I was walking along Dock Square when I came across this place with its bright lights and chatter of people in the inside. I looked at their menu and had a good laugh when they had a drink called the "mojo dojo casa house", thought to myself 'they're quick with it'. Decided to give this place a go and absolutely loved my experience at the bar. First, if you're able to sit at the left end of the bar facing the window outside, you'll catch the sunset which was gorgeous. I got tequila shots and a blueberry and lemon cocktail called "The Freshmen". The shots were pretty standard. The cocktail was certainly unique, a flavor profile fitting to Maine. I was pleasantly surprised by the relatively strong presence of blueberry in the drink. I love blueberries so that was not a problem. The drink was yummy and my bartender was super attentive. Stayed until closing time and even then, the staff were not rushing us out the door and were cordial. Had lots of fun and would rec for a night in town. read more

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We're sad we only made it for drinks because the food looked incredible. This place was absolutely adorable with a fun, hip ambiance and fantastic craft beer and cocktails. Can't wait to come back for the full experience. read more

I stopped by here a couple of Saturdays ago with my wife for some afternoon drinks. She actually had pointed out that the restaurant looked pretty cool perched on the hill before I told her that's where we were headed. Since Batson River Brewery & Distillery is on the hill it has a great view of the Kennebunk River and has Adirondack chair seats near fire pits at the lowest level followed by an open patio above that and then I think a another level above that too. Both the Adirondack chairs and patio were full and so my wife and I popped down at the bar which was also open to the outside on this day. The inside was darkly colored with a dark metal bar, black seats, black painted walls and dark hardwood floors. However the light from the natural light made it feel warmer than you would have thought. It was also interesting that we sat in front of the cocktail area of the bar and were able to see fresh rosemary, lemon, limes, dried apple slices, dried orange slices, pink peppercorns and morello cherries. As I often do whenever I visit a new brewery, I decided to go with a flight here. At Batson River Brewery that consists of four different beers of your choosing and I went with the Estate Pale Ale, Guava IPA, Cleaves Cove IPA and Folly Isle Stout. The first beer that I tried was the Estate Pale Ale which had a nice and light pale ale coming in at 4.4% ABV. There was a touch of citrus before some hops came in, just enough to let you know they were there and not too much to be overwhelming. Second was the Guava IPA and you could really get some citrus on the nose and then when drinking a big burst of guava flavor before a little bit of bitterness from the hops joins in at the finish. Up third was the Cleaves Cove IPA which is what I would consider to be a juicy IPA. It had a lot of citrus up front and then a nice dose of hops on the finish. Last but not least was the Folly Isle Stout and I could definitely taste that roasted malt flavor from this beer but I also feel like there was a bit too much sweetness here, possibly from the Maine honey. Out of the bunch I think that the Guava IPA was my favorite with the Estate Pale Ale coming in second. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. Hopefully if we do, my wife and I can sit outside, but even if we don't I am sure we will enjoy some good beer. read more

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During the summer months, Kennebunkport can be a tourist trap with the beautiful ocean views and the little nautical shops, but recently there have been a lot of innovating restaurants and bars establishing themselves in this little coastal town. Batson is definitely one restaurant making it's name in Kennebunkport. I ended up coming to Batson a few times this summer. I had been hearing Batson's name on social media and from various friends, and I had been itching to try it out. First, off, Batson's location is perfect. It's nestled right on Western Ave, which brings tourists and locals alike to the restaurant. Batson definitely has an up-scale feel with it's black aesthetic, but it's contrasted by the cool and easy feel of the garage doors and cool lighting. Batson distills their own liquors and they brew their own beer, which continues to add to Batson's coolness factor. And the reality is that they are doing it right. Their beers are actually really good (get the guava IPA...it's unreal) and their liquors are smooth. They have a variety of cocktail offerings that feature their own liquors. Aside from alcohol, Batson also has some light snack offerings. I came with a friend and we ordered the brussel sprouts and the steak skewers. The brussel sprouts were cooked perfectly and were in a really nice kung pao sauce with crushed peanuts. However, the steak skewers with chimichurri sauce was the highlight of the snacks. The steak was incredibly flavorful and the chimichurri was a nice refreshing addition to the plate. Highly recommend. Overall, Batson provides a great experience for predinner drinks/snacks or for a date. I can't wait to return and try more of their small plates! read more

