According to data collected by the Brewer’s Association in 2014, Maine’s beer industry has a total economic impact of $432 million, a figure that’s not far from the ski industry’s total economic impact in the state. In the Bangor region, three new breweries have opened in the past year alone, bringing the total number operating to nine.
For organizers of the inaugural Greater Bangor Beer Week, the numbers don’t lie — this is a perfect time to put together a week-long celebration of the beer scene in the Bangor region and in eastern Maine in general. Beer Week, set for Oct. 18 through 25, features all those local breweries plus many more from across the state in seven days of beer dinners, tap takeovers, collaborations and festivals.
“We really felt like the time was right to do a beer week. Portland has a beer week, but until this year, there wasn’t that critical mass of breweries here in Bangor to make it feasible,” said Lisa Sturgeon, communications and resource manager for Geaghan’s Brewing Co. in Brewer and one of the event’s organizers. “This is really a celebration of the brewing industry in the region, and all the things that go along with it.”
Before 2015, the breweries in the Bangor region included Sea Dog Brewing Co. in Bangor, Penobscot Bay Brewing in Winterport, Black Bear Brewery in Orono, Geaghan’s Brewing in Brewer, Friars’ Brewhouse in Orland and Square Tail Brewing in Amherst. Add to that list Orono Brewing Co. in Orono, Blank Canvas Brewery in Brewer and the brand-new Marsh Island Brewing in Orono, all of which opened in the last nine months, and you’ve got a real beer scene brewing.
Breweries operating outside Greater Bangor also are involved, including Strong Brewing Co. in Sedgwick and Atlantic Brewing Co. in Bar Harbor, and four southern Maine breweries, Banded Horn, Sebago, Bissell Brothers and Gneiss.
“The Greater Bangor Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is also involved in making this week happen, so we wanted to expand the footprint to include all of eastern Maine,” said Sturgeon.
There are lots of tap takeovers planned for restaurants and bars including Blaze, Nocturnem Draft Haus and Geaghan’s Pub, all in Bangor, and Woodman’s and Black Bear Brewery in Orono. Further afield, a number of bars and restaurants on Mount Desert Island will feature Bangor beers on Saturday in an islandwide tap takeover. There will be a few brand-new brews unveiled during the week, including Orono Brewing’s Ozone^2 DIPA release on Thursday, Oct. 22, and a special collaboration beer between Black Bear Brewery and Strong Brewing to be released at Blaze, also on Thursday.
There are three multicourse fixed-price beer dinners planned, including a Geaghan’s dinner at Geaghan’s Pub at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, a Strong Brewing dinner at Blaze on Oct. 21, a Geaghan’s dinner at Seasons Restaurant in Bangor on Oct. 22, and a Penobscot Bay Brewery dinner at Pairings in Winterport on Oct. 24.
“It’s important to note that the beer industry has an impact well beyond just the breweries themselves,” said Sturgeon. “Local businesses reap the benefits as well, from restaurants that sell the beer, to farms that provide grain for brewing.”
A few breweries will offer musical and other activities through the week, including blues at Blank Canvas in Brewer on Oct. 18, a charity cornhole tournament on Oct. 18 at Square Tail, brewery tours at Orono Brewing on Oct. 19, and a daylong pumpkin festival, including a pumpkin pie contest, children’s activities, music from Chris Ross & the North, cornhole, horseshoes and cribbage tournaments, on Oct. 24, also at Square Tail.
Finally, in the interest of safety, the Growler Bus, a local business that offers tours of Maine breweries on a custom-designed 25-passenger bus, will offer $5 shuttle rides to Beer Week events in the area between Tuesday and Thursday. Call 307-6666 to reserve a spot.
Schedule of events for Greater Bangor Beer Week
Sunday, Oct. 18
Noon-2 p.m.: Beer, Brats and Blues at Blank Canvas
2-6 p.m.: Play the Brewers Charity Cornhole Tournament at Square Tail Brewing in Amherst
Monday, Oct. 19
4-9 p.m.: Brewery tour night with Asa at Orono Brewing
6 p.m.: Geaghan’s Beer Dinner at Geaghan’s Pub in Bangor
All night: Local Flight Nite: Sample all the local brewers, 4 ounces at a time, Nocturnem Draft Haus in Bangor
Tuesday, Oct. 20
4 p.m.-1 a.m.: LocALES Unite Tap Takeover! Orono Brewing welcomes Marsh Island, Gneiss and Atlantic Brewing to take over the taps at Woodman’s in Orono
5 p.m.: Sebago Tap Event with Geaghan Brothers at Geaghan’s Pub
Local brews and $2 tacos (three tacos and a pint for $10) at Nocturnem Draft Haus
Wednesday, Oct. 21
5 p.m.: Gneiss and Banded Horn tap takeover at Nocturnem Draft Haus, plus wings and beer meal deals
5-8 p.m.: Bangor Wine & Cheese Co. “Message in the Bottle” beer, cheese and chocolate pairing event
6 p.m.: Five-course Strong Beer Dinner at Blaze, featuring special guest chef Kristyn LaPlante; tickets $60 per person, available at Blaze
7 p.m.: Ladies Night at Geaghan’s Brewing in Brewer with Maine Girls Pint Out
Thursday, Oct. 22
5:30-9 p.m.: Murder Mystery Geaghan’s Brewing Beer Dinner at Seasons Restaurant; tickets $50 per person
3 p.m.-midnight: Ozone^2 DIPA Release Party at Orono Brewing
4-10 p.m. Black Bear and Strong Brewing collaboration unveiling at Blaze Restaurant
Friday, Oct. 23
5:30-9:30 p.m.: Local Growler Bus Run, featuring Geaghan’s, Orono Brewing, Black Bear and Square Tail; $5 per shuttle ride.
5 p.m.: Geaghan’s and Orono Brewing IPA collaboration event at Nocturnem
4 p.m.-close: Bissell Brothers tap takeover at Blaze
4 p.m. close: Square Tail tap takeover at Black Bear Brewery
Saturday, Oct. 24
Noon-6 p.m.: Square Tail’s My Pumpkin Is Bigger Than Your Pumpkin Festival featuring cribbage, cornhole, horseshoes, pumpkin pie contest, children’s games and music from Chris Ross & the North
11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Lazy Saturday at Atlantic Brewing in Bar Harbor, featuring grilled meats, a wood stove and special beers
11:30-3 p.m. and 2:30-6 p.m.: Growler Bus Square Tail Pumpkin Festival transport; $5 per ride
6:30 p.m.: Oktoberfeasting Beer Dinner at Pairings at Penobscot Bay Brewery in Winterport
6:30 p.m.: Pizza & Pints at Strong Brewing in Sedgwick
3 p.m.-12:30 a.m.: Let’s Kick the Kegs event at Nocturnem
All day: Greater Bangor Island Tap Takeover, bars and restaurants in Bar Harbor
Sunday, Oct. 25
3-7 p.m.: Wrap Party and Tap Takeover at Geaghan’s Pub
