other. Pizza menus are often designed with local beers in mind, and beer drinkers are just as likely to be food enthusiasts.

Shipyard, with its longstanding presence and broad appeal, acts as a common thread. It’s a place both newcomers and longtime locals recognize—a kind of culinary anchor in a city that’s constantly evolving.

Pizza in Portland, Maine, is more than just a meal—it’s part of a broader culinary ecosystem where craft beer plays a central role. And at the heart of that system is Shipyard Brewing Company.

Whether you’re biting into a wood-fired crust or a thick Sicilian square, chances are there’s a Shipyard beer nearby that makes the experience just a little better. In a city defined by flavor and craftsmanship, that kind of harmony is exactly what keeps people coming back.

The post A City Where Pizza Thrives first appeared on Shipyard Brewing Company.

Shipyard Brewing Company: The Anchor of the Scene

Founded in 1994, Shipyard Brewing Company stands as one of Maine’s original craft breweries and a cornerstone of Portland’s beer identity.
Its story begins not in Portland, but in nearby Kennebunkport, where entrepreneur Fred Forsley and British brewer Alan Pugsley opened a brewpub in 1992. Demand quickly outgrew that small operation, leading to the establishment of Shipyard in Portland just two years later.
From the beginning, Shipyard blended Old World brewing traditions with American craft experimentation. Pugsley’s influence—rooted in English brewing techniques—gave Shipyard’s early beers a distinctive malt-forward profile, setting them apart in a market increasingly dominated by hop-heavy styles.
Over time, Shipyard grew into one of the largest breweries in Maine and a recognizable name across New England.

More Than a Brewery: A Cultural Catalyst

Shipyard’s importance goes beyond production numbers. It helped lay the groundwork for Portland’s modern beer culture—both economically and culturally.
Located near Casco Bay, the brewery occupies a renovated industrial space that reflects the city’s broader transformation from working waterfront to creative hub. Its tasting room, with rotating seasonal beers and a welcoming atmosphere, functions as both a tourist destination and a local gathering place.
Crucially, Shipyard demonstrated that a brewery in Maine could scale while maintaining a strong identity. Its success helped legitimize Portland as a serious brewing city, encouraging a new generation of brewers to set up shop nearby.

Signature Beers and Lasting Influence

Among Shipyard’s many offerings, Pumpkinhead stands out as a cultural phenomenon. Introduced in the late 1990s, the seasonal wheat beer became a fall staple across the Northeast, accounting for a significant portion of the brewery’s production despite its limited release window.
But Shipyard’s broader influence lies in its versatility. From traditional English-style ales to experimental small-batch brews, the brewery has consistently balanced heritage with innovation—a blueprint many Portland breweries still follow.

Tradition Meets Innovation

What makes Portland special is the coexistence of legacy and experimentation. At one end, you have Shipyard Brewing Company, representing continuity, scale, and history. At the other, a rotating cast of newer breweries constantly redefining what craft beer can be.
Rather than competing, these layers complement each other. Visitors might start at Shipyard to understand the roots of Maine brewing, then venture into smaller taprooms to taste its future.

Conclusion: Why Shipyard Still Matters

In a city now overflowing with choice, it’s easy to overlook the pioneers. But Portland’s craft beer reputation didn’t emerge from nowhere—it was built, in part, by breweries willing to take early risks and grow with the industry.
Shipyard Brewing Company is one of those breweries. It helped turn Portland into a beer destination, shaped the local palate, and proved that Maine could produce craft beer with national reach.
Today, whether you’re sipping a classic ale or chasing the latest hazy IPA, you’re participating in a culture that Shipyard helped create—one pint at a time.

The post The Rise of a Beer City by the Sea first appeared on Shipyard Brewing Company.

What Makes Pumpkinhead Ale the Best Beer for Fall?