Service was super slow, lots of tables open, fish taco had TONS of bones in it. Very disappointing experience. No need to ever go back! Or recommend!!!! read more

Really good food and cocktails....bartender was rude...I mean you spend $250 and you are nice...just pretend you like your customers...she basically wanted us to leave so she could talk to her friend read more

The Kennebunkport location truly needs to learn from the Portland location what great service is. To the owners, please conduct a performance review on your Kennebunkport staff. The bartender and the manager (working on 12/16) were completely inhospitable. They were so rude we left without eating. We understood there was an event, the kitchen was busy and the wait was long. All we asked for when we finally made it in was some friendly service and some acknowledgment that communication could have been improved upon. We did have one nice waitress while waiting outside who tried her best...she gets extra stars! The rest need to remember that they are working in the service industry. read more

This was amazing they had a fun game room and food was awesome. I recommend the Batson burger. Also amazing service. :)

we waited almost an hour and a half from the time we ordered to getting our food. My lobster Mac & cheese was 'cold'. not even lukewarm! When it came back warmer it was not all that tasty. While we waited for our food the server came around once asking if we wanted anything? Yes, our food!!! The others in our party of 4 said their hot dishes seemed as though they had been sitting around. What really hurt was that we dropped over a buck and a half for a meal well below par!!! read more

Okay, first things first: I had the "Red Velvet White Stout." It's delicious. No question. Even if the name is slightly schizophrenic. Service, however, was a bit lacking. We ordered a cocktail and two samples. The place was far from packed. Over twenty minutes later we hadn't gotten our drinks. My girlfriend wanted to order poutine, topped with pork, but they were out of pork. Strike two, and two stars down. Finally, some of the patrons were really, really, annoying loud. This is the kind of thing you would expect in a bar but hopefully not at a brewpub. Better luck next time. read more

We have been to this establishment many times before, but on this Friday in the beginning of July we encountered some of the rudest staff I have ever seen at a restaurant. We walked up to the restaurant at 8:15 on a beautiful evening and it looked pretty full. No one was standing at the hostess stand and we weren't looking for dinner, just drinks, so we walked right in headed to the bar area and the upstairs that has a really relaxed atmosphere. We were confronted by a waitress who rudely asked if we had seen anyone at the hostess stand and when we said no we were just headed to the bar she stated that all seating had to be done through the hostess stand. At this point, another waiter came over and stated that they were having last call and that they had been "slammed" all day and they were out of almost all food. We indicated that we were only looking for drinks and he said he would have to check with the bartender as they were calling "last call". It was 8:15. The sun was still up and it's a bar in a tourist town. The waiter returned and said the bartender would allow us to sit but we could only have one quick drink and they were closing at 8:30. I understand stopping food service but it doesn't make sense to me to stop drinks when the sun is up and your whole bar is built around a laid back bar atmosphere. We didn't appreciate the rudeness of the staff as it could have been handled in a much different way. Sadly this isn't the first time I have experienced bad service at this place and have had many friends tell me similar stories. It is a great atmosphere and could be a great place but it has some problems it needs to work out including its hours. We did not stay for a drink as we did not want to be rushed out the door on a Friday night. read more

This is THE spot to visit in Kennebunk. Awesome ambiance and layout, great drinks, good food, friendly service - zero complaints here. I recommend sampling the house cocktails (the old fashioned was fantastic) as well as their beers. Even as a beer / whiskey snob, I was still impressed by everything I tried at Batson River. I mentioned the layout earlier - this place is huge with tons of diverse seating areas: You can do a rooftop day drink, a traditional bar seat, a comfy couch, a standing shuffleboard hangout, a full dinner at a table, or a nighttime warmer sitting in an Adirondack near a fire pit. It's a venue for all seasons and moods. Did I mention that there are happy hour specials on top of all the above? Seriously, check out Batson River! read more

