4. Restaurants

Shipyard Brewery

86 Newbury St, Portland, ME, 04101
  • (207) 761-0807
  • Store is closed

Shipyard Brewery Menu

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  • Traci K.

    Free weekday "tours" at the top of each hour. Started with a ten minute video and a quick look into their bottling scene. All this info followed by a tasting of a good selection of their brews. Not sure if it's normal, but we sampled from bottles instead of draft. Beer in bottles taste good, but would have liked a frosty draft sample. (Maybe their draft was broken?) Not a bad way to spend an hour or so in Portland.

    (3)

  • Andrea M.

    Free beer was great. The "tour" aspect was lacking. Watching a promotional video should not quality as a tour. LAlso, our "tour guide" was obnoxious, potty- mouth, discourteous, and unprofessional. He was obviously more concerned with getting out the door than introducing himself, checking IDs, being knowledgable about the beer, or geography. He was patronizing towards the female attendants by assuming that they would only want fruity beer and that they couldn't stay off their phones. He did provide generous pours of the beers. Overall disappointing.

    (2)

  • Beck N.

    It was a rainy day so we stopped in here for the "tour." I was very disappointed that despite being a large brewery, they give no formal tours on the weekends... only a brief video. While it was cool to learn about the history of the beer, I felt like it was a bit too cold & impersonal for me. The taproom was pretty cool, though... & they offered up quite a few samples... though I feel the whole trip was rushed so that you could hurry up & buy products in their store. Can't beat the price, though... since it was free.

    (2)

  • Tim B.

    Can't get enough of their beer! I try it all and I'm never disappointed. The tour is well worth the time, the store is fun to browse and you definitely want to grab some beer that's made fresh and possibly unavailable in your area. I enjoy craft beer and in my view Shipyard is as good as it gets in terms of a quality, consistent product. It's fun to share and it's fun to hog to yourself! Definitely stop in if you're anywhere close, do the tour and browse the little store. Then load up a few handtrucks worth of your favorites from the tasting and anything else you have room for. I go several times a year if possible and load up on the brews I'm not going to find in CT. The Blueberry stout, the smashed pumpkin etc. Whatever they happen to have when I'm there. You go too and be sure to bring some back for me!

    (5)

  • Joe S.

    Good selection of brews and they let us taste without taking the tour. Much appreciated since I don't need to see how every beer is made, and we were short on time. Staff was nice and helpful in the retail store

    (3)

  • M S.

    While I do believe this is a five star tour, I am awarding all 5 Stars to our tour guide Ben who was absolutely terrific! My friend and I came in and did the tour a few months ago on a rainy afternoon and ended up being the only ones there so were treated to a really knowledgeable tour by Ben our guide. You couldn't ask for a nicer tour guide, not only did he indulge all of my beer snob questions but we ended up having a great conversation about our favorite t.v. shows (Seinfeld & Arrested Development) , books, Emerson College, and the fact that we were crazy for never having seen Alien. Worth the visit for the beer, worth coming back for the nice people who work there.

    (5)

  • John S.

    Sorry, Shipyard. I love Portland and all things Portland, but Shipyard really let me down. The tour, such as it was, consisted of a video and then a fairly obnoxious tour guide showing us the bottling line and then pouring out some samples. I didn't learn a lot about their beer, their process, or what makes them different than the other bold brewers of the New England. In the end, I just walked out with some root beer and a deep feeling of disappointment. Thankfully, Shipyard is just off Commercial Street, so I drowned my sorrows in lobster rolls soon after. I wouldn't explicitly tell people to avoid this tour, just be prepared for a somewhat weak experience that you can boost with trips to other breweries within the same day.

    (2)

  • Justin R.

    So....if you want to real deal Shipyard Brewery tour, plan your vacation to Portland around a Tuesday night. Because, Tuesday night is the only night they do the real tour. And make sure you secure a reservation well in advance. Unfortunately, we did not plan our trip to Portland around a Tuesday night. If you miss Tuesday night, you can show up pretty much any day between 11AM and 4PM and take a mini tour. The mini tour includes a 15 minute video, a look into the bottling line, and some free tastings. The girl that did the beer tasting with us was pretty knowledgeable about the beer, and they serve you a pretty decent amount if you're worried about not getting enough. They have a extensive gift shop with everything from t-shirts to cases of beer. If you are going to go, I would suggest going on the Tuesday night tour.

    (3)

  • Meridith H.

    The Good: Shipyard has a good setup; upon entering the building, you are in their retail store. While you wait for a tour to begin, you can browse their wares (including t-shirts & candles in pint glasses) and create a beer sampler for yourself. The tour is fine; if you've been on a brewery tour before you won't learn anything new here. The tasting is great, however. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and witty; she was having fun with the group while serving up a lot of varieties that I'd never seen in a store. As it turns out, I like a lot of Shipyard's brews, INCLUDING their Fuggles IPA (I'm normally not an IPA person). The Not so Good: There brewery is located in a residential area; not much else is around other than Eastern Cemetery.

    (4)

  • Adrianna G.

    Great place, helpful and friendly staff! The tasting was very generous, and we were able to sample a variety of beers of our choice

    (5)

  • Emily B.

    Our time here was AHHHH MAZING! Our tour guide was so awesome. we sampled 9 beers (caught a buzz off them) and the guide asked us what other beers we wanted, and popped open an Apple Head for us. I love all their beers The pumpkin ale was so bomb, all it needed was some whipped cream and you could've had pumpkin pie in your mouth. The smashed pumpkin was equally as delicious. Only thing that sucked was that they had 24 pack cases on sale for $9.99 when out here in SoCal its $8.99a 6 pack and they aren't allowed to ship it out to you. But otherwise I can't wait to go back. Today my pops said that this was the MOST fun and awesome brewery he's been too and he can't wait til we go back to Maine. My sister and I have taken him to at least 13 other breweries in SoCal, NorCal, and Arizona. If he says its bueno, its BUENO!

    (5)

  • Jwd F.

    Super friendly people. Great beer. Great swag. What more can you want?!

    (5)

  • AJ P.

    Large brewery with decent beer. It seems a little too commercial for my liking. They have a whole array of different brews, wish they had a restaurant connected to the place. They have a video tour pretty much hourly. They also having actual brewery tours every Tuesday. Great thing is that it's free and then you also get to do the beer tasting afterwards!

    (2)

  • Meredith G.

    Very commercialized brewery store but the tour was fun. We only did the video and tasting and our "guide" Bear (his real name) was great. I left tasting all 12 beers and he was nice enough to give me a little extra of the two I really loved. Didn't buy any to-go beer because I was visiting from out of town and couldn't take it home but went and ordered a Summer Ale at Duckfat immediately after! I recommend Old Thumper and the Bourbon barrel aged ale - one of my favorite bourbon barrel ales I've tried so far.

    (4)

  • Shannon C.

    AWESOME!! Shipyard makes some really good beer! Some of my favorites are the Monkey Fist IPA, the Blue Fin Stout, the Brown Ale, and the Smashed Blueberry. I have actually never met a blueberry beer that I liked until this one! In order to do the tasting, you have to take the "tour" which is offered every hour. I say "tour" because it involves a 6 minute video and then the tastings. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, but its not really a brewery tour so much as timed sampling. Our "tour" guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the beer, which made for a really great time and sampling. I will absolutely visit this brewery again and continue to drink their beer!

    (5)

  • Liana K.

    the tour is fairy short, the video is fairy lame, and the beer tasting is more than fairly awesome and the price can't be beat! The tour guide girl was awesome and funny as well.

    (4)

  • Helena B.

    The tour is... well... a waste of time. It starts with a dull video on random beer factoids. Now, I've toured a lot of breweries so I have a general understanding of the beer-making process, but even someone who'd never had beer before would be a little bored with this video. Our tour guide then led us to see part of the bottling line that wasn't running. Perhaps this was her first gig as a tour guide, and perhaps my family can be a little snide, but she definitely lacked any type of commanding presence. The only person actively listening to her was a guy would previously admitted his favorite beer on earth was Michelob Light. I think the rest of us were hanging on for the tasting. The tasting room was just that - a room where you taste beer. Although they'd taken the time to plaster the walls with Shipyard ephemera, there were no chairs or tables. The feeling was that you were here to down your samples and get on out to the gift shop - not linger and discuss the complexities of the various brews. We got to sample six beers, and in doing so, I found a couple I liked. This discovery was completely independent as our tour guide either didn't seem to know much about the beers or wasn't confident enough in her assessment to project her voice beyond the first row of visitors crowding around the bar. The gift shop is what you'd expect - slightly overpriced tchotchkes emblazoned with the Shipyard logo.

    (2)

  • Justin L.

    Been here twice. The first time was with a large group and then I couldn't sample the beer. Needles to say, not the best. The second time, I got in on the tasting only and it was four people. Same host, different results. She was rude the first time. With four people, she was very nice, informative and helpful. Beer was very good English style beer. Samples were flowing freely. Had about ten while I was there. The tour itself is very sub-par. A video tour and a look into the brewery floor. I would hope the Tuesday night tours are better. Try and skip the tour and just do the samples. Best of both worlds!!!

    (4)

  • Kristine A.

    I wish there were tours going on more often. At least we got to see a video & taste some samples. It was even better to be able to mix & match since I am a fan of the sodas they got going on there. I mean Blueberry, oh yeah, good stuff.

