A new gluten-free brewery called Orange Bike Brewing (website, facebook, instagram) is under development at 31 Diamond Street in East Bayside. Construction of the brewery recently got underway.
When Orange Bike launches it will be one of very few dedicated gluten-free breweries in America and the second gf brewery in Maine in addition to Lucky Pigeon Brewing in Biddeford. Brewmaster Alan Pugsley has joined the team as a consultant and is developing a set of gluten-free beer recipes. Orange Bike’s beer will be produced on a 10-barrel vintage Peter Austin brewery system.
In addition to the 60-person tasting room, Orange Bike is also building out (see floor plan below) an outdoor courtyard with room for an additional 90+ people.
Tom Ruff is the founder of Orange Bike Brewing and Neil Spilane—a co-founder of Fork Food Lab—is the COO for the business. Ruff’s plans to establish a gluten-free brewery originated when he became gluten intolerant himself.
In addition to brewing a beer that is both excellent and gluten-free, Ruff’s ambition for Orange Bike is to be a mission-oriented organization.
Orange Bike is committed to raising the bar for gluten-free beer and intends to make OBB a center and symbol of positive change in Maine and beyond. With a focus on the triple bottom line – social, environmental, and financial – the OBB team is committed to setting a new standard within the craft beer industry. In addition to pioneering a new standard in sustainable brewing, OBB is defined by its commitment to making a positive impact on the local community, welcoming Maine’s rich diversity of people in a spirit of hospitality, inclusivity, dignity, and friendship, and expanding the potential for meaningful new jobs for Mainers.
Ren Navarro from Beer. Diversity. has joined Orange Bike as their diversity consultant. As a part of her work on governance and DEI, Navarro will guide the brewery as they begin hiring staff and managers for the brewery as well as recruiting for the Orange Bike board of directors.
Orange Bike Brewing has received funding from the Maine Venture Fund and the Indiana University Angel Network in addition to a diverse range of individual investors. They have begun the process to become a certified B Corporation which requires meeting “high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.”
Ruff and the team hope to launch Orange Bike Brewing by this fall.