1. Perfectly Balanced Flavor Profile

Shipyard’s Pumpkinhead Ale isn’t your typical heavy, syrupy pumpkin brew. It’s a light-bodied, crisp ale with a subtle amber hue. What sets it apart is its carefully blended spice mix — cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove — which evokes memories of pumpkin pie without overwhelming the palate. It's a beer that invites another sip, rather than exhausting your taste buds after a few.

2. Sessionable Yet Flavorful

Clocking in at around 4.5% ABV, Pumpkinhead is light enough for session drinking during football games, bonfires, or leaf-peeping picnics. Yet, it doesn’t sacrifice flavor for drinkability — a rare balance that makes it a versatile favorite, whether you’re a craft beer aficionado or someone simply looking for a festive fall beverage.

3. Seasonal Nostalgia in a Glass

There's a reason Pumpkinhead fans await its release with near-religious anticipation each year. Its aroma alone — warm spices layered over malty sweetness — can instantly transport you to a New England orchard or a cozy cabin. In a market flooded with overly sweet or aggressively spiced pumpkin brews, Shipyard’s version is a refined, nostalgic experience.

4. Iconic Branding and Community Connection

Let’s be honest: part of the magic is the vibe. The bottle’s signature label — a headless horseman holding a pumpkin — is iconic in fall craft beer circles. Shipyard, a Maine-based brewery, has cultivated a loyal following not just in New England but nationwide, and Pumpkinhead’s annual release has become something of a seasonal ritual.

The Best Foods to Pair with Pumpkinhead Ale

Pumpkinhead’s mild maltiness and spiced backbone make it surprisingly versatile with food. Whether you’re hosting a harvest dinner or just looking to elevate a weeknight meal, here are some excellent pairing ideas:

🍗 Roast Chicken or Turkey with Herbs

The warm spices in Pumpkinhead complement the earthy herbs (like rosemary and thyme) used in roasted poultry. Add some garlic mashed potatoes and you’ve got a comforting fall dinner.

🧀 Sharp Cheddar or Brie

Pumpkinhead’s crisp carbonation cuts through creamy cheeses like Brie, while the spice notes enhance the tang of a sharp Vermont cheddar. Create a fall-themed cheese board and include dried cranberries, nuts, and apple slices.

🌭 Spicy Sausages or Bratwurst

If you're tailgating or grilling, Pumpkinhead goes great with spicy, grilled sausages. The beer's spice profile plays well with the meat’s smokiness, and its effervescence refreshes the palate between bites.

🥧 Pumpkin Pie (or Apple Crisp)

This might sound redundant, but trust it — Pumpkinhead and pumpkin pie amplify each other in the best way. The beer’s cinnamon and nutmeg mirror those in the dessert, while its carbonation balances the sweetness. Not a pumpkin fan? Apple crisp is just as complementary.

🥨 Soft Pretzels with Mustard or Beer Cheese

The malty base of the beer pairs beautifully with the salty, bready flavor of soft pretzels. Add some spicy mustard or a cheese dip, and you've got a perfect fall snack pairing.

Bonus Tip: Try It with a Cinnamon Sugar Rim

Many bars and fans serve Pumpkinhead in a pint glass with a cinnamon-sugar rim, sometimes garnished with an orange slice. While purists may skip this, it’s a fun way to turn a beer into a seasonal experience — especially for newcomers to craft beer.

Shop the Cinnamon Sugar Rimmer

The post Why Pumpkinhead Ale Is the Ultimate Fall Beer — And What to Eat With It first appeared on Shipyard Brewing Company.

🦞 Midday Munch: Portland Lobster Company

A short walk from Dewey’s, the Portland Lobster Company offers a quintessential Maine experience. Situated on the waterfront, this spot serves up fresh lobster rolls, steamers, and chowder, all with a view of the harbor. It’s the perfect place to savor local seafood while soaking in the maritime ambiance.