    (3)

  • Michelle M.

    Fun informative tasty tour. It was my first visit to Portland, and I was eager to sample lobster rolls and local brews. I stopped in at Shipyard just in time for a 11:00 tour. The actual tour doesn't involve much walking, but we were able to peer into the brewery and observe the bottling process. Bear, our tour guide was friendly and enthusiastic, clearly enjoys his work there. After the short tour we commenced tasting as Bear poured samples. They have a nice gift shop there staffed with friendly people and I bought some beer souvenirs to take home. Yep I'm a fan.

    (4)

  • Angelique T.

    Glad to say this was my very first brewery tour and loved it! This is the only Shipyard brewery around and they ship all the way to California. The creator Mr. Alen Pugsley has been apart of Starting and opening other brewerys throughout the U.S., two located in MI! The most familiar beer he helped create would be Magic Hat! Out of the samples my favorite was the original Shipwreck beer the Export. A golden ale with a hint of sweetness upfront, a subtle hop taste and a clean finish! Yum! The also have fabulous sodas made the old fashion way! Real cane sugar only. My Fave was the ginger beer. Its not canada dry for sure....It taste like real ginger because thats what they use and its nice and spicy! Captain Elis Root Beer was Awesome too! A traditional root beer with the essence of wintergreenoil, anise and vanilla! If ever in Portland check this place out! The tour and samples are free with an excallent friendly staff!

    (4)

  • Natalie M.

    I'm befuddled by all this, WEAK TOUR nonsense. Kids, the tour is free. You get a video, you get to walk a around a deliciously beer scented factory. Check out some bottling. Knaw on some hops. You know. Plus, I found the one formal tour I've done to be really informative. You know what else? I wanted to taste beer. And I did. I got to taste several, pick my favorite, and get a pint. I also got free pizza. FREE PIZZA AND BEER AND A SHORT INFORMATIVE TOUR. Why all the complaints and impersonal brewhaha? I'm not looking for a therapist. I'm looking for brews. And I got it. Also, you can just go in and provided the joint is not packed, you can just do a tasting. No tour required. The people there are awesome. The gift shop is fun. And it is generally just a good activity to take up an hour or two. I take all the buddies that visit me to Shipyard. Bottoms up.

    (4)

  • Malea X.

    we arrived too late for the tasting, so we only shopped. the people in this store are super friendly! we did get to taste the sodas, which was kind of fun. they have every imaginable shipyard/sea dog souvenir anyone could want and the prices aren't that bad. hubby got a mix & match 6 pack at a great price.

    (4)

  • Angela L.

    During our vacation we had been having Shipyard at pretty much every bar and loved it, then we learned the brewery was only 20 minutes from us so we had to visit. Upon entering we were invited to the tour, which is just a video about the history of the brewery, a viewing of the bottling/packaging area, and then a sampling. This is free and you don't have to make a reservation to go, just check the time for when they have them. I believe there is another tour you can take that you have to schedule but I'm not positive. Their Pumpkinhead beer is my favorite fall-seasonal, and I probably drive my local friends and retailers crazy asking when they'll get it in.

    (4)

  • Beth B.

    Great tour from Jess - she was awesome! It's not a long tour, but if you have questions during, she could either answer them on the spot or turn around and ask someone who was working on brewing less than 3 feet away from her! The tastings weren't huge, but we left the 10am tour with a bit of a buzz and then hopped the "party trolley" to a nearby bar to have lunch and get a "free" tasting glass (ie, it was free, but you paid $4 for the beer inside it.) Everyone should do this on a trip to Boston or take the fam for a visit when they are visiting. And if you can get Jess to be your guide, you KNOW it will be a good time!

    (5)

  • Sam F.

    First they made us watch a really cheese promotional DVD about Shipyard. I swear they were drunk when they made it. Next we got to see the bottling line. Just the bottling line, that's it. Wow, what a tour! Finally we had the free beer tasting. We tried 5 different shipyard beers, and they all sucked. Shipyard makes bad beer, so even though it was free, I couldn't enjoy it. The sad thing is, the brewer Pugsley has made a special bottled series including Smashed Pumpkin, Smashed Blueberry, etc. These are all good... but the brewery doesn't make enough of these, or better yet, hasn't replaced their normal beers with these beers. One star for the upbeat and funny tourguide, even though she didn't know a whole lot about beer.

    (1)

  • Erin J.

    If you want a real brewery tour do not go on the "tours" they offer every hour. The brewery does give you a quick 2oz tasting of about 5-6 of their beers. It's too bad we couldn't come through on a Tuesday for the full tour they offer.

    (2)

  • Kelly O.

    It's certainly not the best beer 'tour' I've ever been on (Heineken takes the cake, but Sam Adams is pretty sweet too IMO), but the guide was knowledgeable and the beer (we got to try everything they had on tap) was free, so all in all, I'm not complaining one bit.

    (3)

  • Freesia S.

    We walked about a mile from our hotel to Shipyard to find out the tour area was being renovated. We couldn't go into the brewery or go on the tour, but we stopped in the store since we made it that far. It was still a great experience. I've loved Shipyard beers since I could start drinking, so the store alone was fun for me. There was a bunch of Shipyard paraphernalia, and of course, a wide variety of Shipyard beers. I got four of their 22 oz. bottles of signature series beers, including a smashed pumpkin and smashed blueberry, for $24.95. While I can find standard six packs around Connecticut, I don't always see those special bottles, so it was nice to grab them while I was there. Even though we couldn't go on a tour or have a tasting, some of my friends were hearing about Applehead for the first time. One of the staff members opened up a cold bottle and let those who hadn't tried it before try some, which was very nice of him. Even without a tour, we left with a lot more Shipyard knowledge, and we had a lot of fun. I'm hoping to make it back to the area again to actually take a tour.

    (4)

  • Apolinaras S.

    I am sorry, but you Shipyard folks are cheap folks! "3 sample limit" = kiss my beer-lovin a$$. What a waste of time! You know why I always buy either Allagash or Harpoon at the restaurants and stores? They treat us beer folks like royalty. You want to try the $10 per bottle beer? Here ya go (just be an adult and don't drink and drive). Want to talk to the folks who brew your beer? Which beer you like? Let me find you a guy who brewed it. There is a reason you find a wine person to drive you to Shipyard or to Harpoon (I am in Boston), because you will sample so much different beer, you will need a designated driver. If you have not discovered your favorite beer, you will after you are done. Shipyard tours are like they don't want you to buy their beer! Here was our experience at Shipyard: Step 1. "Presentation" in a stuffy room... no presenter... just a freaking video on a cheap projector. Step 2. Tasting room - 5 beers to taste but a 3-sample limit. And those are your cheapest beers. Step 3. Buy our overpriced merchandise. Is that how you want to ignite passion in the hearts of customers? I spend $1K each month on food an beer for my company. You want to bet Shipyard is not a beer on our "to-buy" list?

    (1)

  • Jesse T.

    The tour was fine. I didn't think the film was like a commercial. It showed how they made the beer (8 days total from boil to bottling? Yikes! That seems like a short amount of time) and that they open-ferment, and make a "hop tea" out of their whole-flower hops (later, the tour guide explained that they do add pellet hops to the boil, but this wasn't explained in the movie). Just wandering around the store and asking the various employees about technical questions (I'm a homebrewer, shoot me), I was able to determine that they don't raise their temperatures at the end of fermentation, and that's why you read a lot of "buttery flavors" or "diacetyl" in their review. The Ringwood yeast is known for that. Anyway, they show you the video, they show you the bottling line, and then they give you some samples. On my tour, we got 4. I'll save the beer reviews for other avenues, but as far as quality goes, I didn't really care for their beers all that much. I was actually beginning to come around to British style beers again, but after tasting the Shipyard beers, I wanted to get as far away from the style as possible. The place has a lot of Shipyard merchandise. We got a six pack cooler and I got a bottle of the Double Thumper (this was before the tour/tasting) that I will age for a year or two to let it mellow.

    (3)

  • Brian P.

    Great place to get some merchandise celebrating your favorite beers. The tour was fun and informative. I really enjoyed the tasting although they were small cups...

    (4)

  • Tricia K.

    Ok, so it's a free tour and sampling, so I won't bash them, but Shipyard has a lot to learn from other brew tours. The "tour" starts out with a 15 minute video commercial, not very entertaining and since we are there in person, not really necessary. Pros - the tours are every hour, there is an in-person component too, and they give a great description of the beers prior to the tasting. You can walk here from the Old Port section of Portland. Cons - "video tour", they ration their tastings to three, but will begrudgingly give you a fourth, and the samples are small

    (3)

  • Gary R.

    I wanted so bad to love this beer because the labeling and decor is right up my alley. The beers are all drinkable, but just not exceptional.

    (2)

  • Dan M.

    I was just walking by when I went inside to take a look. The Shipyard folks offered a tour and I gladly accepted. I watched a short video, the brew-master walked me to the bottling floor and explained how the beer is made. Then we did some tasting. He continued to offer me samples of pretty much everything they had on tap. About 12 different kinds. Everyone was friendly and I had a great time.

    (5)

  • Dianna S.

