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    Batson River Brewing & Distilling

    3.8 (134 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

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    Meg B.

    Solid spot! Great food, drinks and cool merch. Fun decor. It's hard to stand out in a place like Portland with so many amazing restaurants, but this place is solid and we'll be back. It's nice and roomy which is tough to find in that area. Plenty of seating and a huge bar.

    Fish and chips with truffle fries
    Sarah H.

    We stopped in on a snowy afternoon for lunch and were blown away. The Christmas decor was the cherry on top of already gorgeous hunter's cabin themed decor. We got the fish and chips, haddock tacos, and quinoa burger, plus the pretzel and the whoopie pie flight. Skip the whoopies, but everything else was delish. Especially that pretzel!!

    Lobster Roll and Fries
    Joshua P.

    Food is amazing, beer is better Service was fantastic and sitting outside was great.

    Bar area
    Brandon A.

    After reading mixed reviews, my family decided to give Batson's a shot. I am very glad we took the chance. We went for dinner on a Saturday night and the restaurant was completely booked. I would definitely recommend making reservations, otherwise you will not get in. As we were standing and waiting for our reservation there were many people turned away. The amount of decorations and Christmas lights was unbelievable. The staff were very nice. I will say, the menu was on the smaller side. I definitely think they could add more options. Overall, it was a wonderful dinner.

    Venison Tostada Nachos
    Caleb M.

    I have never been impressed by Batson River and this is now their third location I have visited. I will say out of the three locations this was the best so far but still not anything that would bring me back. I will give some praise by saying the aesthetics and overall vibe of this location were nice and felt more fancy than expected. Also the second praise was the server was friendly which was a plus. Drink wise despite being part brewery I have not enjoyed much of their beers. Compared to the vast choices for beers in Portland and Maine in general you have better options. We settled on cocktails for this visit and I got a single serving size of their seasonal Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini that is advertised as a huge to share drink. I was glad to be able to get a normal sized version and it was quite tasty. My wife got their fall inspired margarita and enjoyed that. So if you are a drinker I would suggest a cocktail. They did also offer a couple mocktails that were lower priced which was good as they sometimes are overpriced. Food wise my wife and I split their version tostada nachos for an app and they were solid. My wife then had their duck confit poutine and thought it was okay but would not rank it very high compared to better spots to grab poutine. I got their mac n cheese and added pulled pork which was an added $8. I did not find the pulled pork to have a great taste and didn't feel like I got the value I expected for the additional charge. Which actually brings me to one of the biggest negatives for me. The price we paid for it all did not make us feel as though we got enough value out of it. If I were to come back again it would be a spot for a cocktail and that's it. With the amazing density of food spots in the Portland area and value wise I can think of many other spots I would return to or try long before here. If you end up checking out Batson I hope you have a better experience and find it to be a better value.

    Menu
    Simone L.

    We found out about Batson River when making a list of places to visit in Maine while watching YouTube videos about Portland. This was one of our best experiences while visiting Maine! Our waiter was Michael and he was amazing! The vibes at Batson River are great and I just loved all of the decor! We ate at a table and then moved to the couch under the moose to hang out while having another drink. We weren't pressured to leave or pay our bill right away but were encouraged to hang out, play some games and have a good time. They also have a cute store where you can purchase merchandise and their own distillery onsite. This location does gin and vodka but different liquors such as bourbon and whiskey can be found at their other locations and even in local stores. The duck fat cornbread was great, double Batson burger and wings amazing! We ordered the Home Sweet Pineapple and Midnight Sun as drinks and both were delicious. If we're ever in Portland again (which we plan to be) we would definitely return to Batson River!

    Wall art
    Delaney M.

    Ambience in this place is 5/5. It's an upscale lodge with lounge style nuances. Game rooms, wall art, great fireplace, super cozy. My family member said it was the best mussels she's ever eaten. I believe the mushroom pesto is rival to most out there. The haddock tacos were delicious and the chicken wings appetizer was great. Wonderful kids menu, options for everyone. The service was nice and they even brought out a birthday dessert for my nephew for free. The whoopie pie flight wasn't the best but yummy and a wonderful surprise as a bday treat.

    Inside
    Danielle V.

    This is the BEST place to go during Christmas. The decorations are amazing and everywhere you turn you see new Christmas decoration. They have two large bars and lots of seating. You need to make reservations as it fills up fast. Their drinks are decent. The food is also good but some things are better then others. I had the burger and it was good but not amazing. The corn bread was really great, and the wings were good too. Overall you need to at least come here to get a drink during the holidays!!

    Been to Portland a couple of times now, but finally got the chance to visit Batson Brewery! Coming from Connecticut, where we've got no shortage of great breweries, my expectations were high--and they didn't disappoint. I went with a flight to sample a few, so next time I'll know exactly what to get. Bonus points for the awesome bartender--super friendly and knew their stuff. Really happy with the visit!

