Atlantic Brewing Co in Bar Harbor

“When we first moved out here in 1997, I was a teenager sanding floors in this old farmhouse,” says owner Alex Maffucci. “I’ve done just about every job in the company since.”

Atlantic Brewing Company’s story began in 1990, when Alex’s uncle, Doug, started brewing beer one gallon at a time in Bar Harbor. At his restaurant, the Lompoc Café, one beer—Real Ale—quickly drew its own following. Soon, other local restaurants were calling to put it on tap. The Thirsty Whale became the first customer. By the mid-1990s, the family had outgrown their downtown setup and purchased farmland in Town Hill, where they restored an 1800s farmhouse and built a brewery, restaurant, and gathering place.

Alex grew up in the business, briefly stepped away, and eventually returned to lead it. In 2017, he and his wife, Amy, purchased the company. Just a few years later, they faced the challenges of the COVID-19 shutdowns. “That Memorial Day, I remember standing on Cottage Street, and there wasn’t a single person around. It looked like a ghost town,” Alex says. With help from family, a pared-down crew, and lots of tables spread outside, they managed to keep serving the community.

Today, Atlantic Brewing operates in two locations with distinct personalities. The Town Hill site is a family favorite, with a barbecue menu, playground, and plenty of open space. Downtown, their “Midtown” location, named as a playful nod to both Bar Harbor’s geography and the family’s New York roots, offers a modern, glass-and-steel atmosphere with shareable plates and experimental brews. Together, the two sites reflect the company’s balance of tradition and innovation.

Distribution has also grown. Atlantic Brewing products are available throughout Maine and in select markets down the East Coast, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Philadelphia. Their craft sodas, especially the blueberry soda, have become bestsellers in Hannaford stores statewide, proving just as popular as the beer.

More than three decades after its start, Atlantic Brewing remains a family-driven business rooted in Bar Harbor, always adapting while staying true to its origins. “At the end of the day, we just want people to feel like they can choose their own adventure here,” Alex says. “Whether you’re on vacation or you live nearby, our goal is to make your experience a good one.”

FAMOUS FOR:
Being one of the oldest breweries in Maine still under family ownership. Also, the blueberry soda.

ADDRESS:
Estate Brewery: 15 Knox Road in Bar Harbor, ME
Midtown Brewery: 52 Cottage Street in Bar Harbor, ME

WEBSITE:
atlanticbrewing.com

photos by Peter Logue