    My boyfriend and I unexpectedly stumbled upon this place while walking around Portland. The gift shop is great. We purchased t-shirts and bottled beer. T-shirts were 3 for $33. Not bad! The tour was short but sweet! While waiting for the tour to start we sampled their root beer selections. Delicious! After the tour, their tasting was the best part! We sampled approximately 10 beers. The tour guide was friendly and funny. Our group was fun which made the tasting even more enjoyable! We tried Allagash brewery the same day. Their tour is more informational but my experience and tasting at shipyard was much better! Shipyard is also in walking distance to everything in old port, while Allagash was a 20 min cab ride.

    (5)

  • Bethany F.

    Went here with my boyfriend on a Saturday afternoon in April. Nice gift shop, it's fun and they have some cute things. The video was interesting. Brief and to the point but filled with interesting info about the company. We didn't get a tour with this tasting (dont think they offer that at this time of year). The guy who did the tasting clearly knew what he was talking about. He explained each beer nicely, and allowed us to stay a bit after everyone else because we wanted to try all of the styles they had on draft there. Compared to other brewery tastings/tours, this was not super exciting, but it got the job done (I got to sample beers I wouldn't have normally thought to order or buy, and see which ones I like). Plus, it's free, and free is for me.

    (4)

  • Adam X.

    Its places like this that remind me i HAVE to take photos when i'm visiting other towns. Love Maine, although this place is a little out there, and the economy is on an ebb... the best people I've met anywhere outside of SF. Maybe even better. Great beers, great food, great service.

    (4)

  • Donna A.

    Great beer, great customer service.

    (5)

  • Brian B.

    I stopped in on a weekday. As many of the previous reviews stated, the video is nothing special...much like the "tour" after the video. The beer sampling is ok. We sampled six beers there. The staff was cool - no complaints there. It was pretty cool to see a brewery in such a small, New England city like Portland. I've had Shipyard before (in Connecticut and NYC), but it was great to see the "mecca" of Shipyard. I love the nitro Blue Fin stout.

    (4)

  • Lena N.

    This is probably the most impersonal brewery tour that I have ever been on. The tour is free. It starts off with a video that describes the whole brewing process and then there's a very short tour of the facilities. Bottom line is that the tour itself is not very memorable. Well, that was all fine with me because my favorite part of a brewery tour is the tasting anyways and we definitely got to that quickly. Cut out the frills and give me some beer! Shipyard makes English style beers so it's a good tour to go on if you're into that. I personally enjoyed their beers and they gave a very good variety (6-7 beers) to taste.

    (3)

  • Andrew V.

    Great stop if you are interested in learning about beer a little more. Our tour guide was great, extremely friendly and knowledgeable in each of the different beers during the sampling. Stop in!

    (5)

  • Susie Q.

    The gift shop has the usual apparel with the Shipyard label on it but some interesting other gifts and cutesy items. I wish the tour was more interactive, and although the 10 minute video is kind of lame, it was informative. The guide was very knowledgeable and we sampled beer from the tap and some bottled beer, which was a nice touch. Overall, it's free, fun, and you can drink some good beer. I'd return again.

    (4)

  • Janelle M.

    It was worth a stop. The tour was short, but free. The samples were less than generous, but free. The store has a bunch of merchandise to keep you busy should you arrive early or the tour. Tours are every hour. Lots of parking outside on the street.

    (3)

  • Ana R.

    Tours on the hour, every hour by someone who actually works in the brewery, not the Gift Shop counter person. Really good tour - all access, on the working floor of the actual brewery, not from some viewing room. It started off with a dull little video in their award room, but it gave a good foundation for what we saw later on. I'm a beer dullard, so it helped me to recognize what I was seeing. The tour guide also explained everything in brewer's terms and layman's terms, which was nice. Everyone was really nice and welcoming. Very friendly and willing to really talk about the product. Tour ended with a tasting of six brews, with explanation and discussion of all of them. It didn't seem to take long, but the tour did last the whole hour. Afterwards, we went into the gift shop where we took home a mix/match six pack (which they are totally cool with). I also got a mason jar glass for $5. Basically, anything you want with their logo is available here. Other local items are there too. We discussed the popular micro brews of Mass with our tour guide, and he spoke of Sam Adams as their greatest role model, so that made me happy : ) Would definitely recommend to people in the area. Tour is free and totally worth the time.

    (4)

  • Dana B.

    This was my favorite brewery of our New England Brewery Tour. Perhaps it was because we weren't expecting much more than a video and a walk through the gift shop. It also could've been due to the fact that it was the first time we had a video to watch on a brewery tour and that changed it up for us a bit. At least I know it was partly because every beer we tried was absolutely delicious. I've been a fan of Shipyard beers for a few years now and was excited that we were able to fit a tour of their facility in to our schedule. (Note: When you go to their website it will say that they only do tours on tuesday evenings. False. They do *in depth tours* on tuesdays) Here is what you can expect if you just wander in... A very well stocked gift shop. If you can wear it, drink it, drink out of it, stick it somewhere or mail it, it will have the Shipyard logo on it. In addition to carring their usual beers, they sell their seasonal beers and sodas. They will then show a video of the history of shipyard in their screening room. Some might find this dorky, but I really liked it and found it to be very informative. Next, one of the brewers took us in to the bottling area, which was in productive, and explained the brewing process. Then we tried all the beers! YAY! We were part of a small group so it was easy to interact. And the brewer really wanted our feedback on what we thought about each individual beer. Our experience was excellent. Definitely the best of our tour.

    (5)

  • Jim W.

    Hannah rocks!

    (5)

  • Travis A.

    The tour wasn't as interesting as I was expecting, given I've taken tours of a few other breweries, including Sam Adam's. They gave out a few small tastings of selected brews at the end. Something to take your parents to if they like beer and want to do something tourist-y.

    (4)

  • Bryan D.

    great beer and fun tour. fun and friendly staff!

    (5)

  • M L.

    Good gift shop and brewery tour that I have done many times. Cozy tasting pub and the blonde that does the tours ain't bad herself either. I will be back even though there is no Whiskey.

    (4)

  • J. N.

    Overall, I was disappointed in this experience. The "tour" was a low grade video and a view of the bottling facilities. We didn't learn anything that couldn't be learned from another tour. The staff was also pretty rude and condescending (with the exception of josh). There are better options that are local. I wasnt happy with this experience.

    (2)

  • Erin G.

    Yikes, I didn't realize mainers were douchebags, but I sure met the queen of the douchebags at Shipyard Brewery. On our last day my mother wanted to visit Peak's Island and I wanted to check out the Brewery. That morning I called over to the Brewery to ask about tour times and was told that the last one left at 4PM daily and we didn't need a reservation, just to stop in. Off we go to Peak's Island and return at 3PM in time to head over to Shipyard. As we approach the gift shop entrance I see a small sign saying the last tour was a private tour at 3PM and none thereafter. I stepped in and asked the woman behind the counter what was going on. In less than the time it took the words to come out of my mouth she was snapping at me like an angry pitbull, telling me I had no business calling this morning because she wasn't here and the woman who answers the phone doesn't know what she's talking about and this private group just called in today to set up the tour so how is it her fault I didn't know that the hours had changed. Whoa. I wasn't even using an upset tone of voice, just asking what had happened since I called that morning. Needless to say we did not get to tour Shipyard on our last day. This may be overkill on my part but I also won't buy any Shipyard Beer after that kind of reception. One apple ruins the whole bunch Shipyard, either get that lady some customer service training or a heavy IV drip of Prosac. For real.

    (1)

  • Jennifer M.

    Yummy beer!

    (5)

  • Sarah T.

    I have been to many a brewery tour over the years, and this one was kind of lame. The video was, well, dorky. I think that the intent was to be kitschy...someone failed. It reminded me of the animation for those much funnier political jingles on the web (jib and jab, or something like that). After the film we went to the bottling line, which wasn't active. Very exciting, let me tell you! And then, finally, to the beer tasting. Note, I am not a fan of Shipyard beers, and my fiance isn't a big fan, either. However, what a surprise!! The beer fresh at the brewery tasted awesome! Some of them were super good! The Fuggles IPA, for example was fantastic. The issue is that whenever I have had it from a bottle it tastes, well, funky. And I would say the same for their other beers I have had in bottles or on tap at bars in the Northeast. So, what to make of a brewery whose beer changes flavor so drastically away from the source? Not good. For REALLY good Maine beer (actually, I would venture to say the BEST on the East Coast), go to the Sebago Brewing Company down the street. Fabulous beer and super fabulous food!!

    (2)

  • Ronald S.

    impressive brewery clothing store .. the tour was short and to the point - a video of the whole process and some background info followed by a tour of the bottling floor and then free samples of beer. we got some free soda samples too, bonus! beers were great, sodas were great. bought a couple cases to-go. if you like fresh beer or soda, check it out!!

    (4)

  • Vito M.

    Not the greatest "tour" I've been on. As others have mentioned, the tour is actually a DVD presentation. Since our tour was pretty full we didn't even see the bottling line. Oddly enough, a hidden gem there is the Capt. Eli soda fountain. I know it sounds weird as an option at a brewery, but the soda shouldn't be missed. It's a great chaser.

    (3)

  • Melanie T.