    Batson Burger!!
    Mark N.

    Great aesthetic, atmosphere, and drinks. Not my go to spot for food. Average brewery food run of the mill. Great after a few drinks though! Service was slow but they were busy so mehhh ya know

    Fireplace
    Mike G.

    Excellent experience overall. There are many selection of quality brews to choose from and they are delicious! The bartender did an excellent job demonstrating the various drafts. We also had the pretzel as an appetizer, it is a tasty and a good size to share. Awesome ambiance included a majestic fireplace, hunting them and an amazing Christmas decoration. Batson River is definitely one of the upscale breweries one can enjoy with family and friends. Highly recommended! We will definitely be back, SOON .

    Decor

    I was there on a rainy Thursday afternoon in summer and the place was quiet. I sat at the bar and ordered the duck confit poutine. It arrived quickly and was more than I could eat by myself. I thought it was a bit on the salty side but still delicious. I had 2 IPAs: Cryoscape and Easternmost, the Cryoscape I thought was better, but both were good. The service at the bar was friendly and attentive. The ambience is a Northwoods lodge vibe.

    Riley H.

    Came here the other day with my family for a late lunch before jumping in the polar express in Portland. We walked in and immediately noticed all of the Christmas decorations. It looked absolutely amazing in here, and was very festive. The drink menu matched the vibe perfectly with fun Christmas themed drinks that were very tasty! The service was great the whole time we were there, and the food was good. I got a double cheese burger with Cajun fries. The burger was okay, it was a little plain with not much flavor but the fries on the other hand were amazing. They had so much flavor and were cooked perfectly. I will definitely be back to Batson river and I highly suggest coming during Christmas time to check out all the fun decorations!

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    15 days ago

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    1 year ago

    Must try the IPAs, they were the bomb! The rest of the list is pretty good too, do a flight and try them all...ha ha

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    Great food! The pizza was delicious and the crust was amazing. Vibes inside were also immaculate.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Batson River Brewing & Distilling

    Hi there! Are strollers/little ones allowed in?

    Yes they are - to both questions!

    What is the dress/ attire?

    Causal. But you can also dress up and be perfectly in place and have a special evening.

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    Review Highlights - Batson River Brewing & Distilling

    We had been to the Kennebunk location of Batson River, so of course we had to check out the Portland spot too.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Mash Tun - Lobster roll and fried green beans w/ side of hot sauce.

    Mash Tun

    4.3(316 reviews)
    0.6 miOld Port
    $$

    Came here on a whim during a short stay in town. Casual and fun atmosphere, really good food and…read moregreat value. Had the chicken sandwich and green beans, my wife had the lobster roll. Staff were great too. I highly recommend.

    Wanted to find a nice kind of hole in the wall beer bar and just happened to walk down this alley…read moreand stumbled upon Mash Tun. I should have just checked on Yelp since one of my Yelp friends gave this five stars! I have to concur because I stopped her with my co-worker and my husband for a couple of beers and have to say two things: 1) they have a great beer list that rotates frequently, 2) the bartenders are top notch. You know sometimes you go to a cool beer place and it seems like the bartenders want to do ANYTHING but actually give you a beer in exchange for cash? This place is the opposite and it's wonderful. Very helpful with the beer list, suggestions, tastes, etc. They are also quick to offer another beer where as some places it seems like pulling teeth to try to get a beverage. It was lively but not slammed when I was there but I can tell these guys would manage great even if the bar was two or three deep with customers. Yeah, I thing the Mash Tun is one of the best beer bars I've been to and in a place like Portland that is in the top echelon of beer cities, that is an achievement to respect.

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    Mash Tun - Inside. Blackboard menu. Beers on tap.

    Inside. Blackboard menu. Beers on tap.

    Mash Tun - Fried green beans

    Fried green beans

    Mash Tun - Outside. Storefront. Entrance. Patio.

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    Outside. Storefront. Entrance. Patio.

