Fogtown is a small brewery in downtown Ellsworth, at the gateway to Acadia National Park, open since 2017.
We opened in 2017 in the rural city of Ellsworth, Maine, at the gateway to Acadia National Park, with a salvaged-wood temporary bar top, just a couple brews on tap, and free popcorn as the only snack for our earliest Fogtown fans.
Until 2020, Eat at Joe’s Food Truck took up residence in the corner of our garden; we are so grateful to Joe & Nancy for feeding our customers in our earlier days, and for sharing our vision of sustainable, local, and responsibly farmed & raised food.
We’ve remained passionate about contributing to our community & culture, small-batch craft offerings and farm-to-table menus powered by Maine’s farmers and growers, and we continue to explore and responsibly use the wild and foraged flavors of coastal Maine.
Our cider and wine production has expanded, our brewhaus has added several new fermenters, and in 2020, we commissioned local masons to build our brick, wood-fired pizza oven in our Ellsworth beer garden. Our original location in Ellsworth houses our brewery & cellar, original taproom, beer garden & brick wood-fired pizza oven.
Fogtown Solar, 2023-2024
72.67 MWh of system production over its lifespan, equal to 111,000 lbs of CO2 emissions saved or 837 trees planted.
Fogtown’s photovoltaic system generates over 70% of the brewery’s electric energy usage.
“Fogtown has stepped into the spotlight as a leader in the clean energy business community.”
From the very beginning, we’ve been committed to sustainable practices to reduce impact on our environment. In addition to sourcing as many local ingredients as possible, in 2019, when we were just two years young, we invested in the rooftop photovoltaic panels which supply Fogtown with renewable energy. We also host one of Chickadee Compost’s Community Drop-Off Sheds for Downtown Ellsworth.
Every time we brew, we generate several hundred pounds of spent grain, and that means tons (over 25 tons a year) of nutrients and energy that goes to local farm animals, compost facilities, and into our Fogtown pizza dough. Our three Yorkshire/Duroc-mix hogs, pasture-raised at local Half-Ash Farm in Orland, ME, were fed a mix of spent grain from our flagship brews, and finished on spent apple pomace from our hard cider program. The result is our responsibly-raised and flavorful pork featured in our pizza toppings and Fogtown brand sausages.
We constantly strive to reduce our carbon footprint by using Efficiency Maine-rated appliances, using Maine-made fermentation tanks, and sourcing local ingredients. Around the Beer Garden & taproom, you’ll find fixtures and furniture crafted by local makers, murals painted by local artists, and other testaments to our great community. Many of our ingredients come from small farms within a 20 mile radius of the brewery.
Ecological sustainability & community building have always been paramount to our mission.
In the summer, our garden hosts fundraisers and networking events for the local partner organizations. Throughout the winter you’ll find our taproom abuzz with good conversation, arts & crafts, and community building.
We began our Pints for Purpose Program in 2020, & recently launched our Maine Coast Conservation Campaign, with sales from our flagship Maine Coast IPA going to local non-profits working to conserve our spectacular coastline. We collaborate with dozens of local organizations like Frenchman Bay Conservancy, Healthy Acadia, and Heart of Ellsworth in order to support their work of conserving our ecosystem and ensuring the vitality of our communities.
Some of the local, greater community, national, & world organizations & causes that we support, have donated to, or collaborated with since we opened in 2017. Many of these organizations we have hosted multiple times for fundraisers & other events & efforts.
“For years, small and independent U.S. craft breweries have been turning the beer world upside down. Their ability to take risks, innovate flavors and build better communities has made the U.S. the craft beer capital of the world. The Brewers Association created a symbol to unify U.S. craft breweries and those who want to support them. This certified mark gives beer lovers an easy way to identify independent craft beer.”
“Formed in 2013 by eight craft malthouses, the Craft Maltsters Guild emphasizes quality and craftsmanship as a requirement for success. We believe that maltsters have the ability to influence positive changes and improvements in the malting industry through knowledge and communication. The Guild’s mission is to promote and sustain the tradition of craft malting in North America, and uphold the highest quality and safety standards for Craft Maltsters.”
“Crafted for All empowers craft beverage organizations to develop inclusive, equitable, and just practices that drive success, build communities, and inspire individuals. We envision a future where equity is a cornerstone of craft beverage. The Crafted For All commitment is an internal organizational commitment that organizations are asked to make in good faith and hold themselves accountable for.”
“A combination of pure material and fine detail has long characterized Maine craftsmanship, as well as a tradition of excellence passed down for generations. “Maine Made” is recognized worldwide as a term for quality and integrity. Maine Made products bring a sampling of Maine’s rich resources right to your door, and are all verified to have been produced in Maine.”
Photos from the beer garden, the taproom and the cellar.