    We had fun on the visit. We went off season, so we were the only ones on our tour. They said they give fuller tours once or twice a week during high season, but only do the virtual tour during the winter. Fine by us. We watched the video, which was nothing special, but then we were met by our enthusiastic guide, Ben. He walked us through some of the unique brews and contract beers they brew. Then we saw the bottling line, which I thought was really cool. Full disclosure though, I love seeing how things are made and going on factory tours. Anyway, Ben answered all of our questions and was clearly passionate about Shipyard. The tasting was, of course, the best part. They were generous pours and integrated trivia into the experience. Then we bought some hard to find beers as gifts and got some tips for good bars in town, which came in handy on our pub crawl of town. Thumbs up for Ben and for a convenient and enjoyable stop in Portland.

    (4)

  • Art H.

    Did the tour and sampled the beer and soda. The root beer and blueberry soda were the highlights of the place. The tour consisted of a video and a small glimpse of their bottling line and then a tasting. The tour guide was super nice, friendly, and informative. The beers were pretty abysmal, or I can take that back. Just average. Just average folks. The old thumper was the only beer I would consider purchasing ever again. Their IPA was very average, their double IPA wasn't bad but lacked any character. I know I wasn't the only one, others at the tasting were sending their beers back unfinished also. I made it a point to not check beeradvocate before tasting but I thought they were mostly B- or C beers and I was right. Check that site out, I'm being a lot nicer than the beer snob crowd. I would buy the old thumper again. I was turned off by the fact that they get their hops from the pacific northwest. But I guess everyone does right? Aside from the beers, they have some cool merchandise for sale. Got a lobster beer opener (I'm from LA) and a cool hat that I wear all of the time. Still good memories and great people.

    (3)

  • Jp B.

    This was a pretty standard brewery tour. It starts with a short video on the company, held in a room decorated with all of Shipyard's accolades. We saw the bottling plant, but on Sunday it wasn't running. The tasting included samples of 6 of their beers, all of which were good. Blue Fin stout and the Brown Ale vie for my favorite. The tour guide was knowledgeable, and the gift shop was tactful not gaudy, like I've seen at other breweries.

    (4)

  • Stacey A.

    This brewery is kind of a drag after experiencing Sam Adams and Harpoon in Boston. There was no tour the day my husband I visited, so it was basically just a short, cheesy video followed by a light tasting. And by light, I mean, tiny samples of a handful of beers. Do not go thinking you're going to get even the slightest buzz - the pours are stingy and there is no going back for seconds. This just isn't one of those breweries that would ever warrant a repeat visit - it's not informative, and there's very little actual beer involved.

    (2)

  • Paul S.

    Pretty disappointing. We were staying in Portland for our honeymoon and stopped by Shipyard to taste some of their beer. Living in California, I've only had one or two of their beers and I was excited to taste them all. I looked on their web site, and "tours" were only offered once a week and the next three were all full. But the web site mentioned virtual tours offered in their gift shop. Cool... so we head over there... we walk in and there is a dude behind the counter who is busy looking at some papers. We walk around the store looking at various things to buy. Then ask about the tour and some beer. They told us that the tour just started and that we'd have to wait 45 mins for the next one. The tour was only offered hourly! Really? A virtual tour only offered hourly? I understand maybe they need someone to pour beer but still... the video is automated, and you just put the person behind the counter in charge of samples. And we just missed the start of this tour... but there was no way for us to join the Apparently they were only pouring three beers and from the look of the other reviews on here, all small cups. So forget that, we're not coming back.

    (2)

  • Derek B.

    Shipyard has by far the best brewery store I've ever seen. Whether you want T-shirts, hoodies, glasses, mugs, bottle openers, blankets, or beer, you can find it here. Great gear, attractive graphics, and delicious beer. The brewery tour is brief but comprehensive without becoming very technical. It seemed perfect for someone who doesn't know how beer is made and just needs an introduction to the topic - which description seemed to fit my fellow beer tourists perfectly, so I decided to hold my quests for the end - the tasting - a small (appr 2 oz) taste of each of the five or six beers that have on at the time. I just wish they had a pub or taphouse!

    (4)

  • Topher D.

    The tour is not worth it unless you have time to kill. Don't go out of your way to get there, its really a waste of time. They start with a propoganda video (which leaves out the fact that Miller owned them for a period of time, but hey) and then you go and watch the bottling line, then you sample beer in little plastic cups - I think this is the only tour I've been on where they don't give you real glasswear...oh well. I was impressed with how many contract brews shipyyard does, but again not really worth the tour unless you're in Portland anyways. The attached gift shop is pretty cool if you're into that kind of stuff.

    (2)

  • Chad P.

    "Hey, Look! A giant gift shop! Oh, and there might be some beer in the back..." Honestly, it's really hard for me to give two stars to a place that really deserves one, but it was free so there's that. Assuming you aren't there for the piles of knick knacks at some point you are led into a room with a bunch of folding chairs. Then without a word spoken the lights go out and the Shipyard infomercial starts. If you didn't know all the places you can buy Shipyard you will after they hammer you with it for 15 minutes, though it felt MUCH longer. Now the tour! Get psyched for fun filled minutes squinting across the factory floor picking out things that may or may not make beer. Ok, Tour Over! Time for beer! Well the beer is definitely beer and they definitely give it to you, and it is free so there is the star. Now this brings us to the reason I am writing this review. You wanted to force down some mediocre beer and move on? No chance. You get to stand there and get insulted. An older lady taking the "tour" admitted she had not had a beer in 15 years stood there and was belittled by the prick giving the tour at every turn. Just tell her what an IPA is, if she thinks the beer tastes like something don't tell her she's wrong, don't sigh and interrupt her whenever she says anything, then stop pouring her beer just because she doesn't drink as much. Most importantly, if an older lady needs you to repeat something DO NOT say, "Well, for the third time telling you, it's the (whatever) beer." Now I'm not the smartest guy and probably don't ask the best questions, but you don't need to state the obvious by saying that by making a seasonal beer all year round, it wouldn't be seasonal. I just thought someone might have toyed with the idea that your only decent beer could be made year round. So let me share with you some lessons you should heed while visiting Shipyard Brewery. Lesson 1 - Buy Shipyard. Buy Shipyard T-shirts, bottle openers, caps, magnets. Buy Shipyard lobster buoys, plush toys, and postyards. Oh yeah, and buy Shipyard beer. Lesson 2 - Shut up, drink your free beer, and get out... or else. Lesson 3 - Don't worry they know what they are doing. Who are you second guess Shipyard Brewery.

    (2)

  • Alex E.

    Cool little tour and tasting, I like them better for it.

    (4)

  • John P.

    This was supposed to be my first Brewery tasting and while Shipyard was not the first choice for my merry band of travelers we approached the location with enthusiasm. Upon parking across the street next to what appeared to be a burgeoning squatters den we made our way to the door to find that they opened in 10 minutes so we took a brief jaunt down to the shore. Upon returning in at 5 minutes past opening we encountered a young lady breaking down boxes on the floor of the lobby/gift shop. She informed us that we had missed the first tasting by roughly 4 minutes and would have to wait until noon for the next one. Bear in mind that we were the ONLY people in there and the first to arrive. Needless to say my boon companions were disheartened by brusque demeanor and callous attitude but my heart ached with sympathy for this young lady that had to waste time dealing with hoi polloi when there were clearly SO MANY boxes that needed cutting. We were invited to peruse the gift shop for 55 minutes while we waited for the tour guide to presumably finish reading his magazine but instead opted to attend a tasting at a delightful Meadery down the road. I heartily recommend the Shipyard Brewing tour if you're in the area and have not yet experienced the full disdain that comes with being in New England. Being from Connecticut we considered this a taste of home. Bear in mind that while I am sympathetic to the strictures of a set schedule, a 5 minute delay upon opening would not have hamstrung the process and we would have gladly settled on a condensed tour.

    (1)

  • Katie H.

    me and my group of 7 decided to stop by shipyard and do their brewery tour while in portland for a day trip. the main draw was that 3 people in our group didn't drink (because of age or recovery status) and shipyard does soda tasting. the guy who ran it was great in an i would never leave my kids with him kind of way. we watched a movie which was all about bottling and nothing about brewing, which was kind of weird. then we saw where they bottled the beer. during the tasting, i told homeboy i drink bud light and he told me that when i mature, i will move on to better beers. then he told us he works at 7-11 full time and it was a great way to see the low life's of the city. i wasn't crazy about their beer. but then again, i'm not very mature so maybe in 10 years i will like it.

    (3)

  • jenilee p.

    i thoroughly enjoyed my visit to shipyard brewery. while they don't have the best beer i've ever had, their varieties make for great session beers, for sipping on a hot summer day, and then if it's a little more frigid, there are their pumpkin spice offerings that are a little closer to a barley wine. i was most impressed, i think, with their old thumper beer. nice and crisp. overall, its a quick little tour, and a nice tasting, all for free. and then you can pick up a six pack for festivities later on. not too shabby.

    (4)

  • Julia C.

    Really bizarre tour, which consisted of a silly kinda boring video that just talks about Shipyard and what they sell, not about the brewing process or anything educational. Then they take you inside and show you the bottling plant, which is interesting, but very loud, so get close to the person speaking. After the "tour" they give you a tasting, the best part of the tasting is that it is FREE! My boyfriend enjoyed the beers more than I did, but I'm not a fan of anything too hoppy. After the tour we bought a few things in the gift shop, including some awesome pint glasses that survived the flight home just perfectly.

    (3)

  • Gary R.