    Bissell Brothers - Lime Dole Whip ‍

    Bissell Brothers

    4.3(369 reviews)
    1.4 miLibbytown
    $$

    Several more visits since my last review…read more Some things haven't changed: -- The beers are still great. Swish, Here's to Feeling Good All the Time, Nothing Gold, and Reciprocal are a formidable foursome. At any given time, you can usually get at least two, more often three, sometimes all four. -- You'd be hard pressed (pun intended) to find a better smashburger in Portland, but I'd also put it up against any regularly-offered burger I've had in Portland--smashed or otherwise. I love everything about it, from the high caliber of the beef to the fresh pillowy milk bun to the exhilaratingly strong cure of the bacon to the razor-thin cutting of the vegetables to the execution that gets even a smashburger burger juicy. -- I'm still not crazy about the wings. They have a frozen dinner feel to them. A few things, though, have changed: -- Full service now instead of having to order everything at the bar. That's a plus. -- The place is much more crowded-- including screaming tykes-- on the weekends. Not a plus, but can't fault a place for its own popularity. -- The fries are now the industrial strength coated kind. A big minus and a sad drop off from prior greatness, but better that than from an item off the main cast. -- You can now order beer cans to go from the table rather than having to get in line. A nice convenience. A few things to know: -- It's a surprisingly good option for vegetarians and pescatarians. The veggie burger and the grilled fish sandwich are both much more than solid. -- There's outdoor seating in front of the building and also to the right. -- The bar room to the right of the entrance is adults only, so if those screaming tykes get on your nerves, this is the place to be. -- You can still order beer at the bar if that's your preference over table service. Still a favorite, and the combo of beer, food, and space is tough to beat (Mast Landing and Maine Beer in Freeport are also somewhere in that echelon).

    Bissell Brothers still is deserving of the high acclaim and5 star review. One of their most popular…read moreDouble IPAs, called Swish had a new special Triple IPA version brewed called Super Swish. This beer release brought my wife and I for our visit today. As an IPA fan I enjoyed this new version very much for its hop saturated citrusy forward taste that drank quite smooth for the 9.5%. At this point now Bissell is broken into two separate parts. The first will be the space welcoming to families and is more of their restaurant style area. Appeared to be a popular area and does offer reservations. My preferred area is the Bissell Garden as they call it. Those entering need to be of drinking age and have more lounge vibes where you order at the bar. It still offers full kitchen menu so is perfect. Particularly my favorite is snagging bar stools to grab some beers and food. I had to try out the Super Swish while my wife grabbed their red ale named Turnpike. Then food wise we split their kitchen special Classic Poutine. Some of the best classic kept simple poutine I have had. The perfect comfort food for yet another cold weather day in Maine. Have been impressed by all the food from Bissell. Truly the only negative still stands being the fact it's on Thompson's Point and required paid parking (not Bissell Brothers call but still). One of the most popular Maine breweries for a reason especially in the IPA game. Give all their other style of beers a try too though, top notch brewery!

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    Bissell Brothers - Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

    Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

    Bissell Brothers - Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

    Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

    Bissell Brothers - "Here's to Feeling Good All the Time" is the name of this beer.

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    "Here's to Feeling Good All the Time" is the name of this beer.

    Allagash Brewing Company - Hearts of pine watch party opening game 2026

    Allagash Brewing Company

    4.7(964 reviews)
    4.0 miRiverton
    $$

    Great new location filled with knowledgeable, friendly employees making the experience a 10 out of…read more10. It's great to still be able to enjoy the lobster sandwiches too. We will definitely be back and bring friends with us next time.

    Out on a Sunday drive to the Riverside area of town. Wanted to check out an apartment neighborhood…read morefor our son. We turned down the road and boom, three breweries!! Had no idea all three were located here, pleasant surprise. I enjoy Allagash white so we decided to stop in. The campus is a good size with gigantic tanks no doubt filled with liquid gold! Outdoor seating area with fire pits for warmer weather enjoyment. Entrance had a woodsy feel to it with signage that was clear to read. In the courtyard you choose which way to go; right heads into the outside beer garden and left brings you inside the brewery and gift shop. Beer garden for us. Seeing that it was covered by a tent thought for sure it was going to be cold inside , we were pleasantly surprised! Decor was paper chains and tissue paper hearts for Valentine's season. They had a creative station for folks to make their own Valentines. Also in the same area was a game bookshelf filled with board and card games to play. At the bar was a young man smiling as he welcomed us. We read the menu and for something different I chose "Cabin Weekend" the name reminded me of our camp in the Western mountains. We both enjoy whiskey so thought the aged barrels used for this brew would make a tasty treat. Grabbed our beers and then over to the food truck attached to the tent, clever. Bite into Maine is the food truck here today, unsure if different trucks come here or not. We wanted something small and shareable. Mac and cheese it was. We sat down at one of the many empty tables and began to enjoy our beers and food. Cabin weekend was so delicious! It was a strong onto 8.9%! Tasty with the faintest hint of whiskey and a cabin feel for the finish. The Mac and cheese was dense and rich!! The fork could practically stand upon its own! It was good in my opinion however don't think I could have finished the portion in my own. We enjoyed so much we will be back for some to bring away with us to our cabin in the woods.

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    Allagash Brewing Company - Tanks of liquid gold

    Tanks of liquid gold

    Allagash Brewing Company
    Allagash Brewing Company - Entry

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    Batson River Brewing & Distilling - brewpubs - Updated May 2026

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