Maine Food & Dining News: North Yarmouth, Swanville, Buxton, Skowhegan, Lewiston/Auburn, Kingfield

New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know on what’s going on:

Argenta Brewing to Open Friday

Argenta Brewing (websiteinstagram) is scheduled to open on Friday. They’re located at 82 Hanover Street in the space formerly occupied by the Banded Brewing tasting room.

Brewer/owner Ryan Dunlap is specializing in lager style beers. The beer list at last weekends industry event included 4 lagers (see below) as well as a radler (beer + lemonade), popcorn and mixed nuts.

Near Argenta in Bayside are Bayside Bowl, Batson River, Wilson County, Leavitt & Sons and Two Fat Cats. They’ve recently been joined by When Pigs Fly. Bar Publica is under construction in the space next to Argenta.

Argenta will be open Tuesday through Sunday, 2 – 9 pm.

Argenta Brewing

Mainebiz has published an update on Argenta Brewing, the new lager brewery under construction in Bayside.

Combining Dunlap’s Western roots with his passion and knowledge for beer, Argenta Brewing will have five rotating lagers on tap, along with nonalcoholic and gluten-free options. He also plans to work with local restaurants and food trucks in the area to offer dining options, whether via pick-up or delivery.

The interior of the space and the brewery’s branding draws inspiration from historic Western saloons.

Sacred Profane on Thompson’s Point

Sacred Profane Brewing (websiteinstagram) has leased the former Stroudwater Distilling space on Thompson’s Point where they plan to open a second brewery, tasting room and eatery. It’s slated to open early next year.

According to the cover letter that accompanied their license application, the demand for their beer has outpaced the capacity of their brewery in Biddeford. With the launch of this new location they plan “to double our production through this space and create the country’s second tankpub on the tourist hub of Portland, Thompson’s Point.” The new location will also bring their Czech-style lager beer closer to their Portland customers and beer enthusiasts visiting the city.

In addition to their own lagers, Sacred Profane plans to also serve cider, wine, other local beers and cocktails like the Levitation Room currently on the menu in Biddeford. They plan to serve a food menu of oysters and Czech-style open-face sandwiches at their counter service Portland location.

The brewery specializes in producing light and dark Czech-style lagers. Their existing brewery and tankpub in Biddeford launched in September 2022.

Sacred Profane will be serving a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner next week on the 21st in Biddeford.

Chef Marilou Ranta, Maine Street Bistro, Brickyard Hollow

Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes a feature article about Marilou Ranta who is the chef and owner of The Quarry in Monson. The Restaurant won the James Beard award for Outstanding Hospitality in 2023.

In the dining room, there are unforced smiles all around. Regulars get big bear hugs. Newcomers get hugs, too. “She’s a great hugger,” said Martha Lerman, a hug recipient who was dining at The Quarry for her first time on a Thursday evening in mid-September. Ranta was especially delighted to meet a Filipino couple who had driven from Massachusetts to check out The Quarry. Word about the 5-year-old restaurant “in the boonies,” as Ranta puts it, is getting around.

The Sunday Telegram also includes a 3½ star review of Maine Street Bistro in Brunswick,

Lean into Maine Street Bistro’s French menu and you’ll be rewarded. Co-owners and co-chefs John Holm and Brandon Franklin built their impressive skillsets of classic French techniques separately, but together in Brunswick, they’ve come up with a largely traditional menu that holds promise.

and an article about the rapid expansion of Brickyard Hollow Brewing which has added five locations in the last 12 months.

As Moll and his partner were first launching Brickyard Hollow in 2018, they realized the significance of the winter carnival photo. “We were trying to create a craft brewery that was a gathering place for this little community, and that picture really helped present that,” Moll said.

Orange Bike Brewing Opens Friday

Orange Bike Brewing (websitefacebookinstagram) will be opening this Friday. Portland’s newest brewery is located at 31 Diamond Street in East Bayside in the same building as Bite Into Maine. This weekend they’ll be open Friday 3 – 8 pm, and Saturday/Sunday noon – 8 pm.

Alan Pugsley has been part of the start-up team as a consultant and has developed a set of gluten-free beer recipes which head brewer Jason Kissinger has put into production on a 10-barrel vintage Peter Austin brewery system. Orange Bike is Maine’s second dedicated gluten-free brewery joining Lucky Pigeon which opened for business in 2021.

On opening day Orange Bike will be pouring nine beers (see photo below for the full list) including a Belgian Wit, a New England IPA, a Winter Lager and a collaboration beer which is raising funds for the National Black Brewers Association. They’re just spinning up their canning line this week, and cans will be available for sale at the brewery on opening day.

Founder Tom Ruff and his team have built out a stylish ~40-person tasting room, and they’re working on an outdoor courtyard which when completed will have room for an additional 90+ people.

Argenta Brewing in Bayside

Argenta Brewing (website, instagram) is under construction in Bayside. Owner Ryan Dunlap has taken over the tasting room and brewery formerly occupied by Banded Brewing on Hanover Street. He’s currently doing some light renovations to the 2,500 sq ft space and hopes to launch Argenta in the spring with a line-up of lager-style beers.

Dunlap initially got his start in Nevada as a home brewer. His initial professional brewing experience was at Atlantic Brewing in Bar Harbor and most recently was a brewer at Fore River Brewing in South Portland.

To get caught up on all the new breweries, distilleries, restaurants, bars and other hospitality businesses in development visit the Under Construction List.

Brewery of the Year: Allagash

The Press Herald reports that Allagash Brewing Company was named the Brewery/Brewer of the year at the Great American Beer Festival.

The Portland brewery’s honors included a Gold Medal for Allagash Tripel in the Belgian-style Abbey Ale category, a Silver Medal for Allagash White in the Belgian-style Witbier category, and Brewery and Brewer of the Year in the “Brewery Group” size category. Allagash was the only Maine brewery to take home medals from this year’s event.

Visit the Great American Beer Festival website for a full list of award winners.

Maine Beer Trends

Maine Public radio aired a show this past week entitled “Innovative trends in Maine’s beer scene” with panelists Rob Tod from Allagash, Shea Cusick from the Maine Brewer’s Guild, and Jenn Lever from Baxter Brewing as well as a variety of callers from the beer industry.

Brewing beer remains big business in Maine. We’ll learn about how the industry is constantly innovating in this competitive industry, including taking new approaches with tasting rooms, packaging, flavors—and expanding beer offerings to include more non-alcohol and gluten-free offerings.

Sebago Brewing

The Press Herald Tap Lines column has taken a look back at the 25-year history of Sebago Brewing.

The year is 1998. Bill Clinton is impeached by the House of Representatives. Viagra is approved by the FDA. Google is founded. “Titanic” wins 11 Academy Awards, and “The Big Lebowski” debuts. The Chicago Bulls win their sixth NBA title in eight years, as Michael Jordan plays his final game for the team, the same year that Celtics star Jayson Tatum is born. The historic Ice Storm slams Maine. And a new brewpub, Sebago Brewing Co., opens in the Maine Mall parking lot, in a building previously occupied by a Chinese restaurant called Hu Ke Lau.