    I liked it! Great selections of beers to try, many of which I'd never seen before. In my state, PA, we only get a few Shipyard options so it was great go see and try more of their offerings! And they were tasty! We were the only folks in there when their tasting hours began (11:00) so I guess we beat the rush. Apparently they get quite crowded at times. The cut you off after 7-8 tastes. But the sample size is quite small so there's no danger of getting loaded. Everyone here was very cordial and knowledgable about their beers. Plus they had a ton of t-shirts, glasses and other logo items you don't need but might want to remind yourself of that experience. Great beer!!

    (4)

  • Kimberly M.

    This is a great kid friendly thing to do. I know it might sound strange but you drink around your kids anyways. I took my 8yr old grandson here. I first did my tasting with adult beverages and he got to do his tastings with the kid friendly different root beers. This was our second brewery stop (first was Allagash) but this was the only one of the two that had a kid friendly tasting. That was such a highlight for him (like mine was for me) and he walked out of there saying he had a lot of fun! Don't feel guilty bringing a child.... =) It was a lot of fun! We did not do the tour just the tastings.

    (5)

  • Shannon G.

    This review is strictly for the tasting room, not the tour (which is not offered on Saturdays.) Came here with a few friends last weekend on a visit to Portland and was very underwhelmed. Yes, the beer is good. But the service in the tasting room is lacking at best. Granted, the two bar tenders had a few groups to serve, but they'd look right at us and walk past even when they weren't busy. In sum, it took a whole lot of waiting to try a few brews. Would I return for the tour? Nah. If you like the beer, go to a nearby bar.

    (3)

  • Andrew S.

    We were surprised to see that this place only had 3.5 stars. The staff were super friendly. The tastings are completely free of charge. They had 10 beers on tap and shipyard brews amazing beers. On top of it we met a nice couple to converse with and turns out the gentleman is a Marine as well as I so Semper Fidelis! 5 stars all day long, worth the trip and the stop.

    (5)

  • Lannie L.

    I've visited Shipyard twice during my trips to Portland and will continue stopping by when I'm in the area. The "tour" part of the brewery has been scaled down and is presented more as being 'optional' - I think I remember a few years ago that it was mandatory to at least watch the video. That being said, it is free and it's super relaxed and chill - if it's not busy, you can just stand at the bar and have as many tastings as you like. The best part is that the staff don't give you a hard time about it but are in good spirits and friendly. I love their blueberry beer when it's in season, but I also discovered the Sea Dog Sunfish (Peach and Grapefruit!) beer and bought some to bring home. Now it's already gone and I wish I brought back more.,, VISIT THIS PLACE. (ps - each time I've tried to visit Allagash, I can't because the tour tickets are sold out sooooo....)

    (5)

  • Rose L.

    Located on one of the edges of downtown Portland, Shipyard Brewery was a fun, quick stop along our what seems to be a brewery tour of Maine. You enter the brewery and are greeted by that strong "brewery" scent and walk down a flight of stairs into a gift shop area [which takes up the majority of the space]. Wonder to the back and enter the tasting room, where an employee will allow you to taste all the Shipyard [and Seadog] brews they have on tap, about 10-12 taps. This place seems like it could be crowded FAST, there was only one bar tender passing out beers on our visit, and he gave each customer a personal experience and knowledge of the beer, which was very helpful but took a while. Not sure if they have "regular" tours, but they allow a group of us to go downstairs to the bottling area where not only do they bottle for the brewery, but also for many other companies in the area, including Maine Root. The staff was definitely the best part of this experience, Shipyard's beer is okay, but personally, I don't think it's anything to go out of your way for. In addition, you only get tastings, no pints here [I may be stating the obvious, not sure what Maine beer laws are, by why no pints?] Overall, I think Shipyard draws people in for this name, but the brewery experience was a little disappointing. The best part was that they had a keg of the pumpkin ale in JUNE [they were taste testing it to make sure they brewed it right this year] and boy is that stuff tasty fresh from the tap. Worth the stop if you're looking for quantity of breweries over quality.

    (3)

  • Col S.

    The is one of the more conveniently located breweries in Portland. It also happens to be one of the better ones AND they offer free samples all of this adds up to a pretty great spot. Our bartender was incredibly friendly and very knowledgeable. He had us try all of the beers on tap and offered background on everything we tried. Once we were done with the tasting, he took us back to the packing area which was truly neat to see. In addition the the tasting shop and factory, there's a small shop where you can purchase tons of shipyard gear. Definitely worth the stop if you're in the area.

    (5)

  • Katie H.

    I hate to give this place 3 stars. Shipyard was one of the spots I was most excited to visit during my trip to Maine. Being a beer lover and a huge Shipyard fan, I couldn't wait to do a tasting and get a tour of the place. The location itself is a bit off the beaten path but you can't miss it. I entered the building and asked for a tour (which I know a lot of you have mentioned) that consisted of a short video. Womp. But it was informative which was nice. As for the tasting, it's a small area with one person working behind the bar. She was trying her best to get to every group...it seemed a bit chaotic. However, all in all I tasted all of their beers on tap which were great. The girl was knowledgeable and welcoming which is always a plus. Another thing I should mention, their gift shop is solid. I bought a tank for $12 and they had some neat items up for sale aside from the beer (obvs). In the end, free beer is free beer. If you're in the area, definitely stop by for a tasting!

    (3)

  • Leah K.

    Strange little brewery. Mostly a store and a bar area, your "tour" is a short video (which they do say online). The tasting includes sips of any of whatever they have on tap. We were excited to taste everything, but everything was either not great, or just ok. Shipyard is popular for their Pumpkin Beer, but now that it's summer, their watermelon beer was not so hot. In a city surrounded by amazing breweries, this isn't my top pick.

    (2)

  • Jenn D.

    Hate to say what somebody else already mentioned. But free beer is free beer and that's always great. The people were friendly and knowledgeable. In the gift shop was really great.

    (4)

  • Christina E.

    We just absolutely love shipyard summer ale. Not only is it free of GMOs and the toxic additives, it tastes so f'n great! The brewery is definitely a homage to one of our fave brews. There's a shop at the entrance of the brewery with Shipyard emblazoned products. In the back, there's a beer tasting and then the tour commences. Definitely worth checking out!

    (4)

  • A P.

    This is officially my new favorite brewery. I am not much of a beer drinker, but the bf is so I get to go along to a lot of tastings. Every beer had both a great aroma and a great taste. I've never been to a brewery where I liked so many of their beers. The atmosphere was a bit hectic, but with two servers in the tasting area it went pretty smoothly. One server was very knowledgeable and one server was very friendly so it was a good mix.

    (5)

  • Vincent H.

    Free beer tasting an brewery tour? Okay I'm all in! Tour on the hour, every hour in case you're looking for something to do. Had the nicest tour guide and the samples were good! I mean we all have our own beer preferences but it was cool!

    (5)

  • Mia S.

    No tour, but a great tasting bar in the back. Walk up from downtown area near the ferry and enjoy the delightful beers of Shipyard. Tasting bartender was a comic genius and served up any number of beers you wish to try (and there are plenty)! Some interesting fruity beers, great IPAs and lighter beers if that's your thing. Great stop during your walking tour of Portland.

    (4)

  • Jayson J.

    Had a great time in their tasting room! Roughly 8 different draughts to sample. They allow you to buy growlers of the beer you've sampled for a reasonable price. They also sell some pretty awesome Shipyard merchandise (shirts, beer mugs, handcrafted tankards). Also, the "make your own six pack" was a hit for me!

    (4)

  • Heather B.

    Free tasting of all their beer and they even allow you to sample your favorites again. They were very informative about the beers we were sampling. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Their Bourbon Barreled aged Pumpkinhead and they also sell tequila aged Summer Ale in bottles. Overall this was the best brewery of the day. Can't wait to go back!!

    (5)

  • Ryan F.

    Clearly, many people are evaluating Shipyard Brewery by the quality of the tour, but my friend and I were looking to do some tasting, and for this, Shipyard delivers in spades! We watched a five-minute video before the friendly staffer led us into this "bar room." There, he gave us a rundown of their beers and told us we had the next hour to sample all the beers they had available on tap (8-10 at the time of our visit) Power hour + craft beer = holy %#&@ Good thing we got seats right up at the bar, because as soon as our tasting glasses ran empty, our server was quick to fill us up with another beer of our choosing. Our picks were the Smashed Pumpkin Ale and the XXXX - both from the "Pugley's Signature Series" line of Shipyard brews. Needless to say, after our buffet/tasting session was over, we hobbled over to the gift shop and bought some liquid souvenirs to enjoy back in New York!

    (5)

  • Lucy W.

    Pumpkinhead! I was lucky enough to catch the release of this autumn beer, in the waning days of summer during my vacation. I also got to taste a summer brew that quickly became one of my favorite refreshing beers, Sunfish ale. I'm sure my love of two of their signature beers probably skewed my perception of my visit to the brewery. Very casual, small, and felt like a local hangout spot near downtown Portland more than a beer conglomerate (talking to you Allagash), which is refreshing. Gift shop has interesting merchandise, including soaps made with their beer, and some shirts where proceeds are donated to charity. Let's face it...unless you are a beer expert or brewer yourself, most beer tours are similar and you really just want to get to the tasting. Friendly staffers that tell you about specials and what is on sale...thanks for looking out for my shopping needs and my wallet! I much prefer supporting what seems like a local business that cares about its products.

    (4)

  • Lisa C.

