Portland is great if you're a beer lover. Or a craft spirits lover. But as a cider lover? It's been…read moreunderwhelming over the years, with sugar-forward options created "from away" (Woodchuck, Angry Orchard, Downeast, etc.), being the primary options. Finally, Freedom's Edge has found its way to the city and, if you love real, authentic cider, it's a destination spot (in what's quickly become a trendy, destination neighborhood). Better apples make better cider. That's their saying. And their knowledge of cider history in Maine, and the apple varietals (bittersweet and bittersharp) that grow best here, is impressive, encouraging, and enlightening. The ciders you'll find here are full-bodied and full of interesting flavors. In the spring/summer? Icy cool apple cider slushies. In the fall/winter? Hot mulled cider with spices. All year round? Cider cocktails. What more could you want? Oh, good cider? Sweet or semi-sweet or dry or tart or funky? They've got it all. The tasting room is clean and spacious with plenty of seating options (high tops, tables, couches, etc.) and big, big windows that let the sun just pooooour right in. I do wish the outdoor space was bigger/more inviting (or that there was a rooftop deck), but you can only work with what you have and Freedom's Edge certainly has. The staff here is friendly and patient with questions and suggestions. The bathrooms always, always, always smell good (IYKYK).

As I understand it, crafting just the right cider is not only a science. It's an art. And one that…read moreI would honestly know very little about. But I know what I like. So, let me state my assessment of this place from a layman's point of view, straight and simple. The concept of a place that specializes solely in making and selling hard ciders of all types is rather brilliant! However, it can be somewhat overwhelming for newcomers who aren't familiar with the tones of sweet, semi-sweet, semi-dry, and dry ciders. Frankly, I'm only familiar with the sweetness and dryness of wines. Ciders? They're a different fruit entirely! Since I was totally clueless about the world of hard ciders, my new friend Steff recommended I sample a few. In hindsight though, I shouldn't have gone with a flight of drinks. Because all ciders ain't created equal. I swear some people merely pretend to like every single vintage of cider they try. But I'll tell ya what - ciders are like wines, in a way; each with their own unique tartness, sweetness, whatever flavor that could be considered detectable by your palate. With that said, I will tell you (much to my surprise) the Sweet Mullet ended up being my favorite drink of the night. Matter of fact, I'm kicking myself for not just getting one regular sized glass of that instead of the flight. Everyone swore up and down the Mac Daddy was an all time favorite and it probably is. This one came in second for me. But at least I was able to finish it, along with the Sweet Mullet. As for Pied Pippin and the Cherry Bomb....eh, I dunno. I can't quite explain it. But something about these two ciders offended my palate in a way that made finishing them virtually impossible. Pied Pippin for sure was too sweet for me. And the Cherry Bomb simply confused me. In the end, it was a semi-sweet cider that won my heart for the day. Whodathunkit, right? The way they have their restroom area set up is pretty interesting. The sinks sit outside the actual toilet room, which is wicked smart when you stop and think about it (IYKYK). Btw, shout out to the employee who made sure to leave a note inside one of the toilet rooms instructing the patron to pull the door closed so that it could lock properly. As they say in the 'hood, you da' real MVP! Would I return? Maybe. That is....if a had a good enough reason to. I'm not exactly in the neighborhood all the time. Drives like this....I gotta have a really, REALLY good reason to take the elongated day trip. And we will leave it at that. ;) All other things considered, the staff here are amazing and knowledgeable of their craft. If you're a cider enthusiast, I could definitely recommend this place to anyone in that category. I think I'll give Freedom's Edge Cider 4 innocuous yet tasty Sweet Mullets out of 5.

Stopped by today after a hike. Three of us got flights. It was fun. The flavors are strong and…read morevery distinct. We felt comfortably enough to sit and chat for a while. It was a Sunday afternoon so we were one of only two tables. My favorite is the Maniac Gold with Cranberry, followed by Maniac Max Blueberry and then Caramel Apple.

Satisfied every single time I come here. Organic food, great donuts, allows work for teens for many…read moreopportunities, and people working there are always kind and nice. Great place to go for a pitstop. That being said, they had a breakfast morning one day, so my family went and spent $70 DOLLARS on 4 sets on scrambled eggs, 2 sausages, and pancakes. Crazy prices

We love it here! The…read moreatmosphere is very cool a big garage filled with beautiful plants a lovely fire pit lots of games and comfy alcove seating. The seltzers are not my favorite, but they do accommodate the non-Beer drinking crowd. The two times we have been there. I have opted for slushies as well, which have been fun and beautiful. The service is always great. It is counter service, which at times can get busy, but we have gone early in the day during both of our visits which has been steady but not too busy. Although I prefer my bars to be adult only locations, this spot does tend to have families come out to it.

Always a delightful experience. They rotate seltzers (and now ciders) regularly and they are…read more(almost) always very good and refreshing. Great atmosphere and very spacious for large gatherings with friends; they also have board games to help pass the time. There's always at least one food truck and it seems to rotate. Bartenders are always courteous and helpful. Plenty of parking around the back.

Came here to try out their new food menu. I heard from coworkers that they used to have a food…read moretruck but now they are making their own food and it is pretty good. I came around 7:30 on a weeknight and it was not super busy. The cribbage group just finished and was heading out-they have lots of social event here which I hope to attend now. I had chicken tenders+fries and a blackberry mule. I thought it was super tasty! I made conversation with the bartender and other people at the bar. Everyone was very friendly and I can't wait to come back. Additionally, they have great holiday decor! Also a couch, books, games, etc. Seems like a great place to meet with friends. Especially since they also do coffee here. Overall super impressed. I wish I came here sooner!