🍺 Afternoon Sip: The Porthole

Continue your crawl to The Porthole, located on Custom House Wharf. This waterfront bar and restaurant is known for its lively atmosphere, live music, and extensive seafood menu. Enjoy a cold pint and perhaps a lobster roll while watching the boats go by. The Porthole embodies the essence of Portland's working waterfront and is a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

🍺 Evening Brew: Shipyard Brewing Company

Next, head to Shipyard Brewing Company, located at 27 Hancock Street. As one of Maine's most renowned breweries, Shipyard offers a rotating selection of 20 beers on tap, including seasonal and pilot brews. Their tasting room provides a cozy atmosphere to sample flagship favorites like Export Ale and the popular Pumpkinhead. Pair your pint with a slice from their delicious food menu, featuring pizzas and snacks.

🚤 Sunset Escape: Ferry to Peaks Island

After enjoying Shipyard Brewing Company, take a leisurely ferry ride to Peaks Island. The ferry ride offers scenic views of Casco Bay and is a relaxing way to transition from the city's hustle to island tranquility. The Inn on Peaks Island is a short walk from the ferry terminal and offers a charming setting for dinner

🍽️ Dinner Finale: The Inn on Peaks Island

Conclude your day with a delightful dinner at The Inn on Peaks Island. This island retreat offers a menu featuring fresh Maine seafood, crisp salads, and creative pub fare with a flair. Enjoy your meal while taking in views of Casco Bay. The Inn also serves Shipyard Brewing Company's Capt’n Eli’s Soda and seasonal cask-conditioned ale brewed on-site.

The post A Portland Grub & Pub Crawl first appeared on Shipyard Brewing Company.

1. It’s All About Balance

At its core, beer and pizza complement each other because they strike a flavor balance. Pizza is rich, cheesy, salty, and often oily—especially with meaty toppings. Beer, on the other hand, brings crispness, carbonation, and bitterness to the table. That combination cuts through the heaviness of the pizza and refreshes your palate so every bite tastes like the first one.

2. Carbonation Cleanses the Palate

That satisfying fizz in beer? It’s not just fun—it’s functional. The bubbles scrub your tongue clean of grease and fat, making the next bite of pizza taste just as fresh and flavorful. It’s basically nature’s palate cleanser... except better because it’s beer.

3. Yeast Meets Yeast

Here’s a nerdy fact: pizza dough and beer both rely on yeast. This shared ingredient gives them complementary flavors that just click. The malty notes in a nice amber ale can mirror the slightly sweet, toasty crust of a well-baked pizza. They’re like old friends catching up—effortless and familiar.

4. Contrast and Complement

Pairing is all about contrast and complement. A hoppy IPA adds a bitter edge that plays off the richness of sausage or pepperoni. A smooth wheat beer enhances the creaminess of mozzarella. A dark stout with roasted notes can even bring out the sweetness in a caramelized onion topping. It’s a flavor playground.

5. It’s Cultural Comfort Food

There’s a social side to it too. Beer and pizza are the MVPs of parties, tailgates, and post-hike hangouts. They’re unfussy, easy to share, and universally loved. They don’t require utensils, etiquette, or a special occasion—just an appetite and good company.

6. It’s Science-Backed Happiness

Both beer and pizza hit that umami note—aka the “fifth taste” that gives food a deep, savory satisfaction. That umami bomb (thanks to cheese, tomato sauce, and meat) meets the crisp, cold refreshment of beer, and your brain basically throws a party. Science wins.

A Love Story for the Ages

Beer and pizza go together like campfires and ghost stories, like Sundays and naps. It’s a combo rooted in flavor chemistry, culture, and pure joy. Whether you're craving a hoppy IPA with pepperoni or a smooth ale with a classic margherita, there's no better place to experience the magic than right at the source. Come into the Shipyard Tasting Room and enjoy freshly poured brews paired with hot, delicious pizza—because some things are just better together. 🍕🍺

The post Why Beer and Pizza Taste So Good Together (and Always Will) first appeared on Shipyard Brewing Company.

Beer, like our bodies and like the surface of the earth, is mostly water. Roughly 90% of a beer’s makeup is water, and any brewer will tell you that a quality H2O source is an essential starting point for brewing a good beer.