    The staff is really friendly and informative. We were provided tastings of as many varieties as we wanted that were available. Shipyard really produces an amazing variety of good brews! The only slight negative is that the full brewery tour is only available at night and only by advance reservation.

    (4)

  • Gina Marie B.

    This is more of a review for the beer... not the tour I love Shipyard beer. Especially pumpkin head. I would drink it all year round if I could. Instead of going on a tour at shipyard... I would call it more of "going to a place where you get to sample some free beer" The tour was not really much of anything.. They played a short video which was ok. Then we went right to the bar and sampled some beers... then left. Not much going on there. But the free beer was nice! Make sure you do not forget to sample and buy their SODAS! We really enjoyed them and brought some cases home!

    (4)

  • Linda D.

    Maybe I was spoiled by the Sam Adams tour, but I was very disappointed by this "tour". I was really excited to visit it but basically they throw you all into a room to watch a short (though it felt long) boring video then pile everyone into the bar area for samples. I have no idea why they can't offer the tastings every half hour to avoid the craziness that happens in the bar area. We went on a Sunday before Memorial day at about 2 pm. Don't sit towards the front to watch the video like we did because you will be stuck in the back at the bar area after everyone gets crammed in. There were about 3 or 4 people between us and the bar. Everyone was perfectly nice, trying to pass along the samples but it was basically a free for all. The two girls handing out samples were very nice and did the best they could given the circumstances but they seriously need to come up with a better system.

    (3)

  • Rick S.

    Truly love my micro brews , toured the bottling area and did a sampling . The young lady that ran the sampling was very informative and explained every question we had . Found out I am a real fan of Shipyard Export . Just do happened the morning we arrived they were bottling thier blueberry beer . I could smell it the moment I stepped out of the truck. Got a growler of export to take home . A long sleeve monkey fist IPA t-shirt , wife liked it so much she got 2 long sleeve t-shirts and we bought a mirror for our bar back at home . Also love the pumpkin ale . Taking some of that back to Michigan . And yes I bought a zip up hoodie with the pumpkin ale logo . Now I'm from the state of Michigan were every town now has a micro brewery and each and every one is out standing , so believe me Shipyard is doing it right . I recommend you do the tour and sampling . They open at 9 am . Beer in the morning who could ask for more.

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    Not to be overlooked is the soda operations that also come out of here. Capt'n Eli ginger beer is equally compelling to their alcoholic beverages. Great bite, strong ginger flavor. A multi faceted brewery indeed

    (4)

  • Rick T.

    The tour and brewery was terrible and lame, the only fun about the tour was how we heard about past employees going off the deep end with their drinking and getting canned in the process.Maybe one or two beers were okay and drinkable. But when I left a found the best place called Duck Fat down the road were I learned about glorious wonderful dish called pountine that story has a happier ending to it !

    (2)

  • Peter K.

    I do a lot of brewery and winery tours and this review could have been a lot worse if it wasn't for the bottling room showing at the very end. The video was pretty lame, and a lazy way of doing a tour. I still kinda enjoyed it though. Once you are past a whole lot of time lapses and 3 minutes of talking you can finally taste the FREE beer. I like how the Maine breweries give free samples and a lot of them. The sampling was very good. They have something for everyone. You get to try a lot. It felt pretty rushed though. There is about 45 minutes to go through this. ESB- Very good for an American copy. It is just as good if not better than their Red Coat rivals. Black IPA. The dark toasty malts mellow out the hops into something fabulously drinkable. Summer. One of my favorite summer ales. Available in a lot of places, including the beer stores by house in NJ. Pumpkin- This is one of the pumpkins that actually made me love pumpkin brews years ago. It generally tastes like a better pumpkin pie. You cannot have a lot otherwise it gets too filling. Blue Tuna Nitro Stout- Meh. That is all I remember. They have an attached store that has a lot of good brewing and Maine mementos, and a lot of their beers.

    (3)

  • Xiao Z.

    Sadly underwhelmed, was my overall opinion. This was for both their video-based tour and the quality of their beer on tap. We came here in late June, and they were out of 3 beers on draft, and their stout was sadly flat and warm. Their hoppy beer selection was impressive, but the whole environment felt very...commercialized. I'd rather book a real tour than do a video tour in the future. Just don't forget to wear close toe shoes.

    (3)

  • Samantha J.

    This was the first brewery tour I've done, and I had a wonderful time. The tour happens every hour and lasts about 45 minutes. To top it off it's FREE. They have a great gift shop and the employees are amazing. I had a chance to try the Gingerbreadhead that just came out recently and it was delicious. They also had some selections for the Sea Dog brew. If you are staying in or close to Portland, I highly recommend you take an hour of your day and visit this brewery.

    (5)

  • Troy M.

    While in Portland we attempted to go to Shipyard for some tastings and to purchase beers on our way up to Bar Harbor, unfortunately we arrive at 2:10 and were told we would have to wait another 50 minutes to watch the virtual (video) tour that only starts on the hour. We then asked if we could skip the tour (I've been to hundreds of breweries) and simply do a tasting and we were very rudely told no. I was hoping to buy some beers for the rest of our vacation, but we couldn't even taste any. Overall, a very disappointing experience!

    (1)

  • Maria C.

    The tour is a tasting at the bar and the beer is served in plastic cups. You can sample any of the beers.

    (3)

  • Chris F.

    Tasting room store has tons of cool gifts and the bar is a nice way to kill an hour with some tasty Shipyard beer and some of their less available brews. Super friendly maine people too! Worth checking out if you have a couple hours to spend in portland...

    (4)

  • Bela S.

    I have been to nearly a dozen breweries now. I always have to compare to Sam Adam's, because I feel they blow most places out of the water. Like Sam Adams, tours and samples are FREE! Unfortunately, most of the tour is just a video. That isn't a problem, per SE, but they don't go over much of the history of the brewery. Why call it shipyard? Where else (if any place) do they bottle beer? None of these simple questions, which are answered proudly at most other breweries, are covered here. After the "tour", you are ushered into the canning and bottling room. Unfortunately there is no wheelchair (or stroller, obviously) access. They did warn us at the beginning, which was nice. If you have a baby, you might skip this leg of the your. We muscles the stroller up and down the stairs, but all there is is a canning room to be shown. If it's not running (it wasn't when we went), there is little reason to check it out, especially if you've seen this sort of room elsewhere. They are rather generous with their samples; each patron is allowed eight. I wasn't super jazzed about the plastic cups that were used. Eight cups times twelve persons on the tour means our tour alone went through nearly 100 cups. Seems kind of wasteful; hope they at least recycle. I did enjoy some VERY different beers and even got to sample Gingerbreadhead, something that won't be released until winter 2014; I even took a growler home! (Best gingerbread infused beer I've had, despite my established Sam Adam's fanboyism). Watermelonhead was the craziest beer I've ever had. Flavors were like an unsweetened watermelon soda, if there was such a thing. It was rather refreshing and, while I am notnsurr I would seek this out specifically, I would definitely love drinking it on a hot summer day. The gift shop is rather vast, much bigger than any other I've seen. Virtually every beer they brew had some sort of merchandise. They certainly have the most clothing to choose from by far. Price is reasonable too, at around $15 a shirt. I would like to have seen growler fills be cheaper; compared to other breweries in New England, $15 (for bottle and beer) was a little steep. Oh well, Gingerbreadhead pre release was worth it ;)

    (4)

  • Linz E.

    I had the opportunity to do the full brewery tour, which is conducted on Tuesdays at 5:30pm (you have to reserve a spot in advance for it, but I did that a few weeks prior via the Shipyard website). I've done a few tours at other breweries in the area, but this one was one of the longest I've experienced (about 2 hours start to finish including the tasting). The major downside though was that it was very loud in the brewery and therefore nearly impossible to hear the tour guide. If this had been my first brewery tour ever it would have been disappointing, but since I'm fairly familiar with the brewing process I wasn't too bummed. After the tour we got to have as many samples of the various beers as we pleased (only three for me, but my boyfriend tried 5 or so). And as a bonus we got a pint of our favorite (pumpkinhead was my pick). We purchased a mix and match six pack, which was about $8 so not too pricey and a six pack of pumpkinhead, which was also $8. Overall it was well worth the $16+.

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    A must visit for any beer enthusiast. I love everything about this place. Take the tour and try their beers you won't be disappointed. Everytime our family visits Portland we stop in.

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    During spring/summer they offer a guided tour from one of the brew masters. You just need to reserve a spot online & you get a full on tour through the brewery, about 45 mins long. You then get to taste ALL of their brews ( including ones that are not available to the public yet) and even a pint of your favorite if your guide was as nice as ours. CHEERS!!

    (4)

  • Alexandra G.

    So, so disappointed. We stopped by on our way to our destination as we make a point to stop at breweries whenever we travel. We didn't want a tour, but more to sample their different brews. While the tasting is free, you have to watch the tour video first. I would have gladly paid for the tasting and not had to waste my time watching a video that had little to do with their own brewery. When speaking about the different styles of beer, the common theme is that the various flavor profiles were toned down for Americans. Result? Tasteless, flat beer. It was nothing special, at all. None of the multiple beers that we tasted were anything special. Skip this brewery, there are way too many good, creative breweries to visit.

    (2)

  • Stephanie B.

    Very friendly, entertaining and knowledgeable staff. Very happy with our tasting and the small gift shop. It was a great way to spend an hour or two!

    (5)

  • Anna B.