SXE has been one of my favorite locations to visit ever since moving back to Maine. I've been able…read moreto experience many of their transitions, from brewery and coffee shop, to the roasting of their own coffee beans, to making and serving their own food. My daughter met Santa for the first time here two years ago. I've taken all my guests visiting from out of town here. I've celebrated Father's Day with my dad here and date nights with my husband. I've enjoyed jazz brunch with my kids and girl's days with my friends and sister. When I'm craving a delicious coffee beverage, Side By Each is the first place I think of. Whether I am taking my drink to go or having it at the brewery, it is always well crafted. I most recently had a salted caramel latte and it was splendid along with their cinnamon rolls. I actually visited SXE twice yesterday and on my second visit tried their fried pickles and pretzel appetizer. Both were delicious and the dipping sauce and beer cheese both packed in a great amount of flavor. They also hand cut their fries which adds another level of deliciousness. I always love seeing the same individuals behind the bar serving me and the owner has always been so friendly anytime I interacted with him. When I recently heard that this fantastic location would be closing the first of the year, I would be lying if I said I didn't shed some tears-- this spot will be greatly missed by many and I certainly hope to see SXE out in the community in some capacity in the future or through the continuation of beer brewing and coffee bean roasting. Thanks for everything Side By Each Brewing, you really did it all and you did it all well!

My boyfriend, and I are from Long Island and we went to Maine for a quick trip. I'm not a fan of…read morebeer, but I tried puffin party in Bar Harbor, and immediately knew we needed to stop in at the brewery. On our way home we stopped in and it was amazing. We thoroughly enjoyed the brewery, and the Puffin Party IPA. Sad I can't buy it on Long Island, but we will be back!!! Wonderful friendly staff as well. I'm dying for you to create a puffin party shirt or sweatshirt!!!

Our second time coming to this establishment. First time was during the beginning of the year so a…read morelittle colder and we sat indoors. Today, we were able to sit outside at one of the picnic tables and enjoy a beautiful mid-September afternoon. My husband + I each enjoyed a drink (beer of his choice and a cider for me) and shared the chicken tenders + fries with our kids. Though we just ordered the chicken + fries, food and drink were great. Service was friendly and quick. Definitely a place we'll keep coming back to!

Great spot, and I didn't even try their pizza! Stopped in here while driving through Maine, because…read moremy friend is collecting mini art prints from those vendor machines across the country, and they have one here! I got a flight of beer, which I enjoyed, and a Caesar salad with the marinated anchovies. The salad actually really hit the spot, a great mix of fresh romaine and kale, delicious anchovies, fresh lemon and parm, yum!

What a cool place!…read more I've know of Lunch for a while and decided to finally stop by the brewery and it was beautiful inside. We just stopped for some drinks before dinner, and I did indeed get a wine, and it was very yummy. The server was also super friendly and let me try the wine before!

I went today for the Monthly Sip & Snuggle event to meet some of the dogs up for adoption at Pope…read moreMemorial Human Society (animal shelter) in Dover. It was my first time trying hard cider so I got a flight to try a sampling of flavors. I really liked the Honey Badger and really does taste like honey crisp apples. It was delicious, I bought some to take home. The other 2 flavors I tried were ok but I did not like enough to buy again. I did pick up a few I had not tried that stay true to their apple beginnings to try at home. I will definitely be back again!

Nice place with so many draft cider options on draft..19 on tap. Original dry is their flagship …read more. very nice crisp drink. Enjoyed their apple fritter cider made with maple syrup ginger spices and vanilla. My friends really liked their berries ciders. Nice open area to sample drinks have snacks and meet new people. Loved their dog rhat greets you as you enter.

Ever since our first trip to Maine Craft Distilling, we've been frequent returners for their happy…read morehour! One of the best in Portland!

Popped into here after having lunch just next door. We weren't planning on buying anything but we…read moresay they sold seltzers so we grabbed a few to try out. After chatting about the flavors we were easily talked into trying their tasters which can be given in 3, 6, or 9 portions. For the seltzers, I really enjoyed the rhubarb & lime as well as the elderflower. We found the mule to be a bit too sweet for what we like. In terms of hard liquor, I would rank from most to least favorites to be the whiskey, gin, rum, apple brandy, and one that tasted like cough syrup. Overall, we had fun even during our brief visit. The staff are sweet and it's a very comfortable and casual environment you can easily spend hours in. Would come again!

Fantastic late lunch at the one of our favorite restaurants in the MWV. Jaime was an absolute…read morepleasure as our server and was creative in addressing a too sweet canned beverage. The brisket, pulled pork, and Cajun burger were perfectly cooked and the flavor was amazing. The Moat has the best brisket we've ever had, extremely lean and flavorful. The pulled pork was smoky and tender, so delicious. The Cajun burger was delectable and incredibly tasty. Highly recommend the Moat, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu and they have one of the best breweries anywhere.

My partner and I ate here for lunch. It's his favorite spot. He was disappointed by the menu change…read morebecause the Santa Fe nachos weren't available anymore. We had a good meal with good service, but unfortunately we won't return.

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.

I'm not a beer drinker but the vibes are awesome here! We came for the Inciardi print machine and…read morestayed for lunch from the food truck. The staff were all incredibly nice too!