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We live in the area, and have been big fans of Batson River ever since they first openened. But, this is the 3rd time that we've gone in the past year... and have been disappointed. I am pretty laid back, and patient, and I understand that staff get exhausted and burned out in the summer. I work in the service business, am always polite, and am extremely conscious of how I treat others. But, anyway, here's what happened tonight: We had a nice dinner in Dock Square, then wakled over to Batson River to grab a night cap (around 8:30). We waited for 10 minutes at the host desk in the front (since I know that is is the procedure). Nobody every walked down, or even glanced in our direction. After literally 10 minutes of standing at an empty host desk, with many open tables both outside and on the deck, it seemed like nobody was working the front. The place was only at about 1/3 capacity for an average summer tourist night. So, we finally just walked up to the bar. There was one guy sitting at the bar and about 10 open seats. The bartender practically yelled at us for approaching the bar, and asked if we we had been "seated there". We calmly and politely explained that we'd waited for 10 mins down at the front and nobody had even walked by, and we were just hoping to order a beer. She rushed us out, and said that we needed to go back down to the host desk. Then she thew in "You know that we don't serve food anymore, right?" with an extra helping of attitude. That was enough to send us packing. My husband and I both walked away feeling like that is the last time (for a very long while) that we will try so hard to spend our money at Batson River. There are so many other great establishments in KPT that actually want your business! read more

Batson River Brewing & Distilling - Kennebunk - Breweries Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

Brought my two adult sons for outdoor dinner and drinks. Spectacular dinner, apps, and specialized drinks. HIGHLY recommend. read more

Batson River Brewing & Distilling - Kennebunk - Batson River - Breweries Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

Favorite restaurant in Maine!! I was visiting from Philadelphia and would come back to Maine just for this place. Such a cool atmosphere and amazing food and drinks. We got there right at 4 for happy hour on a Tuesday and had a blast. They have food specials and drink specials for happy hour. The turmeric smash was the best cocktail I've ever had. We also got the fish tacos and grilled corn bread and they were both AMAZINGGGG!!! I want to go back every day. Also the atmosphere is so relaxed and cool - you can sit wherever you want. There are 2 floors with outside seating options for both. We sat on the second floor on the balcony and had amazing views. There's also a really cool fire pit on the deck on the first floor. The service was so nice and I want to be best friends with the waitress we had. DEFINITELY go!!!! read more

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We came in Oct when this venue is adorably decked out in spooky theme. We were thinking of grabbing lunch, but four our group of 4, with only 2 or 3 sammich options, there wasn't enough variety for us to stay for a full meal. That said, we got 2 apps and a beer. I ordered the guava IPA. I liked it! Not too bitter and it also doesn't punch you in the face with fruit. A good balance. The cajun fries were a tad of a let down. The fries were nicely crispy and the serving amount was ok, but it was too light on seasoning. The creole dipping sauce on the side was the savoir here. The pretzel, however, was GOOD. I didn't ask, but I'm pretty sure it was topped with salt AND sugar and served over a maple glazed on the plate (which I could have done without personally). The cheese dipping sauce was aces and my group of 4 loved the mango chutney. read more

Vibes are great and food is even better. Definitely try the pretzels because they're absolutely amazing. Split the burger and fried chicken sandwich and both were great. Would definitely return. read more

Batson River Brewing & Distilling - Kennebunk - View from top level outside seating - Breweries Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

What bar closes at 9 on Saturday in July. No, people, keep on walking over to Old Vines- they even serve real food.

I have been dying to come here since it opened. As an avid gin lover, I welcome any establishment into my vacation spots that offers me an escape route from too many "vacation beers". We came by on Saturday night around 9 pm and the place was packed (which is great). The kitchen was closing around 10 so we were able to grab a large table for the four of us without worrying about if tables were "just for eating". We had some fries, which although I did not taste, my friends said were the "best fries they have ever had". This is high praise, they love potatoes. The cocktails were creative and varied in vibe. I tried the gin/tumeric cocktail and it was delicious, but on the sweet side. Always dangerous when you can't taste the alcohol over the sugar. My friends loved the hibiscus/vodka cocktail and the G&T, but the "taint town spritzer" was a disappointment. You'd think, with a hilarious name like this, the cocktail must really "wow" you, right? Wrong. It tasted like a bad vodka soda that you'd pay $15 for at some tourist bar downtown. Overall, we loved our drinks, and our server was great about bringing back the tainted (get it?) drink we didn't love. We come visit KPT quite a bit and I can't wait to make Batson River a part of our regular circuit. read more