    Worth trying to get a spot on the tour! Plan ahead. The beer is stellar, and the tour is hosted by a former master brewer. Can't get better than that.

    (4)

  • Anthony S.

    8 minute virtual tour video was not even in focus. The best part of the video was trying to figure out where the church pews came from that you sat on. So much history in beer on the walls and the guy never once mentioned why any of it was there, other than to collect the dust in the room. Two stars because we got to sample all of the taps. 80% of which were lackluster. Guess we just came at a bad time for them brewing wise. Shipyard makes some great beers, just wish the "tour" guide was enthusiastic about the company he works for as we are about beer. Tons of really cool swag in the gift shop though. that's a serious comment

    (2)

  • Travis H.

    If you aren't visiting here as part of a cruise package, the staff could care less about you and asking if you would like to try any of their ales. Terrible customer service and really rather rude women that work here. It was a shame too, as I was ready to shop!

    (1)

  • Nat S.

    Oh Shipyard, I wish i liked your beer better, but it is just not very good. I have also heard from locals you have a problem with mold in your brewery. Store is very touristy.

    (2)

  • Chrissy F.

    We arrived late for the video tour so I can't really comment on that, but they let us in to taste the beers anyway! We tried about 10 beers of different varieties and it was FREE... what's not to love? Our bartender was nice and generous with the samples... He was also very knowledgeable about each brew. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Devon D.

    It is a fun Maine experience. The beer is good and has really improved over the years. Some of their newer beers are quite impressive. A fun afternoon stop.

    (3)

  • Mitzy M.

    This place was great! They showed us a short video about the history of Shipyard Brewery, and then allowed us to taste 8-10 of the beers (about an ounce of each, don't worry!) Our "tour guide" was super nice and friendly, I wish I remembered her name! The shop inside was really cool too, plenty of memorible pertainable to beer lovers and Shipyard Brew. I wish I had been able to bring some beers home with me.

    (5)

  • Mike B.

    Just finished a tour, it was pretty cool. Andre our tour guide was awesome, really cool dude. We got to see the bottling line and the canning process. Then we got to try the samples which were awesome! You get to try so many different beers it was great. Even got to try a beer that wasn't out yet and they were looking for feedback. Overall a great time. Would Definitely go back!

    (4)

  • Karen C.

    Came around 1 on a Saturday and just missed the video tour but we were in time for the tasting! (most important, right?) It was a full group and we had to be two deep at the bar but the guy doling out samples was quick and generous. He explained what all the beers were, we all tried two - export and pumpkinhead, then he let us pick what we wanted to try for the next rounds. Between my fiance and I we tried all 11 or so of the taps and even had a couple of them we liked best twice. Gift shop was nice- compared to the other breweries we visited this trip, it had the best selection and prices on souvenir-y type things. Employees were really friendly as well. Our friends and I also bought some more beer there and when getting ID'd it turned out the cashier had a friend in our hometown so it was nice to chit-chat.

    (4)

  • Ethan D.

    The video prelude (pun intended) was a mediocre, cookie cutter introduction the the establishment of the brewery, though it did offer some sound information about the Brew Master and his contributions to Shipyard. That said, during the tasting, the bar tender was friendly and knowledgable and openly encouraged (constructive) criticism toward some prototype brews. The tour concluded with a brief viewing of the brewery's bottling line and entertainment of questions by none other than the bar tender. Despite the lackluster video "tour" of the brewery, it was a free beer tasting nonetheless. Many reviewers have criticized Shipyard for the video "tour", but the fact of the matter is that the entire event is free!

    (4)

  • Sean H.

    Shityard is more like it. We came here for the "tour" which we found out was just a video you watch after they hold you captive in their retail store full of crap shirts and creepy lobster trinkets. We decided to sit on the bench outside while we waited for the tour and drinks to begin but the lady inside who seemed high on quaaludes didn't announce anything and when we came back in at 3pm when the tour was suppose to have started she said it was full and was first come first serve. We were there at 2:30! It would help if you would tell your visitors your policies as they arrive so they're not disappointed and if you invested in a pen and paper to take names down as people arrive. Lack of organization. We ended up going to Novare Res down the road where there was a better selection of beer.

    (1)

  • Vi L.

    8 minute video tour and tons of beers to try! Apricot, Watermelon, and Sunfish were the best :) from someone who likes light and fruity beer.

    (5)

  • Jacob B.

    We did the virtual tour here. It was on a Saturday, and we did not have a reservation, so it was the best they could do for us. Turns out, it was just enough. A small video followed by our "tour guide" telling us all the facts gave us everything we wanted to know with out having to march around the brewery. Next was the tasting room. We got to sample 9 different brews, our guide very knowledgeable in all of them. A little treat at the end, we got a full pour of our favorite beer at the end. I already loved this beer, going to the brewery made me love it more. Well done!

    (5)

  • Gina S.

    Fun! We found our way here to do the video tour and tastings and we just missed the tour...however we still got to join in on the free tastings. The "bartender" was very knowledgeable and generous with his samples. 1

    (4)

  • Emily G.

    A slightly different experience than other brewery tours I've been on, but a small group with an effusive tour guide was a good way to spend an hour upon arriving in Portland. Tours are given every hour, on the hour and begin with a short video detailing the company's history and beer making process. Having been to a few other breweries in the past 6 months, I was slightly disappointed they aren't equipped for a more extensive look at their brew kettles, but honestly, we all are looking for some free tastes and not much else. Since there were only 6 of us on the tour, we got to spend a lot of time sampling, going from low ABV to high, with about 10 samples for each of us. We also stepped out to the bottling floor, though there wasn't much to see since they weren't in action. Our tour guide was still super nice and even tolerated our silly questions about the number of days since the last accident in the plant. Shipyard has nearly everything for sale you could possibly imagine - sweatshirts, tap handles, even baseball bats made out of old buoys. We have plenty of shot glasses at home, but we ended up buying some bottles of the signature series as the gift shop was offering 4/$25 to enjoy later that evening. While the tour may not please a discerning beer connoisseur, it was a quick and enjoyable time with plenty of free beer, and that's about all I ask for.

    (3)

  • Kim L.

    This place is great! The tour video starts on the hour/ half hour on the dot and we walked in about three minutes late. They were able to accommodate us which was fabulous. The tasting itself couldn't have been any better- out bartender let us try all 10 of the beers they had on tap, some of them more than once. The clothing selection was great, just a little bit limited in sizes. They also had children's books, which is what we ended up buying.

    (5)

  • Jason H.

    Enjoyed the virtual tour sitting on church pews, but felt a little awkward because we were on the 11 am tour. But we're on vacation, so I broke my drink before noon rule. We did a tasting of 10 beers in about 30 minutes. Aaron was fun, lively, and enegetic. The tasting is free, but they use plastic cups. Enjoy all the goodies in the store. They also serve Sea dog, Casco Bay, and of course, signature Shipyard brews.

    (4)

  • Dawn P.

    Great stop on our way to bar harbor. Great little brewery... I enjoy learning about how local breweries got their start and Shipyard is no different. The includes a short video, a little tour of the bottling room and then FREE BEER!!

    (4)

  • Irene I.

    They start their tours promptly so get there on time. Thankfully the tour guide let us join even though we were 2 minutes after the hour. I didn't catch her name but she was very friendly and passionate for beer! Plenty of sodas to try for the non-alc. I'm glad I stopped in to see what Shipyard was all about.

    (4)

  • Kirk E.

    Being from the brew-city (Milwaukee), my requirement for brewery tours is a fairly high bar. The tour itself is ok. The beers are average to below-average. Even so, it's not a bad way to spend a free afternoon.

    (2)

  • Elizabeth F.

    I loved it here! I didn't go on the full tour, only the virtual tour. I only experienced the video, the tasting and viewed them packaging up the beer (which was good enough for me). I believe there is a full tour available, but only on certain days and times of the week with a reservation. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and fun. We tasted all the beers and bought some cool Pumpkinhead souvenirs. The tour was free. If you're a fan of beer, this tour is a must.

    (5)

  • Brittany K.

    I am a shipyard LOVER! But the tour was less than impressive. I've been on many tours before. Bruce was our tour guide. He was VERY knowledgable, but seemed to ramble a bit. We were in and out of VERY hot and VERY cold rooms in 20 minute intervals for over an hour and a half. I know that those temperatures are necessary for brewing, but it could've been cut down. The sampling was my favorite part (obviously!) You're able to sample whatever is on tap, and also grab a pint of your favorite!

    (3)

  • Courtney H.

    We walked in, just exploring and were offered a spot on the next tour of the brewery which was about to start. Ben was so nice and super knowledgeable about the history of the brewery and the beer making process. We had such a fun time tasting beer samples afterwards! Plus we learned a lot about the different types of beer that shipyard produces. Would definitely recommend!!

    (5)

  • Rob S.

    Awesome. Staff and service was great. Fair prices in the gift shop for beer/memorabilia. Taste test was fun as well. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Sara M.

    If your idea of a brewery 'tour' is a brief info piece followed by loads of samples, this is the place for you! You sit through a ten-minute promotional video and are rewarded with lots o samples. We tried the apple beer (response to not having pumpkin available all year), the blueberry smash?, prelude and some others. A little crowded, but something fun to do in Portland

    (4)

  • Emily S.

