Maine Lakes Brew Fest Showcases Locally Crafted Beers

The 9th Annual Maine Lakes Brew Fest beside Sebago Lake in Casco, Maine will take place on Saturday, September 29 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sponsored by the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, this event is hosted by Point Sebago Resort.

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The fun-filled festival celebrates beverages from around Maine and New England. Plan to sample some beer, cider and wine from over 25 local, regional and craft breweries including Allagash, Baxter, Brays, Gritty McDuffs, Harpoon, Maine Mead Works, The Run of the Mill, Sam Adams, Shipyard, Green Mountain/Vermont Woodchuck Hard Cider and Wicked Wines to name a few. Craft beer is the focus, with many beer styles represented: from pale ales and IPAs to porters and stouts, from wheats and ambers to lagers. By sampling a variety, you can compare various styles of beer and discover what you really enjoy.
Brewers are located under two large tents on the beach, so the event happens rain or shine. With Sebago Lake as a backdrop, this is the perfect place to mingle while enjoying your favorite brews. It doesn’t take long for the crowd to become one happy family. Someone raises a glass in a toast, and like the wave at a football stadium, raised glasses and cheers flow from one end of the tent to the other.
Volunteers pour the samples. “Eighty volunteers help out,” says Jim Mains, the chamber’s executive director. “They are the key part to the whole thing.”
Working as a volunteer, I’ve learned a bit from the reps, but still struggle to know my beers. I tend to make my choices based on recommendations and a few wild guesses. Sometimes it’s the name that attracts me, other times a brewery I am familiar with or the pourer who is a friend.
Some who sample are quite knowledgeable and wax poetic about the intricacies of brewing. Each brewery and winery has its own traditions, which you can taste in the samples. Brewers or their reps are happy to explain the key ingredients.
And of course, while you drink, you’ll want to eat. Under a another tent, local eateries and non-profit organizations sell food and snacks. Plus there is live music throughout the day from two local bands: The Disclaimers and Random Order.
Remember, you must be 21 or older to attend this event. Just show your ID and pay the entry fee. Even if you’ve purchased your ticket in advance, you still need to show your ID at the gate.
On a crisp fall day, there’s no better place to sip suds than beside the shore of Sebago Lake.
To learn more about lakefront properties for sale on Sebago Lake, click on the green box above.
Learn more about the Sebago Lakes Region by clicking on these blog links:
The Greater Sebago Lakes Region of Maine
Raymond Cape Lakefront Home in Maine: Oasis for S’mores, Storytelling and Stargazing on Sebago Lake
Sebago Lake Region, Windham, Maine: Lakefront Property Highly Valued