I went on a mini-vacation to Kennebunkport for the weekend before Christmas and Batson River Brewing was a highlight of our visit! It has great ambiance, with a fire outside, outdoor space, and several areas indoor to relax, drink, and play, including a bar, and upstairs lounge with games. They brew and distill their own beer and gin/vodka. Their beer flight was A+, and I loved their Turmeric Smash cocktail, (again, loved) made with gin. Great service and good bar food including poutine fries and chicken fingers. The chicken skewers were OK. Upstairs they have a massive TV and lounge area with leather sofas, a wall scrabble board, shuffleboard, and darts. I highly recommend you visit Batson River Brewing if you are visiting Kennebunkport Maine! read more

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We had great drinks and the crab and polenta was amazing. The music was pretty loud and explicit - would not be the best family friendly choice in that regards. read more

Ruthie, Hunter & Allie were absolutely amazing! They have this place running like a well oiled machine. Without this crew I don't think the restaurant would be able to keep with demand. Awesome job guys! And thanks for giving my GF and I an amazing experience. Texas friends - Holmes & Kirsty read more

As a local to the Kennebunk area, I have loved going to Batson River over the years. However, I can't say I'll be going back after my experiences this Summer. My boyfriend and I have made our way over to Batson multiple times this summer and our visits have led to nothing but bad experiences each time. One time, we walked up to the bar to order drinks and the bartender was nothing but rude and unaccommodating to us. We attempted to order drinks from the bar and sit outside. She told us angrily to sit outside and wait for a waiter to come out. After waiting outside for 20+ minutes no waiter approached us. Finally, we got up left and went to the Pilot House where we had a great experience. Against our better judgment, we went back Batson River a few weeks later. We walked into the bar where there were two empty seats. A nice couple next to us said they were leaving momentarily and that we could seat in their seats with our two friends joining us. Again, the bartender abruptly told us we needed to put our names on a waitlist. Meanwhile, we wandered our eyes around to see an empty restaurant. If that's how Batson would like to run their brewery establishment, I recommend they get rid of their bar. read more

Scene: it's a Sunday night, it's a little slow and all the employees conspire that they are going to cut out a little early tonight. Then, two couples that just walked a mile to this place specifically and timing the rain, come to the door 45 minutes before the advertised closing time of 9pm. The doors are open, all the lights are on, music is blaring on the deck speakers, patrons are inside talking and laughing, and the couples are greeted by a young lady that says; "oh, I'm sorry we aren't accepting any new guests." The couples respond that we they only want a beer, no food, still, coldly rejected by the hostess. Owner!!! Not acceptable by any standard of propriety. You wasted the the time and goodwill of customers based on the mercurial whims of an unprofessional staff. As businesses owners, Ft any less than a five star review is cause for termination. We won't be back. read more

The service was poor. They brought me a non-alcoholic beer and were very put out to replace it with a real beer. The food was blah. My wife's salad was burnt, not sure how they pulled that off. Only go here if you like an interesting view and non-alcoholic IPA's. read more

What a lovely surprise! Went on a Saturday and it was busy (which o think it must always be) and we decided to sit on the porch. It was 33' and we sat under a heater and has such an amazing lunch with excellent brews from the taps. After we sat down the entire porch filled up and it made the experience even better. Excellent food, service and drinks! We will be back! read more

Even during Covid, Batson River continues to provide the highest quality customer service as well as the highest quality beer and spirits. All of their mixed drinks and beers are made on site and some of the highest quality I've ever had. The service is exceptional with our waitress providing recommendations. To top it off, the view from the top deck was amazing. read more

Batson River Brewing & Distilling - Kennebunk - View from the top deck - Breweries Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

The fish shack was a fun and cozy experience for lunch. The 90 min reservation slot is plenty of time because the service is top notch! The poutine was incredible as well as the Hot Toddy! Head's up- there is an additional 25$ fee to make the reservation in the fish shack read more

Batson just gets better all the time! Expanded outdoor seating. Friendly waitstaff. The view never gets old! read more

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Stopped here today at 6:25pm and were told they were closed by a crappy lil woman who told me that they were closed!! Ina sweet sassy and really crappy (shi**y!!) all the lights were on... people inside, website and Yelp say 8pm... 5 employees just hanging around. That girl is your management. You need some help because she sucks. read more