In Maine, we’ve got the best. We’ll get into that.

So, why is water so important to beer? Clean surface water gives brewers a trustworthy base to achieve pinpoint pH accuracy. That’s really important. Without pristine water, brewers wouldn’t be able to reach ideal sulfate-chloride ratios and cut out off-flavors that contaminated liquid can bring in (like chlorine).

Think of water as both the canvas and the paints on the palette. There simply is no masterpiece without it.

At Shipyard, we (and all of our other Portland-area brewery friends) are fortunate to draw our water source from Sebago Lake and the Sebago Lake Watershed. Sebago isn’t just a beautiful setting full of recreational opportunities like sailing, fishing, and swimming—it also has some of the highest quality water in North America. And we all benefit from it, both in our drinking water and in our pint glasses.

OK, so you may be asking: what’s a watershed, and what does it have to do with my pint of APA? Happy to help!

A watershed is a land area that collects rain and snowmelt and channels it to creeks, streams, and rivers. Those sources in turn funnel that water to an outflow point like a lake or ocean. In the case of the Sebago Lake Watershed, all of that water is carried through the surrounding natural landscape and dumped into, you guessed it, Sebago Lake. And it’s from there that Portland and the surrounding area draw its water for all kinds of uses, including drinking and brewing.

Not all watersheds are created equal. Fortunately for us here in Maine, the dense forests that surround Sebago act as a natural filter for the water that feeds into the lake, resulting in a water source that is free of minerals and contaminants. And Sebago Lake itself is massive, nearly 300 feet deep in some areas and covering 45 square miles, giving us huge amounts of pristine liquid to serve all of southern Maine.

So, the watershed feeds Sebago, and Sebago feeds us.

We’re lucky to have such a high-quality water source, not just for brewing, but for serving our communities. But luck alone won’t keep it that way. We’ve got to stay vigilant and protect our resources.

Maine brewers wanted to do just that in an official capacity. The Maine Brewshed Alliance is a coalition of local craft brewers and the Natural Resources Council of Maine collectively working to bring awareness to the need to protect our water resources. The Alliance is doing important work protecting Maine water for all the reasons it deserves protection, not the least of which are the spectacular beers we get to consume locally. Visit the MBA’s website for more details! We are honored to be a part of this group.

Next time you crack open a Shipyard American Pale Ale, and Allagash White, or a Maine Brewing Lunch, or any of southern Maine’s fantastic offerings, think of the water. Think of the water, and thank the water.

The post What’s the Most Essential Ingredient in Beer? first appeared on Shipyard Brewing Company.

Pack the swim trunks for your next trip to Vacationland. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite beaches in Maine for kicking back and relaxing with a few Shipyard brews in the cooler. Check out the list below. And don’t forget the lime wedges.

Old Orchard Beach Pier

Old Orchard Beach

As far as lively beaches go, Old Orchard Beach is the jewel of Southern Maine. Visit this classic getaway in the summer for seven miles of sandy beaches, an amusement park, delicious fair food, and a guaranteed good time. Walk the historic Old Orchard Beach Pier. Dip your toes in the surf. Grab a slice and ice cream for the kids, and when the sun sets, the nightlife comes alive. That’s where you’ll find the Shipyard. Nothing like a few crisp Summer Ales after an afternoon of sittin’ in the sand.

Scarborough Beach State Park

Scarborough Beach is but a hop skip and a jump south of Portland proper, but this strip of coastline can sometimes feel like the most serene beach in Maine. Gorgeous views and hovering seagulls welcome you to the warmest swimming water in the region; in July and August, water temperatures can reach the high 60s. Throw that towel down and stay awhile. Pairs well with an Export Ale.

Side note: just north of Scarborough Beach up the coast is Higgins Beach, also well worth a visit. When the tide is out, a famous shipwreck is visible embedded into the sand. Very cool.