    This tour was a hot mess! On a weekend, only the video tour is available. Basically when it is your "tour time" you get shuffled into a room with church pews (okay I know they are supposed to be like ship benches) and watch a very corny video. The video I could do without but it was fine. It was the tasting that was a complete failure. Our tour had about 25 people. When it came time for a tasting the bartender did not really make it clear how many tastings we got. If you are a beer fan and you go to a brewery - you try them all. Well, I would have tried them all if it was not such a CLUSTER! Basically she started at one end and took individual orders by hand raising. Then, despite counting hands never had enough cups. Or had too many. It went this way the whole time, she would ask each "side" of the bar what they wanted, no particular order to anything. In the end, I think the people next to us had about 15 samples and I had 4. It was so disorganized. Really, shipyard needs to re-think their format for large groups. It just did not work. I do not think we will check back on shipyard. The beer was not our style and the experience was sub-par. With so many other breweries up in Maine, our time would be better spent elsewhere. I suggest trying for the full tour on a Tuesday if you go at all, it seems that folks have the best experience there.

    (2)

  • Eric F.

    Having had several of Shipyard's brews in Boston, I was excited to try some straight from the source. As others have noted, the "tour" was probably the saddest I've seen - 10 minutes sitting in pews watching a mediocre overview of the brewery followed by a quick stop in the bottling facility. The tasting, however, was nice in that we got to sample everything available on draft free of charge and with generous pours. The Brown Ale and Smashed Blueberry were great while everything else ranged from average to watered down fruit juice. Not one of the better breweries I've visited, but still worth a stop in Portland for some free beer.

    (3)

  • Kim K.

    The Tour: The tour wasn't so much of a tour than a video. And by video I mean one giant commercial for Shipyard. This wouldn't be bad except I didn't really learn anything about the brewing process or their beers, just that I should BUY BUY BUY their swag!!! We were then brought down to the bottling line to see it in action. Which was cool but I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't so rattled from the stern barking at we just received about turning off our cell phones or we'd be booted if we didn't. Um, really? Beers: They were alright. I only can remember the stout because it was nice and chocolately. Everything else tasted the same to me. The Gift Shop: Holy moly, I've never seen so much STUFF in my life. They have their logo on everything, don't they? The Staff: Overall, snooty, superior, jerky. I was yelled at to put my camera away and make sure my cell phone was off and away. The guy leading our tour answered questions from all the beer newbs like he was personally offended at their lack of knowledge. He answered their questions so dismissively I couldn't wait to leave.

    (2)

  • Tara L.

    Nice video tour followed by as many samples as you can get in an about an hour. The guy behind the bar was great with explaining all the beers and it was quite an enjoyable time. The blueberry stout was amaaaaazzzziiinnngg.

    (4)

  • Jeff W.

    One hears the word Brewery and they think "go on a tour". I hear brewery and I think "fresh, delicious beer" even if it happens to be bottled. There are zero chances that you'll find a stale anything in this joint. I know how beer is made, you go on one brewery tour, you've gone on them all. The only thing that changes is the size and scope of the operation. Obviously each brewery has their own recipes and some are hesitant to talk about them on a tour. This place is great if you're a fan of Shipyard and what they make and if you want to sport one of their t-shirts. The staff is friendly, the beer is cheaper than you'd get it at an agency liquor store or local package store. Go there and get a case!!

    (5)

  • Jen A.

    Uber touristy gift shop, uninterested staffers, came in while on vacation at 3:20pm on a Thursday.. next tour would have had to wait till 4:00, did not want to sit in a gift shop to wait watch a video about something I've seen at other breweries in real life. So we asked if we could just do the tasting when the previous tour finished up. No, we could not, it is illegal to give out free beer.....? Makes no sense, they're still giving it away after the video... so we left. BOOO Shipyard! Oh and the parking lot smelled like a frat house.

    (1)

  • P D.

    FREE BEER unless you only drink bud light how can you give it less than 4 stars? Because you miss your favorite bartender whose boobs fall out of her shirt and then you give her a $20 for 3 beers? Caught a nice buzz before the ferry ride to LO. The kids enjoyed tasting their soda varieties. Went for a third time the other day and the new server girl/lady with a black eye and wrist splint was awesome! Merchandise selection is pretty good at ok prices.

    (5)

  • Alexia F.

    We walked to the brewery to check out the gift shop and bought some shirts. There was a tour about to start so we stuck around to check it out. Compared to Colorado Microbrew tours, the video was lack luster. However, after the video you were able to try every beer on tap for free. I don't even like beer but I tried them all.

    (3)

  • Michelle T.

    I'm not a huuuge beer junkie, so naturally their house made root beer was the biggest hit for me!! It was even on tap!!! The other non alcoholic drink that was great was the blueberry pop, though they let us know that grapejuice was what made it so delish. FYI, their house bottled pop go for $1.50 a bottle, but if you buy 4, they're only $1 each! When it came to beer tasting, there were 6 to choose from and our guide was super friendly and knew his beer. I had no idea darker colored beer is lower in calories and higher in nutrients than pale ale!!!

    (4)

  • Christi S.

    Nothing else to do, why not go & enjoy FREE beer?! haha. Came here cuz they have a tour & of course, free beer tasting at the end. Definitely enjoyed the dark trout, very smooth, chocolaty, & malty. I'm not fan of the IPA b/c it's a bit hoppier. Hope you guys enjoy! They also have a parking lot next to the building.

    (4)

  • Jessica S.

    I'm a little torn on how to rate the Shipyard Brewery. This was our first activity of my bachelorette weekend and my gals planned it as a) I love beer and b) I especially love Shipyard Pumpkin. We arrived slightly early for the tour so we spent some time in the gift shop where we got to sample a collection of their homemade sodas, all of which were very good. The "tour" itself was a little sub- par. I had never been on a brewery tour before, so I don't know how it ranks in comparison, but I was a little disappointed that the majority of it involved watching a video. It was cool and interesting to be taken in to the bottling room to see the assembly line, but other than that you don't really see any of the brewing process up close so that was a little bit of a disappointment. I did enjoy the sampling portion of the tour however, as I felt like they gave you a lot of options to sample (I think we tried around 10 beers) and the guide did a great job of explaining the differences between each variety. Some of them I had never heard of and are a little more hard to find as they are seasonal or not sold as heavily commercially so it was cool to try beers you wouldn't typically see or buy for yourself. Overall a good use of an hour or so but would have been better to see more "in person."

    (3)

  • Bob C.

    My wife and I visted the Shipyard Brewery Portland,ME location on 2/16. They have a very unique store with lots of products and of course beer and other food products for purchase. Parking can be challenging. You may have to walk or pay a meter. A tour and tasting is offered every hour on the hour and unfortunately we got there at 11:15 but waited for the 12 review. I thought the 6 minute movie was interesting and I have learned a few things about the brewing process. It could of been more informative if there was an actual tour maybe, however our main goal was to understand what products from Shipyard that we liked and did not like. Was surprised they sell their products in Florida and do about 20% contract sales. The tasting was OUTSTANDING at a very stylish bar. So many offering were provided with a detailed description of each brew. We were able to taste and contrast Shipyard Pumpkin Ale and smashed pumpkin. My wife was able to test their fruity ales which she loved and the IPA ones which I liked and she did not. Be prepared to drink extra from your guest. I didn't see a bucket to drop in the extras. Overall... so many more brands. The host was very knowledgeable. Very good variety and a good amount of samplings. The only suggestions is to 1. Offer small crackers to neutralize the pallet during tastings. 2. Provide a list of the samples do you can put a check mark against the ones you like and the ones you don't. I had a hard time remembering which ones I really really liked because there was so many samples. We picked up a mix and match 6 pack and brought back to our hotel. My 8 year old son was with us and he was able to sample soda, he got a cool shirt, and a stuff animal (Sea Dog dog). Overall a good way to spend and 1 or so in Portland.

    (4)

  • Nik R.

    Pro: free beer.....cool bar tender Con: just came from allagash brewing co and the boring video at this place doesn't compare....parking is horrible.....small, uncomfortable setting with lots I things for sale.

    (3)

  • Rosie M.

    We hasn't planned on going to Shipyard, but when we got to Portland we saw that it was only about a block from our hotel. Free beer that we can walk to? We didn't really have to think that one over. The gift store reminded me those giant, crappy souvenir shops in Myrtle Beach. A lot of loud t-shirts and other colorful crap. But...who cares, really? There was only one other couple on the "tour". It really is just a little video then a step into the plant area. Then, we were able to sample. Our guide was adorable, a friendly blonde. I forget her name, probably because she gave us generous samples of every beer they had. 12 different kinds. She was fun and informative and we had a great time drinking and chatting. Hanging here made me want to move to Maine to snowboard and drink beer. And I don't even snowboard, so that's saying something.

    (4)

  • Christina G.

    If you've got some time to kill in Portland and want to try some free beer, than by all means stop here for a "tour". I don't think most people would find this a very worthwhile visit unless they happen to be die hard Shipyard drinkers. The tour was not so much a tour as it was a short video and a quick walk down a flight of stairs to see bottles moving along a conveyor belt. Almost as soon as you get down there, you'll walk back up the same flight of stairs and taste a few beers. I really didn't find any of them that great, but it was still a nice little stop on my first visit to Portland. If you miss out on this attraction, don't fret, you're not missing much.

    (2)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :9:00 am - 6:00pm

Specialities

  • Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : No

Shipyard Brewery

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