If you like to go to craft breweries for the casual, comfortable atmosphere, this is not the place for you. In fact, if you like to go to any restaurant and feel welcome and served by friendly staff, this is not the place for you. No hostess or sign and not full on the day we went. We found an empty table for two. A very rude waiter told us we had to be seated by the hostess. When we told him no one was there, he replied "Shes there" over his shoulder. The place was very dark inside for 4:00 and was not busy. We left and won't return. Just another pretentious eatery. read more

My husband and I drive through Kennebunkport every fall and I cannot believe that we haven't checked out this spot before! We were able to sit on the roof and look over lots of the main street. Our food was delicious! We had curried deviled eggs, chimichurri steak skewers, Brussels sprouts, and chicharonnes. GOOD-NESS! Eat here. Enjoy the patio, the music, the view, the food, and delicious craft beers! A thank you to our kind waitress who gave us great service! read more

Batson River Brewing & Distilling - Kennebunk - Breweries Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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We had the most wonderful meal and beer here. It's such a cozy Maine vibe, with an upper level that will transport you to a regal library setting in an old cabin. The spinach salad was perfection and the duck fat cornbread.... No words. Honestly mouth watering and insanely good. read more

Best gin and tonic...ever. I was walking around when it started to rain so I ducked inside for a drink. There are lots of seating options, I opted for the bar. But even with the rain, people were protected under the porch. I love gin so I stuck with the gin options. I went with the Sparkling Contessa, then a gin and tonic. If you like an Aperol Spritz, get the Sparkling Contessa. So refreshing. Their gin is so good. I also wanted a little something to eat so I got their fish tacos. These were very good. I wish I was in town more than one night so I could have gone back to try more of their drinks. read more

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Came here for a quick late lunch. Was told we had to wait an hour but it was only a half hour. Absolutely loved it here! Could have stayed all night long. The drinks and apps were delicious. Our waiter was awesome and took great care of us. Reasonably priced read more

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I'm not usually one to write reviews but our recent experience at Batson River definitely warrants some appreciation and acknowledgment. My fiancé and I had dinner here last Saturday (11th) for the first time with some of our college friends- we haven't been to kennebunk in years, it was quite a pleasant surprise! I would like to first start off by complimenting our lovely waitress, Hanna, she was everything and more. It was refreshing to have such a knowledgeable waitress. My fiancé has a lot of dietary issues so I'm sure that is difficult to accommodate yet she did so without any annoyance. Also, she knew the answer to every question we asked her regarding both the food and drink menu which was very impressive! Lastly, she had a big smile on her face every time we saw her whether she was as at our table or another. Not only was our experience that much better because of her, the food and drinks were absolutely amazing! Would definitely recommend to anyone in the area and will definitely be coming back to dine here. read more

Had dinner at this dog friendly establishment. Pleasantly surprised there was no wait to sit outside on a gorgeous night around 7pm. Our dog was welcome. My husband ordered a beer, and although the bourbon smash looked delicious I decided to stick with wine. No Chardonnay on the menu so I went with chenin blanc. We shared the Bavarian pretzel app which was delicious and came out in a slate board with a sweet mustard and a cup of some kind of beer cheese dip on the side. Both were tasty. I preferred the mustard. My husband preferred the cheese. Highly recommend ordering if you like soft pretzels. I think the app was $18, so not a bargain but it was worth it. For dinner I had the haddock tacos. The vinaigrette dressing on these was yummy. My husband had a chicken Caesar salad that he enjoyed. Our food didn't come out together and I had to ask about his salad, but it came quickly after that. Great atmosphere outside. Bring your sunglasses. Service was good and friendly. read more

What a great spot to enjoy the view and delicious cocktails!! The Rigby Stout was robust with flavor and the Spicy Bird and Old Fashioned had so much going on but in a perfect balance. Great place with a laid back vibe and beautiful views of Kennebunkport. read more

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We were disappointed with the menu options. But what really stood out was the unsanitary tables and the bathroom was disgusting. It reminded us of a college bar at 12:59 am after last call. We were there at 5pm. read more

Great bar! Service was good and very friendly. You can sit inside or outside depending on how weather is. Lobster roll was good (much better than the clam shackJ and Cajun fries were good as well. read more