Sand Beach, Acadia National Park

This Acadia National Park hideaway is famous for its beauty. No trip to Mt. Desert Island is complete without a quiet stroll down to this quaint strip of sand and broken seashells. Breathe the delightfully crisp and salty air in the shadows of Acadia’s famed granite mountains. Climb boulders, wade into the cold streams, hike the Great Head or Beehive Trail for a gorgeous view of the beach. It’s a postcard.

Ogunquit Beach

Ogunquit is a five-star coastal town on its own, and the easy access to the stunning Ogunquit Beach takes it over the top as a must-see Maine destination. A seemingly untouched white stretch of sandy beach is surrounded on three sides by water for a feeling of cutoff serenity. Perfect for the family, for splashing around in the surf, and for enjoying a beach read with a Shipyard ale. This is one of the best beaches in the United States - don’t miss it.

Popham Beach - Phippsburg, ME

Popham Beach State Park

Conveniently located about 15 minutes south of Bath, Popham Beach State Park is 500+ acres of gorgeous land with much to do. The Kennebec and Morse Rivers form the borders of a beautiful beach, where swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking fill the summer afternoons. Bring some sandwiches and some Shipyards and your day is sure to be well spent.

The post Beaches We Love first appeared on Shipyard Brewing Company.

Check out this (decidedly incomplete) list of some of our favorite hikes in our state. Try ‘em all, and earn those backpack beers.

Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail

One of the most famous and well-tracked hikes in the Eastern United States, the Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail will take you to the beginning of a new day. The first location in the continental United States to see the sunrise, Cadillac Mountain is an extremely popular destination with views that will take your breath away. Prepare for an early rise that’s completely worth it.

Cadillac Mountain trail, Bar Harbor, Maine

Mount Katahdin / The Knife’s Edge

Mount Katahdin, famously known as the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail and the highest point in the state of Maine, really lives up to the billing. It’s a difficult hike to the top, and an even greater challenge awaits after you summit: the Knife’s Edge. This infamous 1.1-mile strip of exposed rocky ridge is not merciful to even the most experienced of hikers, but the views make it more than worth the adventure. You deserve a cold beer after the Knife’s Edge.

Beehive Trail (Acadia)

Acadia National Park is chock full of amazing trails, and Beehive Trail is one of the most unique in the entire park. This strenuous jaunt features spectacular granite cliff faces with iron rungs for climbing up and up. Take in sweeping views of the rocky Maine coast and the famous Sand Beach below. Throw in a couple of Export Ales in your backpack for when you get to the summit. Trust us, you won’t regret it.

Robinson Woods Preserve (Cape Elizabeth)

The Robinson Woods Preserve rises above the Cape Elizabeth coast south of Portland and is a 145-acre expanse of wooded terrain full of adventures ready to be explored. There are fields and ponds, quiet woodlands, and wonderful walking and hiking trails abound everywhere you look. The Robinson Woods Preserve Loop or Outer Loop are recommended trails. Perfect for a day trip with the family, and beautiful Cape Elizabeth is nearby for a late lunch.

Pleasant Mountain

Located an hour’s drive from Portland, Pleasant Mountain is a beautiful hike featuring quintessential New England terrain – rocky trails through aromatic pine forests. Clamber up some steeper sections at the beginning of the trail before being rewarded with more mellow elevation gain and sublime panoramic views of the White Mountains and surrounding lakes. Breathe it all in at the top of Pleasant Mountain - it’s one of our favorites.

"The Hundred Mile Wilderness" section of the Appalachian Trail in Maine

100 Mile Wilderness

This wild expanse in central Maine is the last push for northbound Appalachian Trail thru-hikers on their way to Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin. Rugged, remote, and gorgeous, the 100 Mile Wilderness is famed for its toughness, but the rewards speak for themselves. Best visited between late June and August. This is the backcountry of New England. A cold Shipyard will be here when you get back, dusty and smiling.

The post Earn Those Backpack Beers first appeared on Shipyard Brewing Company.